What Do You Need To Start A Fishing Guide Service

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Angling in California is diverse and challenging. Add that to the state's keen atmospheric condition and beautiful nature, and you lot've got the perfect place to set up a fishing lease business. Today, you'll discover out how to go a fishing guide in California.

The California state flag flying with blue sky in the background

From fly fishing in remote mount streams to big game angling on a long-range trip from San Diego or Dana Indicate – California's got it all. Whatever your fishing goals are, you lot'll observe it hither. We're here to evidence you what licenses you lot demand to operate a legal charter business organisation.

Simply like in other states, freshwater and saltwater guiding have different regulations and licenses. Y'all need more licenses for saltwater than you exercise for freshwater.

How to Get a Saltwater Fishing Guide

You need at to the lowest degree the post-obit iii documents to legally operate a saltwater fishing charter in California:

Captain'due south License (USCG)
Commercial Passenger Line-fishing Vessel License + Commercial Boat Registration
Boat Registration

Helm'southward License

All saltwater charter captains in California need to be in line with USCG requirements. You must have a Captain's license (officially: Merchant Mariner Credential).

Commercial Passenger Fishing Vessel License + Commercial Gunkhole Registration

A California guide license and commercial boat registration, two of the documents needed to become a fishing guide in California.

For most purposes, you need to purchase 2 licenses from the Department of Fish and Wildlife. These are the Commercial Boat Registration and the Commercial Passenger Line-fishing Vessel License. Whatsoever operator that fishes for profit will need the start ane. The second is specifically for lease fishing. Every line-fishing lease business (charters, saltwater angling guides, and headboats) needs to have both of these licenses, and the costs differ depending on whether or non you're a resident. Here'southward a quick breakdown:

License Type	Cost
Resident Commercial Gunkhole Registration	$409.fifty
Non-Resident Commercial Boat Registration	$1,213.50
Commercial Passenger Fishing Vessel License	$409.l

In addition, you may demand certain other licenses depending on the type of fishing or location. For example, y'all demand a special allow to target Swordfish or to fish south of Bespeak Arguello (Santa Barbara). You can observe a list of all the species permits and special stamps on the Department of Fish and Wildlife website.

DMV Gunkhole Registration

Before you tin can use for your commercial fishing charter licenses, your gunkhole has to be registered at the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV).

The vessel tin can only be registered past the owner. Registration can be done either in person at your local DMV office or by mail. If you recently moved to California, you need to annals your boat at the DMV within 120 days of taking up residency in the state.

Registering your boat costs anywhere from $29 to $77 (subject to alter), depending on when you lot annals and whether you're a resident in the Gold State or not.

Boat Insurance

In California, information technology is not mandatory to have gunkhole insurance, although a marina or landing may nevertheless require it. We also strongly recommend that you insure your boat. Information technology's amend to be safe than sorry, later all.

How to Become a Freshwater Angling Guide

A charter fishing boat on Lake Tahoe, California

To legally operate a freshwater guide service, you don't need the same licenses from the Section of Wildlife. Instead, yous need a Guide License from the same institution. This costs $248.49 for residents or $570.25 for non-residents (subject to change).

You besides need a USCG captain'due south license to fish in "navigable waters." Navigable waters are waterways with (commercial) traffic, like the Sacramento River and its delta. In add-on, you must always register your gunkhole at the DMV, fifty-fifty if you use it only on a private lake.

Finally, your clients demand to purchase their own line-fishing licenses. They can easily practise this on the Department of Fish and Wildlife website.

Establish our tips on how to become a angling guide in California useful? Y'all'll bask reading nearly designing your unique line-fishing trip , too!