regular VS COMMERICAL Fishing Lic.?

I'm paddler who never owned even regular fishing lic, so I'm pretty clueless on this topic, BUT....

I used to work with a couple guys who used to be Commercial Fishermen with real fishing boats in Half Moon Bay and they still had their Commerical Lic and managed to do steady side business even without any boat.

What struck me was very little extra money for Commercial that seemed to open up LOTS more opportunity and would be more than worth it even if strictly recreational.

Its like if you got a new sports car, car loan, all sorts of goodies for the car, INSURANCE, gas and maintenance, time off work to play with it, etc, and you are wondering if you want to stick with Learner's Permit or go ahead and get a full "unlimited" CA Class C Driver's License for less than 1/2 month's Insurance cost.

Seems like total no-brainer for anyone with motor fishing boat, but would be more than worth it even for minimalists like kayak fishers.

Took look at some of the regs for diff fish and wow its a whole new world unto itself and extra fees for certain fish even with Commerical Lic, but AFAIK just having a Commercial Lic really opens up your game.

Anything I'm not understanding?  Guys will have money burning hole in their pocket to blow a few hundred on new tackle, sonar or other toys but not the extra $80 or whatever for Commercial VS regular lic.

Uhh.. You cannot recreationally fish a commercially registered fishing boat...  (ive owned both, and at one time, owned a boat that had slipped out of federal (Coast guard and FWS) control and back into State/Recreational registration- a bit of a unicorn as thats supposed to be impossible to do). I cant commercially fish unless I'm licensed commercially as an individual, and on a commercially registered vessel.

I believe you can fish recreationally on a commercial boat if your log shows you are doing that but not both on same day. There are some other regulations like if you have a salmon license you cannot fish recreationally for salmon on the boat and I think crab too. You can look it up on DFW website. They have it set out very clearly as eveyone can see!

my guys were shore fishing with Commercial Lic which gave them unlimited bag VS 2 or 5 or something.  Also allowed them to legally sell to restaurants, etc.

I'm now kinda wondering if human powered boat under 14ft would fall under "not really a boat so basically Shore Fishing" or whatever.

Also not sure if my guys were in fact following the Regs.  They seemed a bit sketchy in other areas but seemed to think they needed Com Lic and would tell stories about being accosted by Fish and Game and showing their Com Lic.

"can't fish recreational on Commercial Boat".
What if you are 'hired' to 'work' on the boat?
Does every new crew need to do lots of special Com Fisherman paperwork to work on a boat?

Aren’t you overthinking it for someone who has never had a fishing license before? 

my guys were shore fishing with Commercial Lic which gave them unlimited bag VS 2 or 5 or something

I don't need an unlimited bag. I am incredibly stoked if I get a limit and that is more than enough. Our fisheries and laws that govern them need to be respected and protected. I am a recreational angler and need a recreational license. Nothing more

Also not sure if my guys were in fact following the Regs.  They seemed a bit sketchy in other areas but seemed to think they needed Com Lic and would tell stories about being accosted by Fish and Game and showing their Com Lic.

Yeah. Sketchy, Shady, Shitty whatever you want to call it

I think the rec. limits are pretty fair.

Some folks want to limit every time out, and I guess it makes sense if you have a lot of mouths to feed, or can't get out often. Once I have limited or near-limited on lings and rockfish a few times, it's a lot of meat. Rarely even keep a whole limit anymore, maybe just the first few trips of the season.  Still have plenty of fish in the freezer and some extra to feed friends.

Commercial license seems unnecessary for most fishermen.

Aren’t you overthinking it for someone who has never had a fishing license before?

Haha yeah!

I think this is completely missing the mark for what fishing means to most of the users on this site. I (and many others I'm guessing) fish for the enjoyment of it, so I guess a recreational license is fitting for us.

If I'm understanding the gist of this forum, the proposed question hinges on why people don't have a commercial license to make money on the side(?) As some folks outlined, it's really not that straight forward with all the regulations (ie a commercial license doesn't just mean increased limits). All those additional regulations would just totally kill the recreation vibe as well.

