License Question

[CozumelDiver]

I've got a couple out of state relatives coming to visit soon and since this is my first year with the boat, I'm curious...  so me and my normal fishing buddy (both licensed) go out with my two relatives (who are not "fisherman") but would like to try to catch something... we bait the hooks, throw them in the water, then let the relatives "handle" the poles.  Me and my buddy just sit back and watch, there are never more than two lines in the water... and naturally we would not try to catch more than two "limits"

Are we legal?  Technically speaking?...  I'm assuming, all they really care about is the number of licenses vs. the number of limits, but again, I'm new to the area and I've actually known someone back East that got a ticket for letting his out of state buddy fish while he was sitting on a river bank with him! (hopefully the "Fishtapo" around here aren't THAT picky... and without binoculars, they'd never even know...)

[Redhawk]

The state troopers and WDFW are pretty relaxed about other people being on the boat without a license especially given how common it is to have other people who aren't fishing onboard in this region but it is illegal (fraud) to allow someone else to catch your limit. You can still do it, but 2 licenses, each consisting of an annual saltwater license, a Puget Sound crab endorsement, and a shellfish/seaweed license is only $209.20 total +tax, which is much cheaper than a misdemeanor on your record and a fine of up to $1,000 (as of when I last checked, so a bit ago).

Here is some of the legislature:
http://app.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?Cite=77.15.370
https://app.leg.wa.gov/rcw/default.aspx?cite=77.15.380

[ATGEP]

One and 3 day licenses are pretty cheap. It would be a shame to only get half limits if you ran into a great bite.

[Diablo]

 
Have them buy the license for 1 or 3 days and help support our fishery. Maybe they will even catch something.
Good luck.

[Peddler]

Legally speaking, he who touches the rod must have a license.

[XO]

"Legally speaking, he who touches the rod must have a license."
Yep... learned that one the hard way.  I reeled in my 6yo (at the time) son's rod for him during a family outing/picnic at a county park.  He ran off when Mom called the kids for lunch so I pulled the line in and took it to the picnic table.  The rod & reel was all of about 3' long and had a picture of a dinosaur on the side of it, but higher authorities decided that I was the person fishing it. 

[StreamFixer]

I have heard, he who lands the fish (controls the rod at that point) must have the available tag regardless of who helps play it???

StreamFixer

[Hunter]

OK..... so while we're on the subject,  how many folks here change the names on their crab floats whenever they take their friends (with licenses) out for a day of crabbing?    How many folks here have ever pulled in a pot with their wife's name on the float?  How many folks out there have some awesome "shrimp sushi" on the water and then don't count those shrimp you ate in your limit?   Criminals...I tell ya...all of ya are criminals!   OK...maybe not all of you, but I definitely am.   Why just today I spent an hour going 65mph in a 55 zone!  I tore the tags off my mattresses and pillows..... And.... I copied all of my digital music and movies onto a thumb drive and shared with a friend.   Hope I sleep tonight.   

Seriously, what the WDFW really needs to do is focus on the real crimes that are going on out there.... Like the ones going on in these pics.     

[wedocq]

"Legally speaking, he who touches the rod must have a license."
Yep... learned that one the hard way.  I reeled in my 6yo (at the time) son's rod for him during a family outing/picnic at a county park.  He ran off when Mom called the kids for lunch so I pulled the line in and took it to the picnic table.  The rod & reel was all of about 3' long and had a picture of a dinosaur on the side of it, but higher authorities decided that I was the person fishing it.

This is pretty lame. The "intent" of the law is not to bust Dad at a family picnic reeling in his young son's dinosaur pole. The Game Wardens who write tickets like these must have some real small junk.
-Shawn

[XO]

I agree Shawn.  I don't usually have a problem with law enforcement.  I have several lifelong friends in that profession.  Shoot, about 40 years ago I was best man at a cops wedding.  (He's a fishing fanatic, BTW.)  Virtually every cop I know does a great job enforcing the intent of the law, not the letter.
But this gentleman was more interested in exercising his ego than enforcing the law.  He caught me with a piece of fried chicken halfway between my plate and my mouth.  And my mouth stayed open for the next 10 minutes while he flashed his badge and pounded his chest.  He finally backed down when he realized how foolish he would look if I showed up in court with the "Barney the Big Purple Dinosaur" rod & reel that he claimed I was using.  Is there a judge out there who hasn't had to pick up behind their kids?  Basically I got off with a tongue-lashing, a "warning", and a spoiled appetite.
Jerks with badges make the job much harder for good cops.  Let's hope he moved on to another profession that doesn't involve dealing with the public.

[OnA]

So my question would be, following the same logic, would it be okay to load a gun, hand it to someone without a hunting license, and let them shoot a deer?
I'm not preaching here, nor am not qualified to throw the first stone either.  Generally (unless witnessed by a Trooper), as long as the number rods equal the number of licensed people, it should be no problem.  Please remember that license revenues usually go towards conservation, administration and enforcement funds; something that seems to be shrinking on a yearly basis (or at least in Alaska it is).