GUIDE
The Ohio fishing guide license and decal can be obtained only from the Sandusky office of the Ohio Division of Wildlife. The license and decal are annual, running from April 16th of one year through April 15th of the following year. The license fee is $50.00 per year.
Before an Ohio fishing guide license and decal can be issued, an applicant must submit (in person or by mail) an Ohio Lake Erie Fishing Guide License application to the Sandusky office. The following information is required on the application: name and address; county of residence; telephone number; birth date; social security number; place of dockage; name of boat (if there is one); registration or federal documentation number; boat length, and U.S. Coast Guard license number and date of expiration.
If you are applying for only an ice fishing guide license, disregard the information about the boat and Coast Guard license; unless, you are using an air boat. IF you are using an airboat to transport people to/from your ice shanties, a Coast Guard license will be required. Either way, you will need to know the number of ice shanties and the general area of use.
COAST GUARD LICENSE REQUIREMENTS
The Ohio Lake Erie Fishing Guide License Application, for first-time applicants, must be accompanied by their original or a notarized copy of the Coast Guard license. THEREAFTER, THE CURRENT ORIGINAL COAST GUARD LICENSE OR A NOTORIZED COPY MUST BE SUBMITTED ONLY WHEN THE COAST GUARD LICENSE IS RENEWED. If you mail a notarized copy in lieu of the original Coast Guard license, that notarized copy will be retained at the Sandusky office.
The Coast Guard requires a license of all people taking passengers for hire on the Great Lakes. Information concerning the U.S. Coast Guard license can be obtained by contacting:U.S. Coast Guard
Marine Safety Office
234 Summit St. or By going to the website @ www.uscg.mil/stcw
Toledo OH 43604
PHONE: (419) 418-6010
FOR ANYONE WISHING TO APPLY IN PERSON
THE LICENSES ARE ISSUED BETWEEN THE HOURS OF 8:00 A.M. AND 4:00 P.M.. THIS OFFICE IS CLOSED ON WEEKENDS AND HOLIDAYS.
We are now able to take cash, check, credit card, or money order for payments.
Please submit a check or money order made payable to OHIO DIVISION OF WILDLIFE along with the application if applying by mail. OHIO LAKE ERIE FISHING GUIDE LICENSE
The Division of Wildlife’s Sandusky office address and phone number are:
Ohio Division of Wildlife
305 E. Shoreline Dr.
Sandusky OH 44870
Phone: (419) 625-8062

 

Gary
Sorry to hear your problem ! I run charters on my boat. But there are times that I use another captains extra boat. When I do I take my guides license with me and display on his boat. I have my guides license on a piece of plexiglass and attach with velcro. Have never got stopped but ? Remeber you must also carry your CG license with you. I take mine all the time even if I am not running a trip--Fun fishing with Father or brother or friends. Just in case the CG wants to push the issue that I am using a Charter Boat for my Fun fishing.
Thats what I lot of guys forget If you take passengers and they pay for fuel and such it is considered a boat for hire and you should have a CG license. I know it seems wierd but thats the law.

 

what exactly defines a charter? If you take some friends and they throw in for gas and bait is that a charter? Seems kind of confusing. If the above applies then just about every boat out there is a charter.

 

what exactly defines a charter? If you take some friends and they throw in for gas and bait is that a charter? Seems kind of confusing. If the above applies then just about every boat out there is a charter.

the "legal" answer is yes. If you take any money for gas, bait, ect then your are "making money" and are for hire. That is the law, and yes- it is very hard to enforce

 

should the law be enforced in that situation? I say no. If someone is just accepting some cash for gas and bait or whatever*, they aren't trying to turn a profit for putting people on fish.


*Obviously they are certain things that are illegal to accept money for! Don't be caught in the next floating brothel scandal on Erie!

