With summer here, it’s time to get out the fishing gear and start angling for the big one.
The Town of Cape Charles Fishing Pier is open and ready for you and your family to fish and crab. Every season, the Town purchases an annual fishing license, so you do not need your own (as long as you fish in town).
However, you will need to register for the Virginia Fisherman Identification Program. The Virginia Fisherman Identification Program is a no-charge state program to register annually saltwater anglers that do not by law require a license.
Important Note: the FIP registration process is only for anglers fishing in VA tidal waters that are exempt from Virginia saltwater license requirements. The most common license exemptions for saltwater fishing in VA tidal waters include fishing from a licensed public fishing pier, a non-license holder fishing from a private boat with a VA or PRFC saltwater boat license, fishing from the angler’s private property/pier, fishing in VA with a reciprocal MD saltwater license, or fishing if the angler is 65 or older; for all five of these license exemptions a license is not required, but a no-cost FIP registration is required before fishing. Effective 7/1/13 there is a $5 optional lifetime saltwater fishing license for VA resident anglers 65 or older, if a person has purchased this optional license they do not need to register in FIP.
The free FIP registration is not a substitute for a license when the angler is required by law to purchase and hold a saltwater license. A saltwater license must be purchased if the angler is 16 or older and younger than 65, and does not meet one of the license exemptions. If you buy, or plan to buy a license before fishing, you do not need to register in the FIP. Please use the FAQ below and the following links for more information: [Saltwater Licensing Requirements] [Buy a Saltwater License] [Fisherman Identification Program Regulation]
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