Board of Directors Meeting: Thursday, January 5, 2012, 6:00 p.m.
General Membership Meeting: Thursday, January 12, 2012, 7:30 p.m.

These yacht clubs have extended to the officers and members of the Dorchester Yacht Club the courtesy of use of their clubhouse and slips.

Beachmont Yacht Club                           168 Pearl Ave, Revere, Mass 02151-4254

Broadsound Tuna Club, Inc.                   567 North Shore Road, Revere, MA 02151

Chelsea Yacht Club                                 One Broadway, P.O. Box 6008, I.M.C.N., Chelsea, Mass 02150

Columbia Yacht Club                               1825 Columbia Road, South Boston, MA 02127

Hull Yacht Club                                           P.O. Box 796, Hull, MA 02045

Jeffries Yacht Club                                      565 Sumner St., East Boston, Mass 02128-2258

Jubilee Yacht Club                                     PO Box 104, Tucks Point, Beverly, MA 01915

Lynn Yacht Club                                         84-86 Lynnway, Lynn, MA 01902

Metropolitan Yacht Club                          39 Vinedale Rd, Braintree, MA 02184

Nantasket Beach Salt Water Club        3 Fitzpatrick Way, Hull, MA 02045

Pleasant Park Yacht Club                      562 Pleasant St., Winthrop, MA 02152

Point of PInes Yacht Club                    28 Rice Ave, Revere, MA 02151

Riverside Yacht Club                             52 Ship Avenue, Medford, MA 02155

Salem Willows Yacht Club                  P.O. Box 143, Salem, MA 01970

Savin Hill Yacht Club                            400 Morrissey Blvd, Dorchester, MA 02125

Town River Yacht Club                       60 Mound St., Quincy, MA 02169

Wessagussett Yacht Club                   P.O. Box 74, N. Weymouth, MA 02191

Wollaston Yacht Club                           692 Quincy Shore Drive, Quincy, MA 02170

In addition to use of the clubhouse and guest docks, the Hull Yacht Club notes the following:
Moorings are free for up to 4 days, then $25 per day after that.

CALLING ALL MEMBERS!!!
Please update your email address with the secretary; many email addresses are not working, and notices sent out via email have been bouncing back! Thanks!

At the General Membership Meeting on July 9, 2009, it was voted to add the following to both the Inboard and Outboard Float Rules.
"Beginning on January 1, 2010, all boat owners, before docking a boat at the float to which the boat owner is assigned, must show Proof of Insurance to the Float Committee Chairman or his representative for boats kept in the marina or on moorings of the yacht club. Minimum coverage shall include $500,000 for environmental damage and $300,000 for Protection & Indemnity liability. The yacht club will be named a "certificate holder" of the insurance.”

Who needs the MA Recreational Saltwater Fishing Permit?
In order to fish recreationally for finfish in Massachusetts marine waters, saltwater fishermen  must have:

• A MA Recreational Saltwater Fishing permit, or
• A recreational saltwater fishing permit from a state that has a reciprocity agreement with Massachusetts.  As of January 1, 2011, Massachusetts has reciprocity agreements with:
       New Hampshire

What is the cost of the MA Permit?
The annual cost for both residents and non-residents is $10.

Who does not need a permit?
No permit is required for:

• Fishermen who are under 16 years of age
• Fishermen fishing on permitted for-hire vessels
• Fishermen who regardless of their age, otherwise meet the definition of a disabled person in M.G.L. c. 19C

What about people 60 and older?
People 60 and older must obtain a permit but the permit is free for these individuals (although a small fee will be charged by the vendor to process the permit through the internet).

Do all recreational fishermen on a private vessel need to purchase a recreational fishing permit or is there a boat permit available?
All recreational fishermen between the ages of 16 and 59 must purchase an individual permit and those fishermen age 60 or over must obtain a free permit if not fishing aboard a permitted for-hire vessel on a charter or headboat trip. There is no permit available for a private fishing vessel or any type of family permit that covers multiple family members.

When does the permit expire?
Massachusetts permits expire each year on December 31. All permits must be renewed annually.

Is a saltwater/freshwater fishing combination permit available?
No, not at this time, but you can get all of your permits at the same website: MassFishHunt


How will the permit fee revenues be used?
All permit fees will be deposited in a dedicated account, managed by DMF.  An advisory panel will assist DMF in developing programs for the expenditure of all collected funds. In accordance with the state law governing the permit program, the permit fee revenues can only be used to administer the permit program, improve the management of MA's marine recreational fisheries, particularly with regard to developing more accurate assessments of recreational catch and effort, and enhance recreational fishing access opportunities in the state. The permit fee revenues cannot be used for any purpose that is unrelated to marine recreational fishing in MA.

Do I still need to follow all applicable rules and regulations governing marine recreational fishing?
Yes, the permit simply enables you to fish legally, in accordance with all applicable rules and regulations. Recreational regulations can be found here.

If I have a Highly Migratory Species permit am I exempt from the MA permit?
If you are finfishing exclusively in federal waters and possess an HMS permit, you do not need a MA permit as long as you do not land any fish in Massachusetts. If you retain fish and bring them back into MA state waters, or you fish in state waters,  then you will need the MA permit.

Do I need the MA Recreational Saltwater Fishing Permit to go recreational shellfishing or recreational lobstering?No. Recreational shellfishing is allowed in designated clean areas and regulated by the individual cities and towns. Contact your town Department of Natural Resources for local regulations and permit acquisition.  Recreational lobstering requires a separate permit that can be obtained through the same website:  MassFishHunt

Savin Hill, South Boston, and Columbia Yacht Clubs are having a terrible time with theft at their clubs (most of theft is done to the boats on moorings). All boaters should keep a list of the equipment with serial numbers that are left on the boat. We are providing a form to list your equipment so you will have something to give the police in case your boat is robbed. Download this form is here and look for it in the July issue of The Lighthouse.