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Random Quote: My dad is a T.V. repairman. He has an awsome set of tools, I can fix it. Jeff Spicoli
You know, if you support this, right *now* is probably not the worst time to call your Senate and House representative. I feel our State absolutely kills us with nickle-and-dime fees, charges and taxes, but this is one fee I'd be happy to pay....
feralcat, I have been on both sides of this one. I wouldn't have a problem if ALL the money went back into the fisheries but NC is broke and there is no telling where they will spend it. Kinda like the Wallop Breaux funds being used to build playgrounds. ???
I have done a total kerry on this one as well Shag. At first I was opposed, then I supported it and now I don't know what to think.
I would be in favor if all the money went back into fisheries etc.. but somehow I have a hunch that it will end up in the general fund.
The other thing to consider is that although no bill will be perfect, this one has a one week license for $1. $1...$1... why even bother? It will cost more than $1 to administer it..
From what I understand, the current bill being voted on today in the Senate has the funds going into a special trust: an NC Saltwater Fishing Fund -- not the General Fund -- and has some very specific guidelines for disbursing the income the fund would generate.
Could this be raided to support "Not Dumb at One," or some other Mike Weasely pet program? Sure.
I guess I look at it like this:
Chances of funding programs that will help with recreational saltwater fishing in NC from the General Fund: Zero.
Chances of the same, from a fund specifically designated to do so? Not zero. It's worth the $15 gamble, I believe.
It would take so little for this to happen, too...You think Rep. John Q. Pork doesn't listen, when 10 or 15 of his constituents call his office?
Since I don't get to fish SW that much, I'm not sure where I stand on this. I can see the benefits of having some "dedicated" money for that fishery, assuming that it actually was used to benefit SW sportsmen that bought the license. On the other hand, like HOTSPOT said, they (gov't) can't manage the funds effectively anyway so why give them more to mis-manage??????? I'll be watching this.............
Here's the link to the Senate bill. Looks like no money can be spent without permission of the marine fisheries commission. They actually put some minimums and maximums as to where the money would go.
This one won't affect me since I'm in SC, other than I do fish in NC waters and may have to buy the NC license too. Unless the $$$ is specifically earmarked and used for the fishery, it'll be just another fee for the fishermen and no benefit to them. From what I've seen, NC could use more ramps and could improve and dredge the ones they already have. I'd be willing to bet that not one cent will go towards that. For my .02, I'd kill the bill as its not going to sweeten anything other than the pork barrel.
If monies are distributed strictly for the fisheries it sure cant hurt!! We need to do something about the North Carolina Saltwater fisheries. We are way behind the times in this arena. I have lived and fished in other states where the monies go directly to inhancement, inforcement,and research and there are some great fishery recoveries going on in these states.
Oops. Just read the bill and it really kills the small charter guys. The fee for a charter or headboat greater than 25 feet is $400. Thats the same for a 26 foot boat that carries a max of 6 people as a headboat that may carry 100 or more. Thats poorly thought out. I can see the 6 pack paying $15 X 6 = 90, and the headboat paying $15 X the capacity of the boat. This bill must have had some strong input from the large headboat guys, and none from the charters. No way I'd support this until its made more realistic, and even then in my opinion, its just another fee that won't provide benefits.
I read the bill and it SEEMS to be forthright in the allocation of the funds. I don't like the 5% going back to the "public education" pot since NC won't allow a lottery which would overfund that anyway. The 20% for law enforcement seems a little low, those guys are grossly underfunded as it is now!!!!!! The 25% going to "reasearch" seems a little vague, I can see some senators kid now, wading around some beach in the name of "research". At least the board seems to be compromised correctly. Assuming that they don't screw with it just before voting then it may be a good thing Martha......... In the scheme of things in our lives as boaters, what's another 15 clams?????? CHOWDER, that's what............
WHOA NELLIE !!!!! Revenues from license sales would go into a North Carolina Saltwater Fishing Fund in the Office of State Treasurer, the assets of which would be invested.
Investment income would then be disbursed by a Board of Trustees made up of three appointments each by the governor, speaker of the House and Senate president pro-tem. The director of the Division of Marine Fisheries and the chairman of the Marine Fisheries Commission would serve as non-voting members.
The investment income could be spent for projects to improve fisheries like construction of artificial reefs and restoration of sea grasses and oyster reefs.
