A. The Commission may establish the sale of a fishing guide license. If established, such fishing guide license shall be required for each charterboat and headboat captain. The Commission may limit the sale of such licenses when deemed necessary by the Commission for effective fisheries management. The application for the license shall include a copy of the applicant's current U.S. Coast Guard license permitting him to carry passengers for hire. The fee for the license shall not exceed $100. The Commission may reduce the fee charged for the saltwater recreational fishing license under subsection B by an amount equal to the fee for the fishing guide license.

B. The owner of a headboat or charterboat annually shall purchase a recreational fishing license which covers his passengers and the captain and mate of the vessel to meet the requirements set forth in § 28.2-302.1. The annual cost of the license shall be $150 for uninspected vessels licensed by the United States Coast Guard to carry six fishing passengers or fewer and, for boats United States Coast Guard certified to carry a number of fishing passengers greater than six, $150 plus $4 for each passenger over six for which the boat is designed. A headboat or charterboat owner who has purchased the license required under this subsection shall be issued, at no additional cost, the saltwater recreational fishing license issued pursuant to § 28.2-302.1.

C. The owner of a boat rental service shall purchase a recreational fishing license which covers his customers to meet the requirements set forth in § 28.2-302.1. The annual cost of the license shall be $7.50 per boat with a maximum fee of $500, whichever is less.

D. Charterboat and headboat operators shall report such data as are deemed necessary by the Commission for the effective fisheries management as a condition of issuance of the license.

E. All funds collected pursuant to this section shall be paid into the state treasury to the credit of the Virginia Saltwater Recreational Fishing Development Fund, as established by § 28.2-302.3. The Commission may subsequently revise the cost of licenses in this section pursuant to § 28.2-201.

1992, c. 895; 1999, cc. 681, 1019; 2005, c. 198; 2009, c. 9.