5-year freshwater fishing license bonus offer-free stuff

NEWS RELEASE

Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission

IT’S TIME TO BUY FIVE-YEAR FRESHWATER FISHING LICENSES

March 29, 2002
CONTACT: Bob Wattendorf (850) 488-0331

If you’re planning on buying a five-year freshwater fishing license, now is the time to do it.

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) has a special deal for anglers buying a five-year freshwater fishing license for $61.50 during April or May. They will receive more than $60 worth of fishing tackle and magazines. Purchases of lifetime licenses and five-year combination licenses that include freshwater fishing privileges also are eligible for this promotion. In addition, the package will include special deals and rebate offers. In effect, you get five years’ worth of freshwater fishing virtually for free.

Sponsors providing free stuff include the Bass Anglers Sportsman Society, Bass Pro Shops, the Big Bass Record Club, “Boat US,” Central Florida Visitors and Convention Bureau, Culprit Lures, DOA Lures, Fishing Hot Spots Maps, Florida Media, “Florida Sportsman,” “Florida Wildlife,” Gary Yamamoto Baits, the International Game Fish Association, Kissimmee-St. Cloud Visitors and Convention Bureau, Larsen’s Publishing, Millennium Twist Fishing Systems, Mister Twister Lures, Mustad Hooks, North America Fishing Club, Peacock Bass Association, Seminole County Visitors and Convention Bureau, Team Fish Fishing Line, U-Neek Fishing Group and X-Point Hooks.

Licenses are available at tax collectors’ offices or from an on-line vendor (such as eAngler.com where a $1.95 surcharge applies), or through FWC’s instant license number (call 1-888-FISH-FLOrida, where a $3.95 surcharge applies to these credit card transactions). Anglers can start fishing right away, and an attractive plastic license along with the bonus package will arrive in the mail within a month to six weeks. Five-year and lifetime licenses automatically cover any fee increases that may occur before the license expires. Anglers can set the activation date for as long as 60 days after they make the purchase if their current license has not expired.

Long-term license revenues are important to the FWC because they ensure a stable funding base for fish and wildlife conservation in Florida. When you buy a five-year license you save at least $6 in administrative fees, but the full five-year value of the fishing license ($60) is deposited into a special agency trust fund for managing fish and wildlife. The fund generates interest and only one year's worth of the value is removed each year. This helps to stabilize our budget assuring better management of the resource. Moreover, it enables us to count you as a license holder for five consecutive years, allowing us to draw down an additional $4 each year from the Federal Aid Aid in Sport Fish Restoration program, which is funded by excise taxes on tackle and motor boat fuel taxes that you pay to the Federal government. In other words, you help us get your Federal tax money back to Florida to work on local fisheries issues.

(NOTE: Follow this link to more information about this offer, including links to sponsor Web sites.)

Take Me Fishing.org is a great general information site for recreational anglers and boaters.

Florida Fishing Capital of the World--Great Resources, Responsible Management