Guide requirement questions

[cohoho]

OK- thinking about doing the part-time thing here for ONLY Sturgeon, scuba drop offs and maybe some other NON-SALMON fish out of the sound.  Anyhow, I have started a class to renew my US Coast Guard six pac/masters license that I used to use in AK for part-time salmon only guiding, mainly for the insurance thing, scuba drop offs and besides it is good to have in-case I head back to AK for the summer to work for a friend that does Halibut out of Seward.  I am running into information that I am seeming to find a bit on the confusing side for Washington State requirements.  Now- I have pulled down Licensing requirements for Charter boats and fishing guides and found out that Sturgeon are considered Other Food Fish and anything down stream of the Longview Bridge you must:  Have a valid non-salmon Charter license or a valid salmon charter license and have a vessel registration decal permanently affixed to your vessel.  But anywhere else on the Columbia River a guide license is not required at this time for Sturgeon?  Really, seems crazy or am I not looking in the right place for information?  Anyone that is a certified and licensed guide please give me a PM. Appreciate any additional information from those that might have looked into this earlier in time. 

[HawkenBob]

Heres the deal, under I-5 is considered for some reason ocean and you must have a charter licence to guide people. Its a completely different licence than a "guide" licence. These licences are grandfathered and none are availble new. Most are multi rod permits. And can cost as much as 10 grand per rod.

Guys that dont use them lease there permits. But still your probably looking at 3 to 5 g's a year.

There is a company in seattle who brokers these charter licences. Do a search.

I think you did hit on this, you do need a 6 pack or better to guide on Fed navigatable waterways. (The Big C)

There is a way around the Charter licence. Launch out of Oregon. And obtain a 600 dollar oreo guide licence. Different requirements, same river...

[cohoho]

Holly crap- good reason not to go after Salmon.... $$$$$$  I understand what your stating but I think your specifically referring to Salmon Charters?  Right?  It states that new Salmon Charters will not be issued, as you stated but nothing referred to on Non-Salmon Charter i.e Sturgeon-  just vessel using stated on license and US Coast Guard requirements.  OK I got to get a hold of the folks in Olympia tomorrow, I truly confused now...   One thing I checked on is the requirement for out of state, if I did get an Oregon license, then I must only use Oregon launches and not Washington and vice versus for Washington license..  I guess have both you can go either side..

[Hoytstaffshooter83]

not exactly the correct info- here is the deal..... you must have insurance and a 6 pack to operate any vessel for pay on CG navigable waters ( all of the Columbia) below the longivew bridge due to the columbia river compact as a guide you have to have a oregon guides license, above the bridge you have to have either a oregon or washington license.. depends on what state your boat is registered

[cohoho]

Hoyt, Where are you getting that info, that below Longview bridge is Oregon license?  So if for some reason I was above the Longview bridge only, according to this pamphlet I pulled, A license is NOT required at this time to guide for Sturgeon in freshwater, but 6 pac certification due to navigable waters of the Columbia River, I am assuming that means above the Longview Bridge??? And below the bridge have a 6 pac license and a Non-Salmon Charter license?? The WDFW licensing doesn't mention Oregon anywhere, course from the web site, which may or may not be updated? Curious to see other info, so I can make the best determination.  Haven't been able to pull Oregon's info off the web yet, so I'll make some calls tomorrow....  Once I get everything in written form, hopefully by the end of the week, I can make a realistic decision.... Man - this State is crazy with different rules and regs for same body of water.  AK was pretty cut and dry on rules for fishing guide requirements... 

[ICEMAN]

... Man - this State is crazy with different rules and regs for same body of water.  AK was pretty cut and dry on rules for fishing guide requirements... 

Welcome to Washington. 

Try getting a building permit to build near water. 

[HawkenBob]

If you fish for hire in the ocean, puget sound and the Estuary of the Big C you must have a charter licence and at least a 6 pack, no matter what kind of fish your fishing for. A guide licence does not cut it.

Oregon has a little different requirement, the loop hole is you have to launch and take out in Oregon if fishing in the estuary. But youd have to check into it more...

Your on the right track, its confusing. And your right, you dont need a licence for freshwater sturgy.

Good luck.

[cohoho]

Ok just got off the phone with a rep from the office of licensing and alittle bit of everything is correct, but for STURGEON ONLY, as what I would wish to do, there is no licensed required in freshwater, i.e. above the Longview bridge, but as Hawken Bob stated 6 Pac Coast Guard rating or above (I'm going for my Masters, so that covers down to 6 pac) is required.  Below bridge I need only a Non-Salmon Charter license and of course 6 pac to include the Sound, for again non-salmon species to include Lincod, Halibut, rockfish etc.. and could add a Game Fish license for landlocked Salmon, steelhead, kokanee, walleye, bass, etc...)  I asked the question about Oregon, she said if you plan to launch on the Oregon side then of course you need to get with them for their additional requirements, but in this case me launching out of WA side, Oregon has nothing to do with what I do through WA, nor do I care to become a resident of Oregon for the sake of a license, Washington is kind of growing on me anyhow....  Might look into their requirements at a later date...  Finally the answer I was looking for.  Now- lets see if I actually do it or not. 
All this on a conversation with an old friend that asked me what I was doing this summer and if I wanted to come up and run the boat or deck hand for him out of Seward!!!!!!!!!