By Terry Knight
New Year”s Day will bring some major changes for boaters and fishermen. All boaters who plan on launching a boat into any waters in Lake County will be required to have their boats screened for quagga mussels and obtain a 2011 sticker. That includes those local boaters who originally bought their stickers two years ago.
Residents who have their boats registered in Lake County will be required to purchase an annual sticker for $10. Non-residents will be required to purchase a monthly sticker, also for $10.
According to Carolyn Ruttan of the Lake County Water Resources Department, Lake County residents won”t be required to have their boats inspected in order to obtain the resident sticker. She said they only have to bring in the paperwork that identifies that the boat is stored in Lake County and the agents will issue a resident sticker. Out-of-county boats will require a screening and possibly an inspection to obtain the stickers. Ruttan said the agents should have the 2011 stickers in their possession by Jan. 1.
Fishermen will need a 2011 California fishing license. In 2011 the basic license will cost $43.46 and that doesn”t include $13.53 for a second rod stamp. This year the Department of Fish and Game is implementing its new license issuing system where license agents are required to have an Automated Data License System (ADLS) terminal. Presently the local license agents that are on the new ADLS system are Kmart in Lakeport, Wal-Mart, Clearlake Bait and Tackle, Lakeshore Sports and Parkview Market in Clearlake and Limit Out Bait and Tackle in Clearlake Oaks. Licenses can also be obtained online by using a credit card. Go to www.dfg.ca.gov and follow the instructions.
California has one of the highest fishing license fees in the nation. In comparison, Arizona charges fishermen only $23 for license. For years many fishermen have complained that they receive very little service from the Department of Fish and Game (DFG) for these exorbitant fees.
As in past years the DFG gives a break to low-income seniors and a few qualified veterans and other citizens. For those who fall into that category a fishing license will only cost $6.44 or in some cases even be free.
A reduced-fee license can be purchased by any person 65 years of age or older who is a resident of California and whose total monthly income from all sources does not exceed the income levels below. Income verification from your Social Security office is required. Any honorably-discharged veteran of the U.S. Armed Forces with a service-connected disability rating of 50 percent or more, proof of eligibility from the United States Veterans Administration or a copy of last year”s license is required:
1) $845 for single people, or
2) $1,407 for married people (combined income).
Five year free sport fishing licenses are available for anglers who meet the criteria below.
(A) Any person, with central vision acuity of 20/200 or less in the better eye with the aid of the best possible correcting glasses, or central vision acuity better than 20/200 if the widest diameter of the remaining visual field is no greater than 20 degrees. Certification of blindness by an optometrist or an ophthalmologist is required.
(B) Any person who is a resident of the state and who is so severely physically disabled as to be permanently unable to move from place to place without the aid of a wheelchair, walker, forearm crutches or a comparable mobility-related device. Verification by a licensed physician or a copy of the previous year”s free fishing license is required.
(C) Any developmentally disabled person. Certification by a licensed physician or the director of a State regional center is required.
(D) Any American Indian or lineal descendant who is a resident of the state and whose total annual income does not exceed $10,830 for the head of the household, plus $3,740 for each additional family member living with them. Certification by the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) or proof of being on a tribal registry is required.
For those who only plan to fish only one or two days a year you can buy a one-day license for $14.04 or a two-day for $21.86.
The DFG also allows individuals to purchase a lifetime fishing license. The lifetime license fee for persons aged 0-9 years is $478.50, 10 to 39 years is $781.50, 40 to 61 years is $704.25 and 62 years and older it”s $478.50.
