licenses - what's the deal?

[White Hart]

Hi all - my first post, so be kind to me!

Just got back from East Cape, where I fished with Jim ('London Boy') staying at the Hotel Playa del Sol, and fishing on pre-booked boats for 6 days (see East Cape report below). I just read the closed 'mexico navy' thread, and it's got me thinking again about the advice we received re the licenses. Prior to leaving the UK, we were told that we didn't need to purchase any form of license, as it was already arranged by the hotel on our behalf and included in the price. There was also no mention of having to carry ID on the boat.

We're planning on arranging a return trip next year, with the fishing pre-booked as before, so before I get the booking confirmed, I'd like to know if we were correctly informed. (I don't fancy ending up as a bit-player in some form of international incident!)

any advice appreciated

thanks

[reytigre]

White Hart,

Good question and this is my third post here at BD. First of all, I never had a skipper produce a license if it was provided by the hotel. AND I have never been asked or stopped when fishing, yet. After the first few trips, I started buying a year license since we were going four time a year. Funny thing, I just washed my wallet last night (fing bummer mate) and my Mexican license kinda disolved. Good thing it was expired and it is time to get another. The easiest way is to call the Officina de Pesca in San Diego and have them FAX the application, then send the certified check with return postage and they send to you via mail. Personally, after reading about the Navy and the last trip to Loreto this August (we got a nice Yellow Fin Tuna about 30# and it did not make it into our cooler) which was/is getting more expensive each trip I am thinking about fishing in the good ole USA. North Carolina, New Jersey, New York, Florida, San Diego all look good. They even speak english and the only real down side I can figure is that the night life is not as wide open.

Planning Mazatlan next month and looking into Panama or Costa Rica along with the USA for the next trip.

Rey

SO, I do not trust the pre paid fee unless they produce the document and not a Xerox copy (which is what I think the guys had that got boarded). But I have a year ticket so I just make sure I have it. AND I always carry a California DL on the boat. It's Mexico and you are guilty untill proven innocent

[jureal]

Problem is this...everyone on board must have a licence. You got yourself covered but what about anyone else on the boat. Does not matter if they are fishing or not...if there are tackle on board, everyone must have a license.

[reytigre]

Correct, and the guy I fish with has a years license as well.

but you are 100%correct

rey

[White Hart]

So, as I now understand it, both Jim & myself should have had our own licences; the two crew each should have had their own fishing licences, and I've read on another thread that the skipper needed to have a skipper's licence or operators licence as well -plus we need some form of photo ID on the boat! Marvellous - nothing like being correctly prepared, is there??!

I'va also received some info that suggests that even if we had bought our licenses and had photo ID, if the crew do not have theirs, then, when the Navy comes-a-calling, we're all in the doo-doo! - Jim and myself included! can somebody confirm this, please?