Licensing.......

[Lewis863]

I have been asked a number of questions lately about licensing requirements to be a captain or to take people out on your boat for hire, and the difference between a guide license and a captains license.  As a result I am going to post some information here for general use.

 

If you are on a federal water way, which includes the canal system, and every lake that is attached to the canal system and you are taking passengers for hire on the water you must have a Captains License issued by the USCG.  You also must participate in a random drug screening program that you must pay for through an outside company and you should keep proof of it.   Once you have your captains license the drug testing is not automatic, and does not happen through the government.  You must contract with your own outside company to do it for you, even if you are a one man show.   

 

Failure to be properly licensed can result in fines of 10,000 per event.  (This is not isolated to fishing if you are hunting ducks it also applies, this law has nothing to do with fishing, it has to do with passengers for hire on federal waters, for any reason)

 

In NY if you are taking someone out for hire either fishing, hunting etc you need a NY guide license if you are not on a federal waterway.  (look into this yourself if this describes you)

 

This post is not meant to be legal advice but simply a notice to help those that might have been given bad advice.  If you are doing any of these activities for hire it is on you to make sure you are in proper compliance with NY state regulations, and Federal Regulations. 

 

As we approach the season this year I would strongly strongly suggest that everyone who is doing these things for hire be properly licensed. 

[chowder]

As a USCG licensed charter captain, working the Great Lakes, The Finger Lakes, and Hudson River. I heartily agree!