David Butler of Baltimore writes: I am all for fishing licenses and fine with a coastal bay and offshore license but … I am confused. It looks like now if I have the $50 boat decal covering my unlicensed friends when they fish on my boat they must now go to a computer and print out a saltwater registry form, which is free, and carry it with them each and every time they fish with me. How is this better that last year? At least with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration requirement, you could quickly call (24/7) a toll-free number and get a registration number to be legal for the day or year. Now, it's 5 a.m., we're about to pull away from the dock and someone says, 'I forgot to log on and print my form.' Am I missing something here?
Outdoors Girl knew that there might be an adjustment period as Maryland made the transition from its old licensing system to the one-year NOAA National Saltwater Anglers Registry to this year's new $15 Chesapeake Bay and coastal bays license. And that wasn't even counting the $50 pleasure boat decal. So she turned to Tom O'Connell, the director of DNR's Fisheries Service, who replies: "In developing the necessary license fee structure to meet federal requirements, the department recognized that there would be some inconveniences to anglers. One such inconvenience is for everyone on a vessel with a pleasure boat decal who is not individually licensed or under 16 years of age to provide the department their contact information through a free registration system. The current registration system is only available online because a phone registration system was cost prohibitive. We recognize the added convenience of a phone registration system and are in the process of selecting a vendor to provide this service. But, that service will require a customer service fee from the vendor. The alternative to this registration system was to eliminate the pleasure boat decal; the department choose not to do this given its popularity.
As a fisherman, I can appreciate the inconvenience of having to obtain a registration during the early-morning hours. With today's technology, it is hoped most people will be able to register online through the Internet capability on their phone. If they can do so, they can simply write down their registration number for use until they obtain a printed copy of their registration number.
If you have any further concerns, or suggestions, please do not hesitate to contact me at toconnell@dnr.state.md.us or by phone at 410-260-8281."
If you have an outdoors question in search of an answer, send it to candy.thomson@baltsun.com