Fishing license questions

[xDirty]

Do you guys put your fishing license on display on outer clothing at all times while fishing ?

Honestly i think its a stupid rule and i keep my fishing license in my wallet. Not every stranger needs to know my name and also if there's light rain my printed copy will get destroyed.

I hate a lot of things about how new jersey does things. The license i print should have been temporary while they send me a printed hard copy, possibly laminated, and maybe something thats the size of a business card so i can fit it in my wallet.

[Chrisper4694]

Well technically yes it's supposed to be showing. I laminate mine at work and keep a bunch of copies everywhere (wallet, car, fishing bags). I very rarely wear mine but have it on my bag in plain site. Had a state police boat on cong give me a warning about it after he found all my other stuff in check...I think he was just bored...

[Wilson]

Yes you are supposed to have your license attached to your body clothing while fishing. That way the wardens don't have to stop and check all the people they see fishing.

The law is the law... I just wish all the people I see with no display, undersized fish, 17 rods out would get caught.:rolleyes:

[xDirty]

Yes you are supposed to have your license attached to your body clothing while fishing. That way the wardens don't have to stop and check all the people they see fishing.

The law is the law... I just wish all the people I see with no display, undersized fish, 17 rods out would get caught.:rolleyes:


I agree with the whole 17 the rods thing and undersized fish but to give up anonymity in public so a warden isn't inconvenienced is something i dont agree with. Maybe the warden should stop and check all the people.

[Chrisper4694]

I think the license is way too small to read from any kind of distance away anyway.

[Jigman13]

And some people say cucumbers taste better pickled...huh? What?

[acabtp]

I agree with the whole 17 the rods thing and undersized fish but to give up anonymity in public so a warden isn't inconvenienced is something i dont agree with. Maybe the warden should stop and check all the people.

well, unfortunately, it doesn't really matter if you don't agree with it; it's the law. the CO doesn't have time to stop and check all the people; they are stretched thin enough as it is... so anything you do to help the CO save time (like displaying your license) frees him up to catch more poachers (like the 17 rods guys).

if you want a waterproof copy, go down to any licensing agent and they will reprint your license for you on the green waterproof stuff for $2. don't laminate the green one, it will destroy it (they are thermal prints).

I think the license is way too small to read from any kind of distance away anyway.

agreed. the COs just look for the expiration year which is printed real big so they can see it through binoculars. the rest of the info is small enough that nobody is able to read it without getting so close that it's obvious that's what they are doing.

[briansnat]

I print a bunch, one for the glove compartment, one for the big tackle box, one for my trout vest and one for the boat. If I'm stream fishing with the vest I always wear it, because the holder has been attached to the back since I bought the vest.

In my boat I never wear it. It's somewhere in the boat. I know that technically you can be fined for not wearing it and I've heard of people who have been cited for not wearing it even though they had it in their possession.

The funny thing is that after printing all of those, I've occasionally found myself on the water and realized I didn't have my license with me.

[SplitShot]

I'm not looking to give the CO any extra reason to bother me while I'm fishing so I always wear it on back of my hat and never think about it :D

[Lard Almighty]

I usually have my license on the outside of my tackle bag, no CO has ever told me to put it on my clothes. I was once stopped on LH and the only copy I had was in my wallet, the CO didn't comment on that. I guess it depends on which CO and what kind of mood he's in.

[Billfish715]

Unless you fish naked, there's always a place to pin your license.That's why they sell those license holders. I wear mine on my vest when I'm trout fishing. I was checked by a CO a few years back on the Flatbrook. He read my license from 20 feet away. It turns out, he was a good friend of my uncle. Once he saw my name he knew exactly who I was and we talked for about 15 minutes before he had to leave. I also saw a squad of CO's get out of their cars on the Musky and walk both banks. The only people they questioned were the ones without a visible license. It didn't take them long to move on and check other places. This allowed them to cover more miles and check more fishermen which is a good thing. Try hunting without a visible license! Try driving your car without license plates! Do you have registration numbers on your boat? Do you go through airport security? Do the security people wear ID badges? What's the differenc?

[Capt. Lou]

I've always displayed my license on my back since I purchase two one NJ & PA , when I've been checked, once had to walk across stream so he could close up license. On another occasion the CO used binoculars so I didn't have to come out of water.