 

GUIDE
The Ohio fishing guide license and decal can be obtained only from the Sandusky office of the Ohio Division of Wildlife. The license and decal are annual, running from April 16th of one year through April 15th of the following year. The license fee is $50.00 per year.
Before an Ohio fishing guide license and decal can be issued, an applicant must submit (in person or by mail) an Ohio Lake Erie Fishing Guide License application to the Sandusky office. The following information is required on the application: name and address; county of residence; telephone number; birth date; social security number; place of dockage; name of boat (if there is one); registration or federal documentation number; boat length, and U.S. Coast Guard license number and date of expiration.
If you are applying for only an ice fishing guide license, disregard the information about the boat and Coast Guard license; unless, you are using an air boat. IF you are using an airboat to transport people to/from your ice shanties, a Coast Guard license will be required. Either way, you will need to know the number of ice shanties and the general area of use.
COAST GUARD LICENSE REQUIREMENTS
The Ohio Lake Erie Fishing Guide License Application, for first-time applicants, must be accompanied by their original or a notarized copy of the Coast Guard license. THEREAFTER, THE CURRENT ORIGINAL COAST GUARD LICENSE OR A NOTORIZED COPY MUST BE SUBMITTED ONLY WHEN THE COAST GUARD LICENSE IS RENEWED. If you mail a notarized copy in lieu of the original Coast Guard license, that notarized copy will be retained at the Sandusky office.
The Coast Guard requires a license of all people taking passengers for hire on the Great Lakes. Information concerning the U.S. Coast Guard license can be obtained by contacting:U.S. Coast Guard
Marine Safety Office
234 Summit St. or By going to the website @ www.uscg.mil/stcw
Toledo OH 43604
PHONE: (419) 418-6010
FOR ANYONE WISHING TO APPLY IN PERSON
THE LICENSES ARE ISSUED BETWEEN THE HOURS OF 8:00 A.M. AND 4:00 P.M.. THIS OFFICE IS CLOSED ON WEEKENDS AND HOLIDAYS.
We are now able to take cash, check, credit card, or money order for payments.
Please submit a check or money order made payable to OHIO DIVISION OF WILDLIFE along with the application if applying by mail. OHIO LAKE ERIE FISHING GUIDE LICENSE
The Division of Wildlife’s Sandusky office address and phone number are:
Ohio Division of Wildlife
305 E. Shoreline Dr.
Sandusky OH 44870
Phone: (419) 625-8062

If I read this correctly it is the Great Lakes that require a coast guard guide license. I know these are difficult and costly to get and require passing a significantly tough test reqarding navigation, plotting and such. Anyway, if a guy were interested in guiding on Ohio's inland lakes would he just need to obtain the $50 Ohio guide license with no extensive testing required?

 

i believe that on inland waters or waters not under coast guards jurisdiction, then no "captain's license" is required.

 

Reading the above posted information, I do not see where individuals splitting costs for a day of fishing with the boat owner is illegal????

If you are making money...then yes...but splitting costs???

 

the "legal" answer is yes. If you take any money for gas, bait, ect then your are "making money" and are for hire. That is the law, and yes- it is very hard to enforce

If that's the case, damm near everyone on Erie is screwed and is violating the law Heck since I would be in violation, I might as well throw in an extra rod for everyone while I'm at it LOL (joke from another thread).

 

If that's the case, damm near everyone on Erie is screwed and is violating the law Heck since I would be in violation, I might as well throw in an extra rod for everyone while I'm at it LOL (joke from another thread).

exactly....but like i stated, its almost impossible to enforce this law.

Just another tidbit of info while we are on "strange" laws.........did you know that technically, the whole inner harbor in cleveland is a no wake zone?

 

i always wondered that.. now is that something that has to be posted?

 

i believe that on inland waters or waters not under coast guards jurisdiction, then no "captain's license" is required.

Mike I'll have to check on that ? But i do not think that is the case if you are taking customers for hire ? I do know that a ice guide with no airboat does'nt need a six pack CG license but with the airboat he does. Now if you where guiding with out a boat I would say yes but add the boat ? I'll have to look it up ? See you at WC dinner ??? Leaving soon ?

 

Gary,
dont be too hard on yourself. Its not well advertised that you have to have the guide license. I would hope this was just a chance encountering rather than you being a victim of a watchdog group that passes the names of folks around that have or dont have their licenses, can you believe people put the time and effort into having such a list?? Neither can I. I dont know you well Gary but from what I do know you are a stand up guy thats always been open and honest with me. I give you props for having the stones to post your experience.

