A fishing license is also known as a fishing permit, and it is a legal mechanism for regulating fishing. Fishing licenses are one type of fisheries management tool that is used for commercial or recreational fishing.
It’s a permit that allows the holder to fish for a specified period. That being said, what can be the potential consequences of having a fake fishing license?
If you get caught by a fish licensing officer, he can take away your fishing rights and you won’t be able to buy fishing licenses. Depending on how many times you get caught breaking the law before, you could face a hefty fine and even jail time.
The officer will consider many factors while writing you a court summons, like your place of residence in relation to the state where you violated the law and how many fishes you have. They could even issue you a ticket for fishing with a fake license if you’re lucky.
We will be discussing various aspects of keeping a fake license, so let’s dive into it.
Why Shouldn’t You Have A Fake Fishing License?
We don’t see why someone couldn’t afford to buy a legal fishing permit because it only cost a few dollars. In Laquey, it only costs $12 for a fishing license. If you get caught with a fraudulent fishing license more than twice, they would confiscate your fishing gear and give you a fine as well
To avoid paying for a legal license, we believe it is not worth the risk of losing your fishing gear or receiving a heavy penalty. Most of the money goes to the environmental department to protect waterways and local environments, indicating that this money is set to good use.
In the United States, a first violation can result in a warning and the release of your catch but if you are a repeat offender, your punishment would be much worse especially if you catch a prohibited species of fish.
A lot of people think they can get away with fishing without a license. They do so sometimes, but the majority of the time, they don’t. Authorities continuously monitor all bodies of water. And they’re always on the lookout for anglers who are fishing without a license. As a result, it is almost impossible to avoid them.
Get Caught Without A Fishing License
You may not know it, but fishing has many advantages. It allows you to spend time with your friends and family in the great outdoors. It can, however, assist people in earning a living. In our opinion, fishing will help you build full-body strength, boost your immune system, and improve your mental health.
As per our research, it is illegal to go fishing without a license under the “Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act 1997.” Many people are unaware that obtaining a fishing license is a must. The consequences of fishing without a license vary from state to state. However, the regulations and range of penalties are almost the same.
Fishing without a license is considered a level-one offense in Florida. It’s a non-criminal act. The offender will get a fine at the expense of the license plus an extra $50 for this violation. If you violate the same law more than once in 36 months, the court will raise your penalty fine to $100.
If you get caught fishing without any license, they will issue you a ticket, which is a citation. You must accept the ticket and append your signature. You have 30 days to pay the fine after getting the ticket. By doing so, you acknowledge your mistake and waive your right to a hearing.
However, your acceptance is not liable for the other proceedings. It can only assist in determining a sufficient fine for future violations. The county court will make the final decision. It determines your guilt and the amount of the fine applicable to you.
Fishing Without A License Is Illegal
Before you can fish, you must first buy a license under the 1997 conservation act. The main reason for this decision was to limit and reduce the impact of fishing on fish populations. This way, future generations will be able to enjoy this ancient hobby. So the short answer is that fishing without a license is illegal under the law.
Furthermore, we would like to inform you that the wildlife department uses the money earned from fishing licenses to cover all fisheries’ maintenance costs. As a result, consider the license fee as a donation to the greater good rather than an obligation.
Fishing Without A License
Some states offer free fishing dates. On these dates, you do not need a fishing license. And you can go fishing anywhere you want. Furthermore, some piers do not need a license to fish. To avoid any awkward situations, we suggest you double-check such dates and locations with the local wildlife department.
Who Doesn’t Need A Fishing License?
When fishing, some people do not need a license. Keep in your mind that this is a rare occurrence. For instance, all anglers under the age of 16 (or 17 in some states) do not need to buy a license when fishing. Any angler over the age of 65 is in the same boat. You must, of course, have a valid ID with you so that the officer can verify your age.
When fishing in their home county, veterans and military personnel are usually not required to have a license. However, if you want to go fishing somewhere else, you’ll need one. People with disabilities who do fishing as a form of therapy are also excluded. You may, however, provide evidence that you are a veteran or that you have a disability.
How To Know If You Got A Fake Fishing License?
The California Department of Fish and Wildlife has recently found a number of unscrupulous vendors who are illegally “brokering” licenses. To date, it appears that these sites have been purchasing legitimate CDFW licenses on behalf of consumers while charging exorbitant “shipping fees” on top of the license price.
If you’re uncertain about an online purchase, you want to make sure that your transaction resulted in the issuance of a valid license, then as soon as possible, contact your state’s fishing and wildlife department so they can look up your account in an online system using your GO ID.
Types Of Fishing Licenses
According to our research, there are different types of fishing licenses available. For example, there are permits for freshwater, saltwater, mixed, recreational, and commercial fishing. It goes without saying that a freshwater fishing permit would not allow you to fish in the ocean. If you want to fish in both types of water, go for a combined license.
It won’t help you if you have a license, but it isn’t the right one. You’ll still get a fine and a ticket. As a result, before casting your rod, make sure that you have a valid fishing license. Also, we would advise you to keep an eye out for your fishing license expiration date. Having an expired fishing license is as bad as not having one at all.
Where To Buy A Proper Fishing License?
As per our experience in this field, this is an incredibly simple task, as they are widely available in sports shops, wildlife departments, online retailers, and even Walmart! Yes, you read that right. You can purchase a brand-new fishing license at your nearest Walmart.
Many fish and convenience stores sell these fishing licenses. You can also look for fishing license sales on Google. You may also conduct a license search to determine the type of license that is best for you. You can pay using a variety of methods, including MasterCard, credit card, and so on.
You can also buy your fishing license by contacting the phone numbers listed on the different official websites. You can also obtain your fishing license from wildlife and fisheries offices. Each state has a fish and game department so you can buy a proper fishing license from there as well.
The majority of licenses are available on behalf of the government bait stores. Many retail or grocery stores selling bait in the country often offer licenses in some states. Nowadays, we have noticed some states like Louisiana offer fishing licenses online, which we use when we go fishing in neighboring states and need a non-resident license.
There is no need of filling out a long application; simply include your name, address, and driver’s license number, and they will issue a license. In certain cases, special licenses are a must for some species and waters.
The Bottom Line
If you are fishing in places that are not exempt from a fishing license, you must have a legitimate fishing license. It’s also essential to follow the rules set out by the type of license you have.
Those over the age of 16 must buy a license, according to the Environmental Conservation Law. The fishing license only costs a few dollars. However, if you get caught fishing without a license, the fines and penalties are hefty.