State officials want to implement a comprehensive $15 saltwater fishing license starting next year to bring Maryland into compliance with federal law and keep revenue here that otherwise would be funneled to Washington.

The license proposal, which is expected to be introduced in the General Assembly as early as today, would end free fishing for anglers in the Atlantic Ocean and in the coastal bays behind Ocean City.

In addition, the bill would increase the length of short-term licenses from five to seven days; establish a free registry for anglers fishing from pleasure boats, waterfront property owners and their immediate family fishing from their property and individuals fishing in a free fishing area; create reciprocal fees for nonresident tidal licenses; and authorize a commercial pier fishing license.

Finally, the bill maintains residential recreational fishing license prices established by the General Assembly in 2007 but scheduled to expire later this year.

Fisheries Service Director Tom O'Connell said that in light of the economy and the state's desire to promote fishing opportunities, it would be counterproductive to raise prices. For the sake of simplicity, the agency also decided not to have separate saltwater licenses for the coast and the Chesapeake Bay. The same thinking went into extending the length of the short-term licenses.

"For the coastal bay community and families vacationing at Deep Creek Lake, this gives them the opportunity to fish for a whole week at the same cost," O'Connell said.

The bill is in response to a law, passed by Congress and signed by then-President George W. Bush, that requires an annual census of saltwater anglers to provide a more accurate picture of the type and the number of fish being caught to prevent overfishing. For the eight coastal states - including Maryland - that lack a comprehensive saltwater license, a free National Saltwater Angler Registry is providing a one-year transition period.

As a result, millions of anglers must go online (countmyfish.noaa.gov) or call 888-674-7411 to register before they fish.

But next year the national registry, administered by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, is expected to cost anglers $20 to $30. That money will go to the U.S. Treasury.

Later this year, Maryland will be switching to a new computer system to handle licensing and boat registrations, and officials hope to have permission from state lawmakers to implement the new license Jan. 1.

Revenue from a Maryland saltwater license would stay in state.