Just got the letter from NCDMF. It looks like we will be responsible for filing weekly logbooks starting some time in May. There will be online reporting, and also a smartphone app as well as paper. They will be due on Sunday, late by Tuesday. According to the letter, if you don't file or are late multiple times they will notify the Marine Patrol. Should you be stopped, a citation can be given and if convicted it would be punishable as a Class 2 or 3 misdemeanor.
I am not sure if it is for all 'For Hire" boats fishing, or just for boats carrying the Blanket license. I would guess about 10% of my trips are spearfishing, some times we troll between dives and I like to take personal "fun days" fishing when the dolphin bite is red hot in early summer. I like maintaining the blanket license because under state regulations Headboat/Charter boats are considered "commercial fishing operations" in the eyes of the dept of revenue, exempting the 7% sales tax on fuel and supplies.
The upside is the NCDMF will stop calling every week for a survey, but it will still be a headache. It is not like we have time for anything else when the season is cranking. But sometimes the regulations we have to comply with make running charters even less attractive.
I am not sure if it is for all 'For Hire" boats fishing, or just for boats carrying the Blanket license. I would guess about 10% of my trips are spearfishing, some times we troll between dives and I like to take personal "fun days" fishing when the dolphin bite is red hot in early summer. I like maintaining the blanket license because under state regulations Headboat/Charter boats are considered "commercial fishing operations" in the eyes of the dept of revenue, exempting the 7% sales tax on fuel and supplies.
The upside is the NCDMF will stop calling every week for a survey, but it will still be a headache. It is not like we have time for anything else when the season is cranking. But sometimes the regulations we have to comply with make running charters even less attractive.