 

no wonder ther are so many lawyers in this country. By that definition If I tell the neighbor kid fishing my pond "use a silver minnow around the reeds and you'll catch some bass".
I have guided him and need a license to do so. To carry that a step further if he doesn't catch any fish am I still a guide. I would hope that common sense on the part of law enforcement prevails in most situations.

 

can you believe people put the time and effort into having such a list?? Neither can I.

If I was a charter captain, licensed, experienced, paid up on all my tags, certifications, etc. etc.....and I found out that a guy was taking people out fishing and charging them for it...and he was NOT licensed...and he was undercutting the average charter rate...and I repeat...not licensed to charter...

You bet your butt I'd be pizzed off.

Not saying this is what happened in this case...but this is for sure what happened to two guys that were doing as described above in Ludington a couple years ago.

The Charter Association turned 'em in...and it wasn't pretty for either of them.

So was Gary charging or not????

 

BFG fyi i have a coast guard captians license i was unaware ot the guide license needed in the state of ohio for chartering on lake erie only not inland. I posted my experience so people would not that there is such a thing and yes you do need one. Like Brian said its not well advertise that you do and thats what i had to conversation with at court with the guy you ticketed me that they really need to advertise this more and gave him ideas on how to do so. Like i said there is many out there that dont know so i hope this helps them. take care Gary Zart Blue Dolphin

 

Thanks for posting your experience Gary. Hopefully it will let others know the legalities. I'm just sorry you had to go through it to get the info out.

May your helpfulness to those who post/read here be returned a hundred-fold.

 

Thank You, Gary,I have my CG license had no idea I needed a Guide license, in fact 3-4 weeks i talked to 3 captains about it and they never said i needed to have it. This will come to a surprise to alot of folks. Thanks again

 

BFG,
I am a licensed captain and I do have all my stuff paid etc but to hear of a group (thats not an enforcement agence ie USCG or ODNR) targeting you and keeping track of whether or not you are licensed is a bit like some form of government or cult to me, thats what I meant by that. By the way, there have been threads on here on accusing "newbies" or smaller guys of undercutting the "VETERANS" or "PROS" that charter, if Joe Charter captain wants to take people out for free thats his business and nobody elses, free enterprise sums that up.

 

Brian,

The two people that I referenced were not licensed in any way, shape, or form...and they were charging folks...that was my point. Unfair to those who have paid their fees, licensure, etc. etc.

 

the odnr requires these licensed guides to tally and report all fish caught. if you dont report on time, there is a penalty. nothing like having to pay to be put to work. i suppose this helps the odnr compile their fishing reports they post on their web site, but i am not sure what else this really accomplishes. you will see this regulation in other states also.

p.s. gary, hopefully they let you out of the big house in time for the 09 spawn.

 

exactly....but like i stated, its almost impossible to enforce this law.

Just another tidbit of info while we are on "strange" laws.........did you know that technically, the whole inner harbor in cleveland is a no wake zone?

I believe in the interruption, the government are looking for people who actually are profiting from what they say you are doing, and that's fishing. I know wildlife officers and it's not the idea that people are helping out with the expenses, but those who profit from it monetarily. Regardless what it says, the law covers a large general area of great lakes boating and fishing. The officers know, as well as some already stated, everyone could in some form be in violation. Hey it's pretty simple, trying to make money and you don't have a license, your wrong.

 

Along with your USCG License, Guide License, and Insurance you need a Drug Card and belong to a Drug Consortium. Don't go out there half steppin.

 

thanks for the info gary, sorry you found out the hard way. eariler this year when george was getting his CG license, i didnt have the time to attend the school in sandusky with him, so i emailed the CG and asked about just getting a guide license to take paying customers out fishing, the return email said i just needed to have a 6 pack CG license to take paying customers out on lake erie, it NEVER said im needed the guide license too?? id say you did nothing wrong, just uninformed...as was the person who returned my email.

 

Appreciate the post, Blue Dolphin, and for keeping us informed.

With that being said, if I send my wife in to buy the bait, I'm guiding, huh? WHAT BALONEY.