I think the rec. limits are pretty fair.

Agree completely.  Limits are in place so that we can all enjoy the sport and continue to do so.  Ultimately the longevity of recreational fishing relies on mutual compliance and largely the honor system to SHARE the resource. 

Gaming the system to increase fish take for a side hustle doesn't seem like the most ethical or community minded approach. 

I think this is completely missing the mark for what fishing means to most of the users on this site. I (and many others I'm guessing) fish for the enjoyment of it, so I guess a recreational license is fitting for us.

If I'm understanding the gist of this forum, the proposed question hinges on why people don't have a commercial license to make money on the side(?) As some folks outlined, it's really not that straight forward with all the regulations (ie a commercial license doesn't just mean increased limits). All those additional regulations would just totally kill the recreation vibe as well.

My thought was that $150 vs $50 is 3x more, but on the other hand is only an extra $100/yr more, and if set against the time, effort, money, "opportunity costs" etc, the extra $100 seems negligible.   I wasn't thinking in terms of Side Money like my coworkers, but there also seemed to be much wider RANGE of legal fishing opened up.  If I can go on 3 now legal for me fishing outings a year I'd consider Com Lic well worth it.  I'm guessing it costs your typical trailer console cruiser fisherman about $400/day when cost of everything is divided by # of days actually fishing, so an extra $100 plus maybe what it costs to make a little boat Com Reg is still nothing.   My guys weren't in it just for the money and were avid legit (now) shore based gourmet fishermen but it seemed like having a Com VS Rec lic was a HUGE step up in scope of not just Bag Limit but calendar and species allowed, and only $100/yr extra.

Like I said, seems like paying $50K+ fancy sports car, then deciding to stick with Learners Permit or "go for broke" and get CA Class C DL for an extra $25 to the DMV.

Does anyone know if a stubby SOT kayak is even considered a "boat" as far as Com Fish Lic, because it seems like any Com Fish Lic used on a boat needs to have $400 fees and maybe regs and inspections for the boat.   What about waders with floats?  Serious question.

...there also seemed to be much wider RANGE of legal fishing opened up.  If I can go on 3 now legal for me fishing outings a year I'd consider Com Lic well worth it.  ... it seemed like having a Com VS Rec lic was a HUGE step up in scope of not just Bag Limit but calendar and species allowed, and only $100/yr extra.

Non-fisher,

Which bag limits and seasons do you feel are overly-restrictive?  Like I said, most rec. fisherman seem to be able to work comfortably within the regs. 

Commercial seems like a huge headache.

For example:  "All fish caught under the authority of a commercial fishing license, even for personal use, must be landed and documented on an electronic fish ticket and submitted to E-Tix. Commercial fishermen must locate a licensed fish business willing to land their catch or they must possess a Fisherman’s Retail License to report their commercial fish landings through the E-Tix portal."  That's for every fish landed. 

my guys were shore fishing with Commercial Lic which gave them unlimited bag VS 2 or 5 or something. 
Also not sure if my guys were in fact following the Regs.  They seemed a bit sketchy in other areas but seemed to think they needed Com Lic and would tell stories about being accosted by Fish and Game and showing their Com Lic.

Sounds like "your guys" might not be the ones to model fishing habits after.

FWIW, there people who work for the State of CA who administer commercial fishing.  Depends on where you live, but I used to deal with the Monterey office.

Are you trolling?

Are you trolling?

My magic 8 ball says, “As I see it, yes”.

Does anyone know if a stubby SOT kayak is even considered a "boat" as far as Com Fish Lic, because it seems like any Com Fish Lic used on a boat needs to have $400 fees and maybe regs and inspections for the boat.   What about waders with floats?  Serious question.

It is a boat, it needs to registered commercially and can only be used for commercial purposes. No  fun fishing out of it. All commercial regs will apply to your "stubby" 14' kayak. Insurance, and other requirements too. Not worth it. I do not know why I even replied to this. Up late and bored I guess.