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Michigan Charter Boat Association
Looking for a Fishing, Sailing or Private Boat Charter? Book your charter today! Michigan Charter Boat Association represents over 600 professional captains that serve over 100 ports in Michigan fishing the Great Lakes and its rivers and lakes.
Spear divers get expanded access to walleye, pike and lake trout starting in 2026 after the Natural Resource Commission overrode the DNR.
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Im much more concerned with the netting than the few that might get speared.
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HB5093 is worth learning about, please watch the video and educate yourself.
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Businesses in Osceola County band together to raise money for Tight Lines for Troops
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Three businesses in Osceola County teamed up for a golf outing to raise money for Tight Lines for Troops.0 CommentsComment on Facebook
Fyi
I am Thomas Rahilly, I am 18, looking for a job as a mate for next year’s salmon season, preferably out of Frankfort or Manistee. I have lots of experience on the big lake running my own boat as well as one summer as a mate. l am from the Cadillac area, if any captains need someone or know of someone looking for a mate please reach out at 231-846-5156.
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Formal Notice
Michigan Charter Boat Association Drug Program Layup Option
All Members Regarding Seasonal Layup Status
October 13, 2025
TO: Members of the Michigan Charter Boat Association Drug Program,
The Michigan Charter Boat Association (MCBA) wishes to formally notify all participants in the Drug Program of the opportunity to elect a Layup status for the upcoming off-season. Layup status is available from November 1, 2025, through March 30, 2026. After the end date you will automatically revert back into the full random draw pool. Members who opt for this status will be exempt from Random Drug Testing during this period. However, it is imperative to understand that, while in Layup status, members are strictly prohibited from operating or conducting any charter trips.
Please be advised: operating a charter vessel or undertaking any charter trips while you are in listed in the Layup period constitutes non-compliance with United States Coast Guard regulations. Such actions may result in penalties and fines as stipulated under federal statute.
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How do we get into the layup status?
TALKING POINTS
House Bill 5093 – Fishing License Change
• This bill ensures our fisheries remain healthy and sustainable for future generations by creating a long-term, stable funding model.
• Michigan’s fisheries have been underfunded for years, putting strain on habitats and the sport itself — this bill fixes that.
• License revenue will now go straight to fishery management, instead of being absorbed into the broader DNR budget.
• The Fishery Oversight Commission will ensure funds are used efficiently and transparently for stocking, habitat, and maintenance.
• The $2 increase in license fees reflects inflation and rising management costs — not a new tax or major hike.
• The term “general fishing license” simply replaces “all-species license” with no change in cost or privileges.
• Adds the term "hatchery stamp" which only need to be purchased when fishing for species that are directly stocked by the DNR (salmon, walleye, lake trout, etc...) these are $5
• The last fee adjustment was around 2014; costs have since increased while funding stayed flat, creating a widening gap.
• The bill is backed by sportsmen, conservationists, and over a dozen outdoor clubs who want a long-term solution for Michigan’s fisheries.
• Decreases the senior discount over 4 years to 20% from around 60% where it sits now.
• Adds a $5 youth license that is required for children under 13 to catch and keep fish from the great lakes and children between 13-16 to catch and keep fish from anywhere. Help retain youth by 178%
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Still a great bargain even if it was raised twice as much!
Looks more like a left wing approach to me. I don't support it, raising the cost to fund a program where funding was taken off the top isn't the solution. You know like the gas tax we all voted against and the Governor put it on anyway. Like day light savings time. Doesn't change the length of the day. Increasing by inflation seems logical but only sportsman fund the increase.
Please send to your representative
Dear Members of the Michigan Legislature,
RE: Support Michigan Fisheries and a $ 3.9 Billion industry – Vote Yes on HB 5093
We, the undersigned organizations representing Michigan’s anglers, businesses, conservation advocates, and outdoor recreation stakeholders, express our strong support for House Bill 5093, sponsored by Representative Curt VanderWall. This legislation offers a thoughtful and strategic restructuring of Michigan’s fishing license system — a necessary step to sustain and strengthen our state’s world-class fisheries.
Michigan’s fisheries are managed under the North American Model of Wildlife Conservation, which relies on user-generated revenue rather than general fund appropriations. Anglers directly fund the Fisheries Division through license fees, which are matched with federal Dingell-Johnson allocations based on participation. This model ensures that those who enjoy and benefit from our aquatic resources also invest in their long-term stewardship.
The last fishing license fee update passed by the Michigan Legislature occurred in 2013, marking the first update in decades and simplifying the statewide license structure. Yet since that time, funding for fisheries management has remained stagnant. Inflation and budget constraints have forced painful reductions to research, hatcheries, and stocking programs — core functions that underpin both ecological health and economic opportunity.
Without a sustainable funding framework like the one proposed in HB 5093, these cuts will deepen, threatening not only the vitality of Michigan’s fisheries but also the livelihoods of thousands of small businesses and communities that depend on recreational fishing — a $3.9 billion annual industry. This legislation is not just a policy update; it is a commitment to preserving a legacy, protecting a resource, and investing in the future of Michigan’s outdoor heritage.
House Bill 5093 is a pragmatic, transparent solution developed with input by a broad coalition of fishing organizations, businesses, and anglers. It includes:
• A modest $2 license increase for non-stocked species and a new $5 hatchery stamp for anglers targeting stocked species.
• Expanded stocking of inland walleyes, muskies, and trout, alongside increased lake and river surveys to support data-driven management of the fisheries.
• Sustained Great Lakes research, including creel counts and predator-prey analysis critical to long-term stewardship.
• A youth license structure that unlocks more federal Dingell-Johnson funding, ensuring future generations can participate and contribute.
• Provisions that establish a Fisheries Oversight Committee to review budgets, advise on future fee increases, and ensure transparency and accountability.
HB 5093 strikes the right balance between affordability, sustainability, and stewardship. It protects and enhances Michigan’s fisheries and the $ 3.9 Billion industry it supports while respecting the trust and investment of anglers statewide.
We urge you to support House Bill 5093 and help secure the future of Michigan’s fisheries — for our economy, our environment, and the generations of anglers yet to come.
Sincerely,
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