If you are planning soon to register to fish in the saltwater, you might want to wait a bit longer. At Tuesday’s hearing on saltwater registry bills, I learned that although the registry requirement enacted last year by the legislature is in place for 2011, the amended version of Senator David Trahan’s free registry bill is an “emergency” bill and, if enacted as an emergency, will wipe out the current 2011 registration requirement and replace it with a new free system.

For the third session in a row, the Sportsman’s Alliance of Maine proposed the creation of a tax credit for those who invest private dollars to improve Maine’s fisheries and water access. Senator David Trahan sponsored the bill on SAM’s behalf and presented it to the legislature’s Taxation Committee, on which he serves as Senate Chair, on March 3.

A dramatic change in the position of the Department of Marine Resources toward a saltwater fishing registry could give all Maine saltwater anglers a free fishing registry starting next year, something many of us have worked to achieve for three years since Congress enacted a federal mandate to establish a registry of saltwater anglers in each state.

The legislature’s Natural Resources Committee hosted a hearing Tuesday on a bill that could lead to a ban on felt-soled waders in Maine.

Many saltwater anglers are confused by Maine’s new registration requirements. While relief may be on the way for 2012 as the legislature considers several bills that would change the registry law enacted just last year, here’s what you must do for 2011.