Vancouver
B.C. – Fishing in British Columbia’s salt water
fishery just got easier with the introduction of an
Internet-based license sales web site. In years past any
angler who wanted to fish in British Columbia’s tidal
waters had to physically go to British Columbia to
purchase a fishing license. That task proved difficult
for anglers who simply wanted to fish B.C.’s water’s
from Washington State. Neah Bay, for instance, has a
strong contingent of halibut charter boats that
routinely offer “B.C. halibut trips.” After booking
one of these halibut charters anglers would first have
to drive into B.C. to buy their license before being
able to go on the charter. This usually required
considerable planning and time. Now anglers can log onto
the Fisheries Oceans Canada website, click on “Apply
for a License” enter their data, pay with a credit
card and print out a valid license that can be used
immediately. The new online process will also make it
much easier for anglers who cross the border with their
own boats or who plan charters with Canadian guides and
lodges. The connivance of the online sales site will
enable anglers to save time and know they are legal to
fish even before entering B.C. Finding a license dealer
who’s open at dawn or dusk or finding a parking place
while towing a boat won’t be a hassle any longer with
the new system. There wont’ be any extra fee to use
the new system according to DFO and anglers will not
have to wait for anything to arrive by mail. Simply
apply over the Internet, pay by credit card, print the
license and go fishing. Residents and non-residents will
be allowed to purchase licenses. “We are hoping that
our non-resident anglers will find this new approach
particularly convenient when trip planning,” explains
the message on the website. Anglers under 16 and
reduced-rate seniors will also be able to apply for the
tidal license and print them out immediately. British
Columbia is also developing a freshwater Internet
licensing site, but doesn’t have a date when it will
be available. They say as soon as it is online they will
provide a hotlink from their tidal water licensing site.
To purchase a British Columbia tidal fishing license go
to: www.pac.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/recfish
|