Beginning January 1, the Federal government officially tasked the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to begin a registry of all saltwater anglers in the United States and territories.
Any angler either fishing in coastal waters or fishing in state waters for certain types of fish, including striped bass, shad and salmon, are required to sign up for the registry. There are exemptions, such as if you already have a saltwater fishing license in a state that has an information sharing arrangement with the Federal government.
Unfortunately for anglers on the Chesapeake Bay, Maryland is not one of those states, meaning anyone fishing on the Bay or any of its tributaries, including the Susquehanna River into Pennsylvania, are required to register. Other exemptions include: anyone under the age of 16, anyone with state license exemptions such as seniors or active-duty military, anyone who pays to fish on a licensed charter or party boat, and anyone who fishes under a commercial license.