[xDirty]

Unless you fish naked, there's always a place to pin your license.That's why they sell those license holders. I wear mine on my vest when I'm trout fishing. I was checked by a CO a few years back on the Flatbrook. He read my license from 20 feet away. It turns out, he was a good friend of my uncle. Once he saw my name he knew exactly who I was and we talked for about 15 minutes before he had to leave. I also saw a squad of CO's get out of their cars on the Musky and walk both banks. The only people they questioned were the ones without a visible license. It didn't take them long to move on and check other places. This allowed them to cover more miles and check more fishermen which is a good thing. Try hunting without a visible license! Try driving your car without license plates! Do you have registration numbers on your boat? Do you go through airport security? Do the security people wear ID badges? What's the differenc?

Sorry i dont agree, i dont want anyone to know who i am and if the CO wants to come and ask me for my license i'll be glad to give it to him.

If it takes him a little longer , than it is what it is, because i value my privacy more than i value delaying a CO. Ive never heard of anyone getting in trouble for not having it displayed on their clothes.

Also your license plates only identifies you to the police officer not to any random people.

When you go to the airport you only show your password when you are asked, you dont need to have on display on your clothing at all times. But imagine if you did ? Thats how I feel about the fishing license.

Also if you're walking on the street and a police officer stops you , you are not required to show them your license or any identifying information.

As for it being the law, we all break the law and bend the rules on a daily basis. If you go 5 miles over the speed limit, guess what, you broke the law.
You ever smoke marijuana ? guess what you broke the law. But everyone has done it at some point, cause its a stupid law to begin with.

I know some of you disagree with me, but lets agree to disagree.

[acabtp]

...cause its a stupid law to begin with.

well, if that's really how you feel, why don't you suggest the change during the public comment portion of a meeting of the nj fish and game council (http://www.state.nj.us/dep/fgw/councils.htm#fishandgame)? that's the governing body of the NJ fish and game code, which includes the license display requirements.

next meeting is on 10/13
http://www.state.nj.us/dep/fgw/fgcnclmtg.htm

[xDirty]

well, if that's really how you feel, why don't you suggest the change during the public comment portion of a meeting of the nj fish and game council (http://www.state.nj.us/dep/fgw/councils.htm#fishandgame)? that's the governing body of the NJ fish and game code, which includes the license display requirements.

next meeting is on 10/13
http://www.state.nj.us/dep/fgw/fgcnclmtg.htm

Thats an amazing idea. Thank you

[Eskimo]

I'm not looking to give the CO any extra reason to bother me while I'm fishing so I always wear it on back of my hat and never think about it :D

Me too. I pin it to my hat in a license holder.

If nosey people want to read my name and address that's fine. There's no shame in my game.


.

[John85]

Do you guys put your fishing license on display on outer clothing at all times while fishing ?

Honestly i think its a stupid rule and i keep my fishing license in my wallet. Not every stranger needs to know my name and also if there's light rain my printed copy will get destroyed.

I hate a lot of things about how new jersey does things. The license i print should have been temporary while they send me a printed hard copy, possibly laminated, and maybe something thats the size of a business card so i can fit it in my wallet.

I don't sweetwater fish in NJ, solely salt. However I have fished freshwater in Pennsylvania for over 20 years. They have the same regulations with regards to displaying your license on an outer garment. I have always pinned it to the back of the shirt or jacket when I fished. Until one time, where I was checked by the same CO(DCNR in PA) at 3 different lakes within 6 hours. He refused to recognize me as the same person he checked prior. Even though there were only a few other fisherman at each lake and each time he made me supply my NJ driver license to prove I was the person the fishing license was issued to. Now, in complete compliance with the law, I pin my license on my back pants pocket so if they need to check they can bend over and look.

[Delawareriver]

I would always forget it when it was pinned to me. Would have to dig through the laundry hamper so now I keep it on my wallet, I always have it then if I decide to stop on my way home from work or find myself with an hour or two to kill why away from home. Any ways I can't remember the last time I was checked even fishing opening day of trout and seeing a co walking by. And when I was checked several years ago they didn't give me a hard time about not having it displayed although I know if I get a hard guy on the wrong day I could be ticketed