OCEAN CITY — In the hopes of expanding an already multi-billion dollar industry and encourage more anglers to get lines in the water, Governor Larry Hogan this week signed into a law a bill that will extend the life of a Maryland annual recreational fishing license for an entire 365 days.
The bill, passed by the General Assembly this year, will change the time frame for the life of a recreational fishing license in Maryland to give purchasers an entire 365-day year regardless of when they purchase it. Currently, an annual recreational fishing license is valid for a calendar year, regardless of when it is purchased.
For example, if an angler purchases a recreational tidal or non-tidal fishing license, or a Chesapeake Bay and coastal fishing license, it is valid until Dec. 31 of that year. In some cases, an angler might purchase a license in August, September, October or later, and have it expire in just a few months.
The bill signed into law this week will make the license valid for an entire year. If an angler purchases a recreational fishing license in September, it will remain valid until September of the following year. Under current law, an angler 16 years old or older is required to have a Chesapeake Bay and coastal sportfishing license to fish in the Chesapeake and its tributaries and in the state waters of the Atlantic Ocean in around Ocean City, Assateague and the coastal bays.
The hope is to encourage more anglers to purchase the required licenses and buy year-long licenses rather than a one-day, one-week or one-month license. Another intent is to get more people out on the water and enjoying the state’s natural resources and spending money.
“By giving anglers the added value and flexibility of choosing their annual license’s start date, we expect they will spend more days on the water, which will benefit Maryland businesses associated with the sportfishing community, such as tackle shops and charter boats as well as the food service, fuel and hotel industries,” said Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Secretary Mark Belton this week.
“This is a win for the recreational fishing community,” said Sportfishing Advisory Committee Vice Chairman David Sikorski. “Maryland now joins a handful of states leading the movement to offer the increased value and flexibility of a 365-day license.”