(a) This section provides a fund to pay the expense of protecting and managing game and freshwater fish and preventing unauthorized persons from fishing or attempting to fish for any game and freshwater fish without first procuring an angler’s license.
(b) Any person 16 years old or older shall secure an angler’s license to fish in the nontidal waters of the State. An angler’s license entitles the holder to fish in the nontidal waters of the State only during the open season.
(c) An angler’s license is not required of the following:
(1) The owner or tenant of land bordering on nontidal water, his spouse and children, or the spouse of any child who resides on the land with the owner or tenant when he fishes in nontidal water adjoining his land;
(2) Any resident serving in the armed forces of the United States, while on leave in the State, during the resident’s leave period, if, while angling, the resident possesses a copy of the resident’s official leave order;
(3) A person who fishes in nontidal waters of the State on free fishing days designated by the Secretary;
(4) A person holding a current resident consolidated senior sport fishing license issued under § 4–216 of this title;
(5) A person fishing in a free fishing area established under § 4–214(b)(2) of this title; or
(6) A person authorized by a disability exemption issued under § 4–217 of this title.
(d) A person who wishes to obtain an angler’s license shall complete and submit an application to the Department or to any person designated by the Department to issue an angler’s license.
(e) (1) An applicant for a license issued under this section shall provide all the information requested by the Department.
(2) The Department shall require an applicant for a license under this section to provide the last four digits of the applicant’s Social Security number, if the applicant has a Social Security number.
(f) (1) Subject to paragraph (3) of this subsection, the following annual license fees shall apply:
(i) Resident $20.50
(ii) Subject to paragraph (2)(ii) of this subsection, short–term license valid for 7 consecutive days from date of issuance $7.50
(iii) Resident and nonresident blind persons No fee
(iv) Complimentary license No fee
(2) For a nonresident:
(i) The fee for an annual angler’s license is the greater of:
1. $30.50; or
2. A fee equal to the fee charged a Maryland resident by the nonresident’s home state for a similar license; and
(ii) The fee for a short–term license valid for 7 consecutive days from the date of issuance is the greater of:
1. $7.50; or
2. A fee equal to the fee charged a Maryland resident by the nonresident’s home state for a license that permits an equal number of days of fishing or the next higher number of days as permitted by the Maryland license.
(iii) The fee for a short–term license valid for 3 consecutive days from the date of issuance is the greater of:
1. $5; or
2. A fee equal to the fee charged a Maryland resident by the nonresident’s home state for a license that permits an equal number of days of fishing or the next higher number of days as permitted by the Maryland license.
(3) The Department shall implement a program to provide discounted angler’s licenses and trout stamps to Maryland residents who are recipients of the Purple Heart Award.
(4) (i) All fees collected by the Department under this section may only be used in accordance with § 4–208 of this title.
(ii) The Department shall publicly report annually the amounts collected and the expenditures under this section.
(g) A person designated to sell an angler’s license shall issue the license and collect the fee prescribed in subsection (f) of this section. The collected money shall be transmitted to the Department as prescribed by the Department. As compensation, the agent shall retain $1 for each license issued.
(h) (1) Every angler’s license shall be valid for 1 year following the date of issuance.
(2) The licensee shall electronically or physically sign the license at the time of purchase.
(3) The license may not be transferred to another person, nor used or presented by any person other than the person to whom it was issued.