A government swirly

I was born and reared in Florida, and have lived here for over 45 years before spending four years in Virginia and 13 or so years out in the western panhandle of Nebraska. When I moved back, much to my chagrin, I discovered that I was not good enough to get a resident Florida fishing or hunting license until I had lived in the state for six months. At the time of my return, that six months covered all of the 2007/2008 hunting season. While I wanted to hunt in my home state that fall, after I paid an outrageous out-of-state fee to fish a couple of times, I was determined not to surrender my hard-earned cash to the vermin that had taken over the state in my absence. My brother-in-law has a beautiful hunting camp in Georgia, where there is an abundance of deer and a liberal limit. I bagged a nice buck, thoroughly enjoyed my time with Donnie and his family, and got a great deal of satisfaction knowing that I didn’t submit to the highwaymen that control Florida’s hunting and fishing access. With the “budget shortfalls” (government double speak for overspending) they have decided to start requiring a license for fishing from the shore or a pier. This has always been a courtesy for those who don’t have the wherewithal to buy a boat, mostly people who fish with their kids or try to put a fish on their dinner table from time to time. Naturally, once the government decides they need to charge a fee it never goes down, so the disadvantaged can look forward to higher fees to fish for fewer fish that they often can’t keep because the slot limits are so tight that catching a legal fish is like winning the lottery. Most frustrating, the zones and restrictions for seasons of the various species is so confusing you need a GPS to confirm your location and a lawyer to explain the document that details what can be caught, from where, and what size limits apply. I’m sorry to say it, but fishing in Florida’s coastal waters has become so complicated and laborious that it is hardly worth the effort. While I’m contemplating the pleasure of giving the government a collective swirly it occurred to me; what does Georgia’s out of state fishing license costs. . . . .