Companies across the fishing industry have signed on to a support letter for Assembly Bill 817, which is aiming to bring a true 365-day fishing license to California. The letter (found below) is addressed to the bill author Jim Wood. The Coastal Conservation Association of California (CCA CAL) is serving as the bill sponsor. You can find the letter and those who signed on down below.
March 18th, 2021
Honorable Jim Wood
Assemblyman, District 2
State Capitol, Room 6005
Sacramento, CA 95814
RE: Assembly Bill 817 (Wood): SUPPORT
Dear Assemblyman Wood,
On behalf of the 2 million licensed anglers in the state of California and thousands of businesses that support recreational angling activities, the following organizations are pleased to offer their support for your bill, AB 817, legislation that aims to increase fishing participation rates critical to protecting our state’s economy, jobs, and state and local tax revenue.
AB 817 would transition California’s calendar-based fishing license to one that is valid a full 365 days from the date of purchase and a mobile phone app that makes compliance and renewal easier. This bill reflects that national movement towards adoption of the 365 model and complements the recent activities and proposals that have resulted from the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) Recruitment, Retention and Reactivation (R3) implementation plan presented to the Governor and Legislature on increasing the number of anglers in the State.
Outdoor recreation in California is big business and tax revenue for thousands of small businesses, local governments, and CDFW. California’s anglers spend $3.5 billion annually in related industries (gear, guides, boats, tackle) and contribute $500 million in state and local taxes each year. Tens of thousands of California jobs are directly impacted by the success of our sport. CDFW is a major recipient of revenue from the sale of fishing licenses, and special validations, which are necessary for fishing nearly everywhere in the state with a few limited exceptions.
Since 1980, annual resident sport fishing license sales have declined 55% while the state’s population has increased over 60%. While California has a population of more than 39.8 million people, one of the country’s longest coastlines, more than 3,000 lakes and thousands of rivers and streams, it has the lowest fishing participation rate per capita in the country.
One of the contributing factors is California’s costly annual fishing license that expires on December 31st of each year, regardless of when purchased. Because most anglers will not pay full price for a license that is not valid a full 365-days from the date of purchase, CDFW fishing license data reveals that annual license sales peak in the first quarter of the year and then decline significantly by late Spring, even as weather warms and outdoor recreational activity increases.
Establishing a license that is valid for 365-days from the date of purchase, along with an app that will display fishing licenses on mobile devices, will help address California’s declining fishing participation rate as seen in 14 states that have transitioned to a 365-day license. States that offer a 365-day license are outperforming revenue of states that only offer a calendar-based license. As has been the case in other states that market 365-day licenses, the state stands to benefit from new sales and revenue that can be used for funding important wildlife and conservation programs.
As business owners and anglers in the state of California, we are pleased to support AB 817, and look forward to working with you as this legislation moves through the committee process.
Sincerely,
Coastal Conservation Association California,
Oceanside Senior Anglers,
San Diego County Wildlife Federation,
Promar & Ahi USA,
Big Hammer Lures,
Angler Chronicles,
Park Cypress RV Storage,
Izorline Fishing Products,
FIA Insurance Services, Inc.,
Okuma Fishing USA,
SKB Cases,
The Rusty Hook Tackle Store,
Squidco Fishing Tackle,
Turner’s Rod & Reel Fishing Club,
Tailhunter Sportfishing,
Marina Del Rey Anglers Club,
Kingfisher Angling Club,
Boundless Boat Charters, LLC,
Cobalt Sportfishing,
Dana Wharf Rod & Reel Club,
Coletta Sportfishing,
San Diego Sportfishing Council,
Fishworks Clothing Products,
One Cool Tuna,
Hogan’s Tackle,
Phenix Rods,
The Longfin Tackle Store,
Thresher Boats,
San Diego Fly Fishers Club,
San Diego Anglers Club,
Los Angeles Rod & Reel Club,
South Bay Anglers Club,
Trojan Anglers Club,
Poseidon Fishing Adventures,
Sportfishing Association of California,
Recreational Boaters of California,
San Diego Rod & Reel Club,
San Diego Anglers Foundation,
Hook, Line & Sinker Tackle,
Master Fishing Tackle,
Roddy Fishing,
Cedros Kayak Fishing,
San Diego Marlin Club,
Davis Boats,
Bullbuster,
Balboa Angling Club,
Costa Sunglasses,
Laguna Niguel Billfish Club,
AFTCO,
Wavewalker Charters,
Pacific Coast Sportfishing Magazine,
Shimano North America Fishing,
Soft Steel USA,
Fishlab USA,
Channel Islands Yacht Club,
Western Outdoor News,
Harbour Rod & Reel Club,
Dana Wharf Sportfishing,
Ketcham Tackle,
Oceanside Sea Center,
Dana Angling Club,
cc: Members, Water Parks and Wildlife Committee
Keith Ciliano, Water Parks and Wildlife Committee
Calvin Rush, Republican Caucus Consultant
Charles Bonham, Director, California Department of Fish and Wildlife
