boat license??? Which should I purchase?

[Dp3277]

Sorry for the lengthy post.
I'm a VA resident and was looking at the different licenses offered by both VA and MD for crabbing and fishing. Here is what I gathered and was wondering which would make more sense.

VA: "Tidal Boat License" (Recreational)- Cost $150 (resident) This entitles a registered boat owner listed as the licensee to an individual fishing license valid for ALL Virginia freshwater and saltwater, which would include fishing from shore. In addition, when the boat owner/licensee is aboard any of their own registered boats while fishing in only Virginia tidal waters, they and their passengers may fish without additional license (unlicensed passengers do however have to comply with FIP registration requirements). Non-resident tidal boat licensees are not required to have their boats registered in Virginia to qualify to purchase this license (Copy from VA Marine Resource Commission).
No complimentary crabbing license. But for $10 more, you can purchase the VA recreational use crab trotline license.
So for a total of $160 I can fish fresh/salt water and crab.

MD: "Consolidated Chesapeake Bay & Coastal Sport Boat License" (Recreational) - Cost $50 (does not specify resident or non-resident) allows everyone on board a vessel used for pleasure to fish in the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries and the state waters of the Atlantic Ocean and the Atlantic coastal bays and tributaries in lieu of individual licenses. However, these individuals must register with the Department (see below). A special complimentary Bay & Coastal sport fishing license, which includes recreational crabbing, will be issued to the boat owner purchasing this license. The $50 Chesapeake Bay Sport Fishing Decal is NOT valid as a Recreational Crabbing Boat License (though the purchaser of this decal is given one complimentary individual recreational crabbing license). (Copy from DNR web site)
The complimentary crabbing license allows only me (the license holder) to crab in MD waters, but for $15 I can purchase a Recreational Crabbing Boat License and allow everyone on my boat to enjoy some trotline action.
So for a total of $65, a non-resident can purchase a MD boat license to fish only salt water and crab.

So here is my situation, I fish fresh waters near my home in VA, but I also like to fish salt in the lower Potomac River. I am also going to do some trotline crabbing this year which mean I will be spending more time in the lower Potomac. Now because both VA and MD have this thing called "reciprocity", I assume you can purchase either one and still be OK for what I want to do.

I was thinking about purchasing the MD boat license with the rec. crabbing boat license and a fresh water VA (non-boat) license. Total cost $82.50
Am I missing something? Just trying to be compliant.
Thanks for input.

[BoatingGuy]

Good morning Dp3277,
I can't say for certain whether you would be obligated to have the VA license or not, however that would be my thought.
If it's anything like the boater education cards, then I believe you must your own states certification if you're boating in your home state. I got my boating license or education card thing online at http://BOATERexam.com , I don't believe you can get any sort of crabbing license with them, but maybe their staff would know enough to provide an educated answer.
Cheers!

[Tom Powers]

Virginia license questions. . .

Are you using the boat to fish above the freshwater saltwater line in Virginia?

If not you can get a saltwater boat license for $48.

Also a VA tidal boat fishing license (the one good for fresh and salt water) has a listed cost of $126 on the VMRC web page.

http://www.mrc.state.va.us/regulatio...licensing.shtm

Here are the boundaries.

Freshwater/Saltwater License Lines on Tidal Rivers Persons fishing upstream of the designated lines on the following waters must have a valid freshwater fishing license while those fishing below the lines must have a valid saltwater fishing license:

…..Potomac River: Route 301 Bridge (freshwater license required in tributaries above Rt. 301; PRFC, VA or MD saltwater license good in mainstem up to DC border)


…..Rappahannock River: Route 360 Bridge


…..Piankatank River/Dragon Run: The 1^st set of power lines immediately upriver of Anderson Point


…..York River System (including the Mattaponi and Pamunkey Rivers): Route 33 Bridges


…..James River: A line connecting Hog Point and the downstream point of the mouth of College Creek


Below these designated lines a freshwater or saltwater license will be valid on any tidal portion of any tributary entering the above mainstem waters.


The following waters are entirely freshwater and require a freshwater fishing license throughout: Meherrin River; Nottoway River; Blackwater River (Chowan drainage); Back Bay, Northwest River, and North Landing River and Intercoastal Waterway upstream to Great Bridge Locks; and Dismal Swamp Canal below (or South) of Deep Creek Locks.

[crabby_jake]

The Potomac River has separate regulations for crabs. Based on the regulations, there is no reciprocity for crabbing licenses. You can use 600' of trotline, 10 traps, and 2 pots without a license. The recreational crabbing license ($30) permits 1200' of trotline, 20 traps, and 5 pots. Here is the link to their regulations (http://www.prfc.state.va.us/sports/S...0Limits%20.pdf).