The fisherman said the issue started with a simple mistake. According to the Reddit post, he had a valid fishing license, but he did not have it on him when he was checked. The license was back in the truck.
That is the kind of thing that probably feels harmless in the moment. The license exists. It was paid for. The fisherman was not trying to cheat the system or fish without buying one. But when a wildlife officer or other official checks you in the field, having the license somewhere else can still become a problem.
The original Reddit post can be found here: https://www.reddit.com/r/legaladvice/comments/9enx1d/plead_not_guilty_vs_no_contest/
The fisherman ended up with a citation and had to decide how to handle it in court. That is where the situation became less about fishing and more about legal process. He wanted to know whether to plead not guilty or no contest, and what the difference might mean.
It is easy to see why he hesitated. On one hand, he did have a license. If he could prove that, he might feel like he should fight the citation. On the other hand, the rule may have required him to carry it while fishing, not just own it somewhere nearby. If the law says the license has to be presented during the check, then leaving it in the truck might still technically violate the rule.
That is the frustrating part about outdoor citations. A lot of hunters and anglers think in common-sense terms: “I bought the license, so I should be fine.” But the regulation may be written around possession, display, or immediate presentation. That means a small mistake can still turn into a court date.
The fisherman’s situation also shows why keeping licenses accessible matters. A license in a glove box, wallet, phone app, or tackle bag may feel like a tiny detail until the one time a warden checks you away from the vehicle. Then that small detail becomes the whole case.
This was not a story about someone poaching fish, ignoring limits, or sneaking around without paying. It was about a person who said he had the license, but not where he needed it when it mattered.
Commenters focused on the exact charge and the wording of the law. Several said he needed to know whether he was cited for not having a license at all, or for failing to carry or present one while fishing. Those are not necessarily the same thing.
Some people suggested bringing proof of the valid license to court. If the license was active at the time of the citation, a judge or prosecutor might reduce the fine, dismiss the charge, or offer a simpler resolution. But commenters also warned that proof of purchase would not automatically erase the citation if the rule required him to have it on his person.
Others explained that a no-contest plea is still a plea that can have consequences. It may not be the same as saying “I did it” in ordinary language, but it can still result in a conviction, fine, or record depending on the charge and jurisdiction.
A few commenters told him to call the court or prosecutor’s office ahead of time and ask whether showing proof of a valid license would resolve it. Sometimes minor license issues can be handled more easily than people expect, especially if the person was licensed before the stop.
The post ended with a lesson every hunter and fisherman learns sooner or later. Buying the license is only part of it. Having it where you can show it when asked can be the difference between a normal day outside and standing in court trying to explain where it was.
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