Cal DFG Licenses now available on-line

As well as some stamps--now if I could just find more time to fish ;-(

California Department of Fish and Game News Release
 
NEWS RELEASE FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE     May 26, 2009

Sport Fishing Licenses Now Available Online
 
Contacts: Richard Reyes, Automated License Data System Program Manager, (916) 928-6899
Kirsten Macintyre, DFG Communications, (916) 804-1714
 
California sport fishing licenses are now available for purchase online, the Department of Fish and Game (DFG) announced today.
 
"The online purchasing option will make it more convenient for our customers to enjoy California’s diverse recreational fishing opportunities," said John McCamman, Chief Deputy Director. "Anyone who has access to the Internet and a printer can get a license 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and be on their way to fish minutes after logging on."
 
All resident and non-resident licenses, both annual and short-term, and selected stamps can be purchased at www.dfg.ca.gov/licensing/ols/intro.html. The purchaser will be able to print out a one-day or two-day license, or a temporary annual license. Non-residents can also purchase a 10-day license. All licenses purchased online and printed are valid; annual license purchasers will receive a permanent license in the mail within 10 days. All purchases may be made using Visa or MasterCard.
 
The stamps available for online purchase are the Second Rod Stamp (only needed for inland waters), a Sport Fishing Ocean Enhancement Stamp, and Bay Delta Enhancement Stamps. Report cards must still be obtained from one of the 1,800 authorized license agents throughout the state or at local DFG license sales offices.
 
Fishing licenses are still available for purchase from authorized license agents. The cost is the same whether purchased online or from an agent. All licenses purchased online or from an agent must be displayed above the waist and be clearly visible while fishing. Licenses will include a security code that will be decipherable by wardens in the field.
 
McCamman was instrumental in guiding this sport fishing license project to completion prior to the release of the entire Automated License Data System (ALDS). With ALDS, DFG will expand availability to include hunting licenses by 2011, but for the time being, only sport fishing licenses are available.
 
DFG sells more than 2 million sport fishing licenses and generates more than $62 million in revenue annually.  One-third of the revenue generated by these sales is earmarked for DFG’s Hatcheries and Fish Planting Facilities Program; the rest supports fisheries management and protection through the Fish and Game Preservation Fund.
 
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Subscribe to DFG News via email or RSS feed. Go to www.dfg.ca.gov/news.
 
Subscribe to the DFG Marine Region News Service (ocean-related news and information only). Go to www.dfg.ca.gov/marine/subscribe.asp.
 
Enhance your California sport fishing experience by participating in DFG's California Fishing Passport program! See www.fishingpassport.org for details.

This is an AWESOME move for the DFG to make!  Now my friends cant use the "I don't have a license" excuse too!!!

True. And the tackle shops can afford to sell licenses again. If a shop wants to sell licenses, the state charges them like 8K per year....for the right to sell fishing/hunting licenses.
I remember the tackle shop in Dardanelle (on Sonora Pass) had to stop selling licenses because they couldn't afford the state's fee. Maybe now they can just setup a computer for customers to purchase licenses online (while shopping in their store and buying tackle).

Granted, it doesn't matter for me. Because I will never buy a fishing license ever again!

great to finally have this feature, similar to how they do it in alaska.  alaska made it very easy for me to buy and print a license before i left home..and it was valid as soon as i hit land there!

Sin Coast: so true. Retail shops just offered licenses as an extra service for customers for convenience and to increase store visits. Now they can do it for practically free--that is a nice financial relief for small businesses in the current economy. DFG likes it because they can then put individual codes on licenses for tracking and fraud reduction not to mention the printing and distribution costs.
 
Plus any saving we see might help save a few more state parks from closure. Given the low use at San Luis, I wonder if I'll be fishing The Oneil Forebay this Fall or any Fall thereafter.

Bout time!  This whole internet thing just might take off, who knows?

Someday people might use it to conduct all sorts of business...  

Funny, just before seeing this thread, I was looking at the DFG site & saw this in the FAQ:
Q: Can I purchase a fishing license online?
A:  Not at this time, but the DFG;s Automated License Data System (ALDS) is coming soon.   

I wonder how long it said "coming soon"!!!

Granted, it doesn't matter for me. Because I will never buy a fishing license ever again!

  Didn't you hear the Gov is gonna revoke all those Lifetime licenses because of the budget crisis? 

Hey Cal DFG way to catch up!!!! FINALLY!