FYI - Federal waters begin 3 miles off shore. The state has no jurisdiction here. Striped Bass would be most impacted (from a species point of view) because you cannot harvest one from federal waters. Which means, to keep one, you must catch it inside 3 mi, which means it would require a license if one was imposed. There is also some rule(s) about landing a fish caught elsewhere. Like the stripers have minimum federal size (28" I think) and the states can go above that. At one time, NH was at 36" and ME at 32" (or something, I forget) but even if you caught the fish in ME state waters, you could not come into port in NH and disembark with it. I know I've heard stories about boats landing parties on one side or the other of the Piscataqua (I believe it was the Piscataqua) to avoid this problem.
Or, if you have a boat, you simply fish more then 3 miles out. This would have a definite impact on "making bait" which is often done in the harbor, channel, breakwater, etc., on the way out.
My personal interest in F&G is as a fisherman. Hiking, while an on-again-off-again pass time for most of my adult life, is only recently the focus of my recreational time and money. I've been fishing since I was 5 years old -- tied 10 feet of line around a lincoln log to make a drop line and caught sunfish at the pond at the end of my street. I certainly would be happy to have SAR at my disposal should I need them, but I do buy the license every year so I can fish with my kids while at the lake. Stupid thing is, we mostly catch the non-native, introduced pest known as a "rock bass". Great fun if you're 4 and 6. They request you don't actually throw them back. But you still need a license... and I never target the 'managed' species, like hatchery fish (salmon, trout, etc.)
The state of NH, F&G would have almost no impact on the salt water fishery, as they have like 15 miles of coastline to influence. Charging a fee under the guise of management would not cut bait, never mind fish, to coin a term
IF the fee meant the F&G would patrol the harbors and docks and keep the "poachers" from keeping 15" stripers, then it might be worthwhile, but I bet they won't provide services to the fishery just because they get money from it.
One other point Director Perry made on salt water licenses is with 15 miles of coastline, everyone has to head an average of 7.5 miles north or south to avoid having one.
My experience is the head boats (Gauron's, et. al. in Hampton) would be "immune". They already have different bag limits for cod and haddock from the guy with his own boat, in order to not handcuff the head boat captain's living. Perhaps a small fee or a dollar or two for a 1-day license wouldn't hurt too badly.
Tim
