New Senior Fishing Licenses
Now available , residents born after March 31, 1943 and who are at least 64 years old will be required to purchase either a $3 senior fishing license each year, or a one-time $17 Fish-for-Life senior license to be able to fish in public waters. The $17 fee is the same price that 64-year old anglers used to pay for their yearly license; however, the Fish-for-Life license will be the last fishing license a person will ever need to purchase in Indiana. Both of the senior fishing licenses also include the trout/salmon stamp.
Indiana residents born before April 1, 1943 will continue to be exempt from having to buy either of the two discounted senior licenses. In other words, these seniors who currently fish public waters at no charge will not be affected by the new law, except by reaping benefits gained from use of the additional federal funding.
Each senior citizen's purchase of a discounted senior fishing license will bring the state an additional $7.90 of federal money, as the result of a bill signed by Gov. Mitch Daniels on March 30.
The funding gained will go toward sport fish restoration programs, and expanding and maintaining public access to lakes and streams throughout the state.
With the change, "Governor Daniels, the General Assembly and our organized sportsmen's groups really stepped up to help make this happen and we owe them our thanks," said Rob Carter, DNR director. "We hope the low cost won't cause any hardships for our dedicated senior anglers."
Approximately 5,460 Hoosier anglers, age 64, bought a 2006 Indiana fishing license. If the same number were to buy a senior license in 2008, the state would gain $43,000 from the federal government. In 10 years, the total would swell to $2.3 million.
The federal program is funded by excise taxes on fishing equipment and boat fuel. These funds are distributed to states based in part on the number of licensed anglers in the state. Since Indiana senior citizens do not currently have to purchase a fishing license, they can not be counted as a license holder, so a portion of the money gained from the excise tax charged to Hoosiers on equipment such as rods, reels, lures and boat fuel is being distributed to other states.
DNR Division of Fish and Wildlife statistics show that last year there were approximately 90,000 Indiana seniors fishing in the state.
The DNR maintains more than 350 fishing sites, but many lakes and streams still lack public access. Additional funds are needed to purchase lands from willing sellers, and to construct boat ramps, parking lots, entrance roads and ADA-accessible facilities. In addition, increased funding is needed for maintenance projects at these access sites, including the periodic rebuilding of worn-out ramps.
The DNR operates eight fish hatcheries that provide more than 20 million fish of 15 different species for stocking in public waters each year. The two newest hatcheries are 20 years old. Others date back to early in the last century. As these facilities age, repair costs mount. Without reinvestment made possible by the new legislation, these hatcheries would not be able to adequately supply tomorrow’s anglers.
