TALLAHASSEE, FL-- For the first time ever, people fishing from shore need a $9 license to fish. It’s rubbing a lot of people, like Bill Williams, the wrong way. “Why mess with something that’s good? You’ve given that benefit to your people all along, why take it away?”
But the state argues the federal government will impose even bigger fees, 15 to 25 dollars, on all fishing licenses if the shore license goes away. The purpose says Henry Cabbage, with the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, is to keep track of the catch.
“Shoreline anglers are taking from the resources. It’s just a matter of what’s right, that they should contribute to maintaining the resources,” said Cabbage.
Citing the economy, State Senator Don Gaetz has filed legislation to repeal the fee.
“There’s a way to ask people to keep track of their catches, without charging them money to fish,” said Gaetz, a Republican from Niceville.
Fisherman Sam Cobb says if you want to fish, you need to pay the price. “You probably don’t need to be fishing, because half the bait and lures cost more than 10 dollars.”
Ironically, the fact so few have purchased the license, about 1 in 10, makes its repeal more palatable. That's because it will take fewer dollars out of a very tight state budget.
Revenue estimators expected as many as 338 thousand people to apply for the shoreline license. Right now just 32 thousand have applied.