If the*REVENUES are INVESTED, and the INVESTMENT INCOME is to be used for the aforementioned projects, what becomes of the INVESTED REVENUES??????* Am I missing something here??????
I sould have said that the quotes are from the link posted by HOTSPOT.....
When I can afford leisure time, I spend it in Carteret County.
I support the local economy, renting motel rooms, paying for boat
storage, gas, bait, beer, and a host of other things I'd just assume not add up.
I don't keep "shorts." I don't keep more than my wife and I can reasonably eat,
not that it's a decision I make often!
I don't set nets.
And I've come to the conclusion, with every year worse than the preceding, I'm being
largely sh*t upon.
In 2006, I'm betting I can afford the $15, in an attempt to change the status quo, and
today, I could afford the exactly 8 minutes it took to leave 3 phone messages with David Miner,
Jennifer Weiss, and Paul Stam. I'm not ashamed to admit I'm not certain exactly who represents
me, so I figured I'd call a couple of the Wake County House Representatives.
Just like you guys, I was against, then for, now I have no idea.
I have no faith in the individuals that can't even manage our resources today, so why in the hell would I want to give them more money?
GET RID OF THE NETS.
Agree 100%...If any of you think for 1 minute that any user fee, tax, license, etc. will ever benefit us, well, I guess you would also think John Edwards is a winner . To those of you who are in favor of another fee, "if it was completely used for marine resources" keep in mind, that would include officer raises, new boats, new trucks, more "studies", new commitees, get my drift? Remember the NC gasoline tax we all pay, for roads, right? Nope, 20% goes to mass transit, ie. the new 8 billion Charlotte trollly system.
I vote no, the money will be wasted, again.
"why the hell would I want to give them more money" HOTSPOT
I'll get rid of my 100 yard flounder net when you pry it from my cold dead fingers.
Is this a state license or a saltwater license? I don't mind the $15 if it helps but I am trying to keep up with inspections on 4 cars and a motorcycle, license renewals on 4 cars, a motorcycle, and two boats. Servicing 4 cars, a motorcycle and two boats, a hunting license, a fishing license, and coming to a theatre near me, a salt water license. I think I'll run for office on the promise that there will just be one fee that NC citizens pay to have fun.
You can bitch about the gov't all you want - or you can do something about it. Fact is that this would give us a voice on saltwater fishing issues that has been almost exclusively been enjoyed by the commercial interests. I'm not against commercial fishing as i consume their product on a regular basis, but i WOULD like to see a more level playing field than what we have now. I support the license bill in its current form.
I'm against it.
It's another tax on people willing to work hard enough and smart enough to have some left over to put back into the states economy for leisure activities. I have not read the current link but I have heard it said in the past that people fishing from the shore and piers will not have to pay. So is it just another tax on boaters?
We already have a NC State Fishing License, expand that to cover the salt, the adminstration and LE for that is already in place.
How damn many licenses, fees, and taxes will I have to pay to hunt and fish?
After Federal and state income tax.
Sales tax on equipment.
Sales tax on supplies and accessories.
Sales tax on tow vehicle.
Property tax on equipment.
Property tax on land to hunt and fish.
Property tax on buildings on land close to hunting and fishing.
Property tax on vehicle to tow equipment.
Inspection sticker for vehicle to tow equipment.
License for tow vehicle.
License for trailer to tow boat.
License for trailer to tow off road vehicles.
License for trailer to tow horses.
State hunting license.
State fishing license.
Fee for handgun permit.
Fee for concealed carry permit.
Highway fuel tax paid for fuel in off road vehicles.
Highway fuel tax paid for fuel in boat engine.
Pay state for boat registration.
It's time to correctly administer what they are already taking.
If you charter and/or have commercial permits, add on to above:
Charter/Headboat Fed. permit for pelagic
Charter/Headboat for Kings and Spanish
Charter/Headboat for Dolphin/Wahoo
Fed. Operator Permit (Dolphin/Wahoo)
NC Commercial vessel permit
NC SCFL
Annual First Aid/Cpr
Probably more that don't come to mind. Where does this stuff end? I guess once we're all broke from paying all the fees...???
saltwater fishing license... 
. To those of you who are in favor of another fee, "if it was completely used for marine resources" keep in mind, that would include officer raises, new boats, new trucks, more "studies", new commitees, get my drift? Remember the NC gasoline tax we all pay, for roads, right? Nope, 20% goes to mass transit, ie. the new 8 billion Charlotte trollly system. 
