CRFLs Not Available Until Jan. 1, 2007

Photo by Craig Holt

N.C. saltwater anglers won’t be able to purchase the new recreational saltwater fishing license until Jan. 1, 2007.

The N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission, during May inland fisheries seminars at the Pisgah Hatchery, said cooperator agents and the Division of Marine Fisheries would be able to sell Coastal Recreational Fishing Licenses starting Dec. 1, 2006.

The CRFL will be mandatory for most people who fish in N.C.-managed saltwater (with special exemptions), starting Jan. 1, 2007.

However, later governmental developments and computer problems made the WRC’s May information about Dec. 1, 2006, CRFL purchases incorrect. CRFLs will go on sale Jan. 1, 2007, the day the law becomes effective, according to a WRC official.

Bob Curry, the WRC’s director of Inland Fisheries, said a General Assembly-passed law, the Mandatory Vessel Titling Act that also goes into effect Jan. 1, 2007, was tied to the CRFL so the saltwater license can’t be sold earlier than that date. Curry also said the WRC’s computer-licensing program software would have had to be reconfigured to enable it to handle three kinds of licenses at once, which couldn’t be done by Dec. 1, 2006.

“At the last directors meeting it was agreed to delay (adding the CRFL) to ALVIN (Automated License and Vessel Information Network) until Jan. 1, 2007, so all (three) can be running off the same page,” Curry said.