FISH STORIES : The Legal Limit : Licenses must be purchased before casting a line into the water. And fines may follow if regulations aren’t observed.

Fishing is more than buying a rod and reel, going out to the nearest large body of water and having at it. There is a sizable list of state Department of Fish and Game regulations that must be dealt with first.

Here is a rundown of the various local fishing license options. Licenses are sold at some sporting goods stores, some discount and drug stores, and certain bait and tackle shops.

There are two types of annual licenses for state residents. These licenses are good from Jan. 1 to Dec. 31. (All fees include a handling charge for the business that issues the license):

* Ocean or inland fishing. Cost: $22.60.

* Ocean fishing. Cost: $13.40.

There are also two types of one-day licenses for residents and non-residents:

* Ocean or inland fishing. Cost: $8.15.

* Ocean fishing. Cost: $5.

But that’s not all. There are other charges that may be applicable depending on fishing location.

* If an angler intends to catch striped bass--and keep them--a striped bass stamp must be purchased. Cost: $3.70.

* If an angler will be doing ocean fishing south of Point Arguello, he or she needs to purchase an Ocean Enhancement stamp. Cost: $1.05. The angler also needs to purchase a Sports Marine Resources Protection stamp. Cost: $3.15.

And what happens if someone is caught without the proper registration? Fines.

The minimum fine for the first offense of fishing without a license is $250, the maximum fine is $1,000. Half of the money collected goes to the county in which the person was fined, the other half goes to the Fish and Game Preservation Fund. In 1990, 11,165 citations were issued throughout the state for fishing without a license.

Fines can also be issued for other violations of fish and game regulations. The more common of those being fishing with more than one rod in inland waters, keeping undersized fish and taking more than the allowed limit of a particular type of fish. If someone is convicted of any three violations within a five-year span, license privileges may be suspended.