On Mar 1, 8:19 am, Chuck Cox wrote:
I'd like to start doing some fishing while cruising. ...
I'm more interested in food than sport. Is a license required for coastal
ocean fishing?

I'd suggest investing in a copy of "The Cruiser's handbook of Fishing"
by Scott Bannerot. It's easy to read (Scott has a good sense of
humor) and covers all the basics. I'm no fisherman, but I often drag
a line when cruising. I use 300 lb test on a "yo-yo" and use Mustad
No. 7 stainless double hooks a bit of wire leader and some feathers.
Fish bite just about anything given enough time. Some ocean fish are
big, so I attach my gear to the boat with a length of surgical tubing
with a strong line run inside it in case it breaks. This often
absorbs enough shock to keep the fish from exploding. Sport fishermen
will likely be appalled by this set up, but it has some advantages
over light tackle sport rigs. The whole set-up costs less than a
decent salt water fishing pole. It doesn't require any special boat
maneuvering to land fish. Small fish (less than about 30 lbs) can
usually be hand lined to the boat along the surface and then just
heaved on board and subdued (a towel to blind then and absorb some
blood is good here). And, best of all for the short handed , if you
are otherwise occupied when you get a hit the fish will wait until you
are ready to deal with it.

Generally speaking no license is required for true ocean fishing (ie.
outside of 12 miles). More often than not, fishing within 3 miles of
shore will be regulated in some way by the state that controls the
waters. The regulation may take the form of licenses, but you will
also want to be aware of size limits, closed seasons and closed areas.
There are a few areas where fishing is prohibited out to 12 miles (eg.
the North-West Hawaiian Islands).

-- Tom.