Fishing for Free - an interesting bill from Sen. Negron

[caseycook]

Senator: You should be able to fish for free if you're broke

February 01, 2011
By:
Brent Henzi

A fishing pole might be all that you need to go fishing in Florida, as a bill filed by Sen. Joe Negron, R-Stuart, on Tuesday would remove the requirement for a fishing license.

Negron's SB 744 would lift the license requirement for both residents of Florida and non-residents to recreationally fish in both freshwater and salt water.

The senator said that his intent behind the bill is for government to "stop hassling" people who want to fish in Florida and bring it back to the days of being able to fish whenever and wherever you want without filling out paperwork.

"The bill is my effort to reduce the annoyance and nuisance of government," said Negron.

Despite a budget shortfall that is estimated to be more than $3.6 billion, Negron said that he hopes to replace the revenue lost from eliminating fishing permits by finding the money elsewhere in the budget for the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, which currently controls the licensing process.

Negron said that what FWC receives from recreational fishing licenses is a "modest amount," but FWC spokesman Lee Schlesinger said that the bill if passed could have "lots of ramifications on wildlife conservation programs and law enforcement."

Schlesinger said that he would have to further review the bill to estimate the financial impacts, but he stated that nearly all of his department's funding comes from fishing licenses, adding that the fees collected are "the engine that drives the management" of Florida's recreational fishing industry.

"We would have to change what we do, reduce programs, or somehow get another source of funding," said Schlesinger.

Negron noted that FWC "is an important and essential agency" but with a $70 billion budget the Legislature should be able to "find the money to fund them without hassling people who want to go fish."

Currently, annual freshwater or saltwater licenses cost Florida residents $17 a piece, while a combo of the two is offered for $32.50. For non-residents, a yearly license for freshwater or saltwater fishing costs $47 a piece.

In 2010, the Legislature passed a bill that no longer required a fee for a resident license for shore saltwater fishing, but Schlesinger said that was to avoid a more costly federal license fee and that a bill such as Sen. Negron's is something entirely different.

Although Negron has felt that a license should not be required for recreational fishing in Florida for some time, it is not until he recently received numerous letters from constituents that he has decided to take action.

"I'm looking at ways to roll back intrusive ways of government, but also there are a few things that you should be able to do when you are broke: fish and go to the beach," Negron said.

[Gulf Coast]

HOW MUCH MONEY WILL IT TAKE TO DETERMINE WHO IS BROKE WHO IS NOT. SEN. IS LOOKING FOR VOTES

[Tom Keels]

The Senator is an idiot.

[Bizzarley]

I fish in Georgia, Michigan, Ohio, and Florida every year (and live in Georgia). I usually end up buying the year out of state for both Florida and Michigan (cheaper than day to day). I don't mind a bit sending money to the states. Couldn't imagine what would happen to the fisheries without that.

[FishWithChris]

ReallY? Good God Negron, you know this isn't going to pass.

"Intrusive ways of the government" How is this intrusive? You pay a fee to fish an area that is managed and regulated so that you CAN catch fish in a safe manner. Last thing we need is a league of fish pirates going around.

"Other ways of being funded" WHAT other ways, Joe? Earmark a tax in there somewhere? No thanks.


No way in Aych EEE double Hockey Sticks is this going to be voted in approval by any standing committee.

[wevans]

The Senator is an idiot.

[Atticus]

Unbelievable stupidity from Negron here

[CSMarine]

They really have their info correct don't they. They didn't pass laws allowing Florida residents to shore fish free in 2010. They passed laws requiring residents fishing from shore for the first time in Florida history to be required to buy a salt water license. Best thing they ever did to me. Tired of going to the fishing pier at Keaton or along the bank at Yates Creek on the weekend and finding 200 non-Florida, non-U.S. Residents cleaning out every thing from 1 inch fish to 1 inch crabs. Keeping everything. Including baby Stone Crabs. I've called and reported it more than once, but still never seen a Game Warden checking these people at either place. They would rather wait and jump out of the bushes, guns drawn, at folks who try to follow the rules. Like they have me more than once, and like they did another BBF member last weekend. At least now these idiots have to buy a non-resident license to be legal.
Sorry to rant. People who get away with breaking our game and fish laws is one of my pet peeves.

[Gulf Coast]

I BELIEVE FL. RES. MUST HAVE A SHORELINE LICENSE, NO CHARGE FOR IT, BUT FISHERMAN MUST HAVE IT

[red_yakker]

Caseycook, where did you find this story?

[caseycook]

Caseycook, where did you find this story?

www.sayfiereview.com - it was on the blog ticker on Wednesday.

SB 744 hasn't been referred to any committees yet. It'll be interesting to see if anyone files it in the House.

[Atticus]

It'll be interesting to see if anyone files it in the House.

The house sponsor is busy hunting snipe with a pillowcase.

[Good Times]

Ridiculous. Why would someone waste time creating this bill?

[captkeyser]

Wow!

[Mister Mullet]

Sen. Negron is suffering from a severe case of rectal-cranial inversion. Beware, he might be dangerous.