2010 Fishing Licenses Now Available

The 2010 fishing licenses are now available, and make an excellent last-minute gift idea or stocking stuffer. Giving fishing licenses is so popular, that the DFG estimates that 10-percent of its annual license sales come during the holidays.

Besides traditional hook and line fishing, a California fishing license is required to take any kind of fish, mollusk, crustacean, invertebrate, amphibian or reptile. That means if you are trapping crawdads in a slough, or even just catching lizards in a vacant lot, you need a fishing license if you are age 16 or older. The only reptiles exempted from the license requirements are rattlesnakes.

Most of the new licenses are available at license agents such as sporting goods and tackle stores throughout Northern California, or online from the DFG.

A typical Chico or Oroville-based angler who fishes all of the possibilities within a three-hour drive [but doesn't dive for abalone] will need to ante up $66.15. Fishing only in Lake Oroville [without a second-rod stamp] can be done with the basic $41.50 license, but to fish for all species in the Feather and Sacramento rivers will be $47.80 [again without the second-rod stamp]. Remember that the Bay-Delta stamp that was formerly required on the Feather and Sacramento downstream of the dams has been discontinued.

Notable changes of the last few years include a revision of the "Second rod Stamp" rules, which now allow an angler to use two rods in most inland waters, except for waters in which only artificial lures or barbless hooks may be used. Previously, the use of a second rod was permitted in lakes and reservoirs only.

Also revised in recent years are the rules regarding the Klamath-Trinity Salmon Report Card. The card will now be required for all anglers taking salmon in the Klamath-Trinity River system, including persons who are not required to have a sport fishing license, such as persons who are under 16 years of age, and persons who are fishing on free fishing days.

All of the report cards, including Steelhead, Klamath/Trinity, Sturgeon, Abalone, and Spiny Lobster are required for those activities, even if the person does not otherwise require a license. Examples include persons less than 16 years of age, fishing on a public ocean pier, or those fishing on the state's two annual "License Free Days."

The traveling California-resident angler who fishes and scuba dives throughout California from the Oregon border to the Mexican border will shell out a whopping $102.25, while a non-California resident visitor would pay $172.60 for the same activity.

2010 fishing license and stamp prices [includes approx. 5-percent agent fee] are as follows:

Resident Sport Fishing License- $41.50
One-Day Sport Fishing License- $13.40
Two-Day Sport Fishing License- $20.75
Non-Resident Sport Fishing License- $111.85
10-Day Non-Resident- $41.50
Steelhead Report Card- $6.30
North Coast Salmon Report Card- $5.50
Sturgeon Report Card- Free
Abalone Report Card- $19.95
Ocean Enhancement Stamp- $4.75
Spiny Lobster Report Card- $8.40
Colorado River Stamp- $3.00
Free or Reduced-Fee License- Available to a limited number of disabled and low-income persons, along with some Native Americans. See DFG website for requirements.
License-free Fishing Days- July 4 and September 6, 2010.

Bear season closed

The DFG announced the immediate closure of the statewide black bear hunting season. The season closes when DFG verifies that 1700 bears have been taken by hunters. Notices have already been mailed to all bear tag holders.

Hunters must submit the bear they harvested to DFG for validation within 10 days of taking it. Teeth are extracted from half the harvested bears to help DFG determine the age and health of the bear population.

All bear tags must be returned to the DFG Wildlife Branch, 1812 Ninth St., Sacramento, CA 95811, no later than Feb. 1, 2010. Tags yet to be received by the DFG will put the harvest slightly above 1700 bears. This will not have an adverse impact on the state's bear population, which is estimated to be more than 35,000.

Lifetime Licenses

Serious outdoors people may want to consider purchasing a Lifetime License. This program is not available from license agents, but must be handled directly from a DFG license office. The nearest license offices are in Redding or Sacramento.

Lifetime Fishing License fees:
Birth to 9 years of age- $463.25
10 to 39 years of age- $761.25
40 to 61 years of age- $685.25
62 years of age or older- $463.25
Fishing stamp privileges- $311.25