Many bait shops sell licenses, as do the bigger retailers (Bass, Dick's, Walmart, etc.). Florida's FWC uses a third-party site for buying or renewing fishing licenses: GoOutdoorsFlorida.com.

Bruce Nash, of Nashy's Compleat Angler, said the handy stickers was just as important a tool as a fishing line, bait and safety gear. “It is an absolute must have.

Just like fishing in general, conditions in the bait industry have changed dramatically since his father, Bill and uncle, Fred, opened Spring Lake Freezer Co. in 1973.

Bait stores from as far off as Hayward, Wis. come to Ron's to stock up. "Usually we got a month to get ready for the fishing opener and kind of get it all working," he said.