There is a tax or fee for everything these days ? gasoline, property, visiting state and national parks, excise taxes on fishing/hunting gear, boat license fees ? and fishing. Legislatures and Congress would tax air if they could figure out how to do it.
This doesnot mean that fishing fees are unjustified, considering costs of raising fish, regulation enforcement, fish stocking, surveying and studying fish.
But it is possible to fish Maryland tidal water for free ? even if only for a few days. Department of Natural Resources “free fishing days” of June 3, June 10 and July 4 allow fishing salt water license-free, although you must adhere to all other fishing laws.
You can also bypass some long-term angling costs, which if you buy everything you need for all Maryland fishing requires coughing up $24.50 annually. That?s for the Chesapeake Bay license; freshwater license and trout stamp for designated trout streams. It?s a great deal for the fishing fun involved, but still a whack in the wallet.
This fishing “tax relief” is called “license free fishing areas.” Areas in certain Maryland counties allow fishing license-free year round. The hook (pardon the pun) is that only salt water sites are involved.
For example, in Anne Arundel, the one area is the Maryland Route 450 old bridge at the Severn River. The areas in Baltimore County include one at the Hull Street Recreational Pier off of Key Highway; another near the Hanover Street Bridge. None are located in western or central counties.
(Locate free fishing spots on the DNR web site www.dnr.state.us.fisheries/recreational/freefi.html.)
Here?s an idea for the legislature and governor, since such laws are by legislation, not simpler DNR regulation. How about a couple of “free fishing areas” in each county? Take a pond or three or dig one on state land. Fill it with sunfish and a few bass, perhaps some catfish, and let people go at it all year round.
If they get hooked (pardon the pun again) people will want to fish other areas ? and ka-ching ? the DNR sells another fishing license and makes an angling convert. It would be great for teaching fishing to kids and a win-win for everyone.
You can let the legislature know your thoughts on this idea of more state-wide select-area free fishing sites. Check www.mdelect.net to find your state legislator, since that?s where the process starts. Maybe politicians will see support for this and get something going.
Another idea: they could also extend those three free fishing days to inland waters. It?s a thought.
C. Boyd Pfeiffer is an internationally-known sportsman and award-winning writer on hunting, fishing and the outdoors, and he has more than 20 books to his credit. He can be reached at [email protected].
