On Mon, 14 Dec 2009 16:49:17 -0500, Tom Francis - SWSports
wrote:

On Mon, 14 Dec 2009 15:16:41 -0500, John H
wrote:

Even if you possess a Maryland Bay License or are fishing in one of
the state's Free Fishing areas, sport fishermen will still need to
register with NOAA.

That's interesting. Apparently Maryland isn't going to contribute to
the database using their state system.

It costs $25 by the way - in addition to your normal license or
permit. And it won't allow you to fish in adjoining states either -
at least in salt water it won't because it's not reciprocal.

The MSSA says it's free, but then I found this on the NOAA site:

12. Will it cost anglers money to be registered?

Fishermen who are automatically included in the registry because their
state has a Memorandum of Agreement to share angler information with
NOAA will NOT be required to pay a federal registration fee (though
they will need to pay any costs associated with their state license).
For others, Congress gave NOAA Fisheries the option of collecting a
fee to cover the administrative costs of running the registry. There
will be no charge for the registry until 2011, at which time it is
expected to cost about $25 for those required to pay. All fees
collected through the Registry will go to the U.S. treasury, not a
specific program.
--

John H