I just bought my 2007 license, and also got a license for my young daughter. The problem was we were not able to 'purchase' or print out a catch record card for her at Joes... I just got back and checked the wdfw website, entered her info and still can't order/print one for her.

Any ideas what I should try next? She's young (only 4) but enjoys coming out with me, if we come into some salmon this summer, it'd be a bummer to not have a catch record for her.

I think we should go picket the state capitol building in olympia....

IMO, Joes owes you one since you bought it there. Chances are if you try to pick up one somewhere else, they will try to charge you for it. It's only something like 7.00 but it's the principle of it...right?

A catch card for a juvenile fisherperson is free...you should only have to pay the "dealer" fee which varies from location to location. Juvenile is defined as one 14 or less at the time of purchase. 15 year-olds have to purchase a discounted license that is less than $10.

If you are still ahving trouble getting her a catch card, call this number 360-902-2464. That is the number for WDFW licensing office, they are actually very helpful.

Beancounter,

I understand that the card issued with the license is free, but if you need to replace it, it costs either 7.95 or 10.95, something like that. My assertion is that a retailer would most likely charge Irish the replacement fee if he went in somewhere and asked for it.

...Gotcha, that would suck to have to pay that fee when it was free to begin with.

If that is the case, a call to that number would most likely sort that out.

To be clear -- we TRIED to get a catch record, but the system wouldnt issue one to her (maybe shes too young?). Additionally online there is not one I can order or even re-order. Is there a minimum age for a catch record card somehow?

All anglers are required to have a card when fishing for salmon and steelhead.... maybe all the time, I'm not sure on that. Her age should have no impact on whether or not she can get a card. I have obtained one for Olivia the past two years.

I'm betting you had a noob clerk at the new Joe's who didnt know what to do to obtain a card. The people at the number Bean proivided should be able to help, or call the manager at Joes and escalate.

it should have issued her one. did they say why not? there are places in there where certain things have to be above X... like weight has to be over 50 pounds for some reason. Lots of kids end up weighing 50 pounds could have been something like that, but there is usually a way to make it work. the real hassles come when it says it is issued but it wont print.
dealing with the lic. is brutal. I had to sell them for a couple years and it is a pain in the ass. I am suprised anyone does sell them. for the time the dealers spend issuing lic versus how much money they make off each transaction, it doesnt make any sense.

I have noticed this problem with the online system too. Basically, it does not allow you to order the "free" catch record card, for some kids who are under 14 years old (significantly under 14 years old??). I tried to get one for my very young daughter too, and the system would not let me, even though my daughter is legally entitled to a free one (with the add-on dealer fee) regardless of her age under 14.

As another example, free fishing weekend is usually the first weekend in June, where people (kids and adults) are not required to have licenses but must still possess the free punchcard if they fish for salmon, steelhead, etc. I don't see how they can get this free catch card from the online system... the user interface forces them to purchase the full license first and has no option for just selecting the free card. Interestingly, it does have the option to select the replacement card for $10+

In years past, you could order just the free catch card online. I had done it several times for kids of relatives and friends. It does not seem to let you do that anymore.