Fishing License Question

[pelagic]

About ten years ago I took some friends visisting from Australia to Nehalem Bay for some crabbing and fishing. When we went to get a fishing license, we were told you can only get a license if you submit your social secirity number. No social security number - no license. When I questioned the license issuer on why social security number, I was told that the licensing system checked the number against govt data base to determine if license applicant owed child support. If you were a dead-beat Dad you could not get a fishing license but the system at that time did not allow for issuing fishing license without a social security number. My friends from Australia obviously did not have a number and therefore could not get a license.

My friends from Australia will be here again this summer.

My questions are:
does the state still require a social security number to get a fishing license?

Has the state modified the system to allow foreign nationals to get a fishing license?

Since this is a fishing site I will add my fishing report from Super Bowl Sunday: Went out of Half Moon Bay (south of San Francisco) on Saturday afternoon to drop crab pots. Overnight soak. 170 feet of water just past the Pillar Point Buoy. Ocean flat calm with no wind. Even got a sunburn - in February!! Pulled the pots on Sunday morning for 37 crab for 4 people. Nearly all were commercial grade and all were full of meat. Got home, cleaned the boat and had the crabs cooked before kick-off.

Geoff on the Nemesis - Mako 191 w/Honda 130

[Boatdog]

I found your question very interesting, so I called the Clackamas ODFW regional office and asked your question.

They agreed they would need a SSN for a non-resident license. (I'm sorry, but I forgot to ask about the 1,2,3,7-day licenses).

Anyways, here's the number for the Oregon state ODFW headquarters. Apparently, if you call this number, they will issue a SSN to foreigners.

That's all I know, you'll have to call and get the full, first-hand information.

Hope this helps!

1-800-720-6339, extension 76101

[codfisher]

The number ODFW would issue, and does issue for all license holders is really just an ID number, not an SSN. They stopped putting SSN's on our licenses several years ago when identity theft became a problem.

That ID number is not required for the short term daily licenses, just the resident and non-resident year long licenses and tags. The daily licenses can be purchased at any point of sale vendor and does not involve having to be licensed through a *** that has a computer hook up, like major sporting goods stores. You should inquire about the shellfish license also if you are going crabbing. I believe, but am not sure, the daily /weekly licenses cover crabbing as well.

Your guests should only need some form of official ID, like their passports in order to get a short term license.

Have fun negotiating the bureaucratic labyrinth.

Codfisher