Coasties Going After Underground Charters?

A person can take friends fishing.  But, what if the friend pays for the trip?  Then it becomes, in the eyes of the law at least, a charter, and subject to the rules governing charters.  The line is often blurry.  Back in the old days, it was said the coast guard could arrest a boat owner if he took a friend fishing, and the friend brought a bucket of fried chicken to eat, and a couple beers.  I've never heard of it being enforced that strictly.

However, others accept money, to "pay for gas", and a few explicitly advertise informally or even on social networking sites that they will take you fishing for X dollars (no names mentioned, at least here).  It would appear that the Coast Guard is taking notice and intends to crack down:

BALTIMORE — The Coast Guard is warning people who pay to go fishing on the Chesapeake Bay to avoid illegal charter boats.

Coast Guard investigators have seen an increase in reports of vessels illegally charging to carry people over the last two years. They say the practice is most common around Kent and Tilghman islands, Rock Hall, Annapolis and the Potomac River in Charles County.

The Coast Guard urges people to ask the captain to show them a license. A boat carrying more than six passengers must be inspected by the Coast Guard, and a certificate of inspection should be displayed in an area accessible to passengers.

If caught, a charter vessel operator without the required documents could be subject to criminal or civil liability.

 Time to go fishing!