Depending on the specific location of the Hudson River fishing activities, and the specific species fished for, an angler may need to have a recreational marine fishing license, a freshwater fishing license or both licenses:

- If you are fishing downstream from the Tappan Zee Bridge, you are considered fishing in the marine and coastal district and will need to have a recreational marine fishing license.

- If you are fishing upstream from the Tappan Zee Bridge and are fishing for “migratory fish from the sea” (such as striped bass, American eel, American shad, hickory shad, blueback herring, and alewife), you need to acquire a recreational marine fishing license in addition to a freshwater fishing license.

- If you are fishing upstream from the Tappan Zee Bridge and are fishing for non-migratory fish (such as largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, catfish, carp, walleye, and perch), you will need to have a freshwater fishing license.

The bill language removes the exemption (currently 11-0707 (6) in ECL: "No license is required to take fish by angling, spearing, hooking, long bow or tipups from the waters of the marine district or from the Hudson River south of Troy Barrier Dam at Troy, NY) for a license from the Hudson River so all anglers fishing the Hudson River outside of the marine district (marine district includes the Hudson River to the Tappan Zee Bridge) need to have a fishing license to take fish.