License & Registration - The Fisherman

License & Registration

Ever since the last reauthorization of our nation’s federal fisheries law (Magnuson–Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Reauthorization Act of 2006) coastal states have been required to keep an active “registry” of saltwater anglers in an effort to improve data collection.  What that means is that each coastal state has its own rules and requirements for keeping a database of anglers; in locations like Delaware and Maryland an actual license with a fee is required, while other states like New Jersey and New York require anglers to register online for free every year.

Of course, it’s pretty much standard fare wherever you travel to fish for freshwater species (which don’t necessarily travel across state boundaries and have no commercial fishing pressure to speak of) that a license and possibly a stamp are required, with varying fees based on age, residency and duration of the license.  Suffice to say, fishing regulations can be rather tricky to navigate at times, and the same can be said to a degree as to how each state manages its license/registry program.

Every year at TheFisherman.com, New England edition managing editor Toby Lapinski tracks down the state-by-state rules and regulations for licensing and registration so that anglers can keep it legal wherever they travel.  Rather than “Googling” up each state’s requirements every time, you can go directly to TheFisherman.com and type the word “LEGAL” into the search bar or find Toby’s comprehensive rundown called “Legalize It! 2021 Fishing License Renewal Time” at the following directed link – www.thefisherman.com/legalize-it-2021-fishing-license-time.

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