Fishing for Answers

The question is… Where is the money going?   Hundreds of Millions of dollars have been collected by the California Department of Fish and Game in seven short years by selling recreational hunting and fishing licenses.  Not including the commercial and special licenses sold.
 
Californian’s used to have to pay for an additional stamp on their fishing license if they wanted to fish for striped bass.  The State disbanded the striped bass enhancement projects in 2002 but they continued to collect the money buy selling the striped bass stamp in 2003.  In 2004 the State upped the ante with a new stamp, the Bay-Delta Enhancement Stamp, now required at a higher cost if fishing for striped bass or any species within the Bay, Delta or any of their contributing rivers below the lowest dam.  Technically speaking a “Bay – Delta Sport Fishing Enhancement Stamp is to be issued to any person 16 years of age or older with a valid current California Sport Fishing license who will be fishing in the San Francisco Bay – Delta and the main stem of the Sacramento and San Joaquin rivers including major tributaries below the most downstream dam, for any species.”  These are detailed instructions on who to issue the stamp to but nothing telling the public what the money is used for.  This is “taxation without representation.” 
 

In 2004 we contacted the License and Revenue Branch to find out where the money was for the old “striped bass stamp”. The office told us that the money left over from the old striped bass stamp was being combined with the new Bay Delta Stamp.  In 2004 we requested in writing that the committee for the Department’s Bay – Delta stamp / Striper Stamp Fund consider allocating these funds collected from the fishermen back to the public by improving access to the water.  We asked specifically if the boat ramp at the Colusa State Park would be put in line for consideration.  After further correspondence and several months passing, the State requested that a public entity file a formal application.  The City of Colusa submitted a full application in 2005.  As of today May 8, 2008, we have not been able to determine where the excess of  $7 million collected for these stamps has gone.  GO TO: http://www.dfg.ca.gov/licensing/statistics/statistics.html to fish for your own answers.  While you're at it ask about the money for the resident and non-resident wild pig tags.  If they tell you the money is used for pig habitat - KEEP DIGGING!!