Are fishing licenses a scam?

in California, it's a possibility because you have no idea of where the money goes.

so, you are aware of the cause and effect here right...? consider that "'seems its impossible to buy a fishing license'" along with "'and yet they were handing out tickets last night'" then the statistical probability leads one to presume that the officers were ticketing people who do not have a fishing license but are fishing anyways, illegally. no, fishing licenses are not a scam. unlike land and terresterial ecosystems, bodies of water are infinately more vulnerable to being overexploited and even fished dry. and unlike land when say a fire comes through, killing off everything, bodies of water cannot be replenished simply through time and migration into the empty lake. most of what we consider game fish, are stocked to some degree. little lakes in towns and neighborhoods that have no rivers feeding them, can be fished dry, and it costs money to replenish those fish. here in CO, we are required to purchase the $10 habitat stamp, which means that that $10 goes directly to the division of wildlife and park services so we can have the fish to fish. the reason licenses are not required on private property in some states is becausde the state/county/city do not stock private land lakes/ponds, and everyone likes to be able to fish, but it comes with a price. in essence, you are paying the state to provide the fish you catch. because without them stocking fish, there would be no fish to catch. you only get tickets from the division of wildlife if there is absolute proof you broke the law. if it is 'impossible to get a fishing license' there, they probably did not have one so were commiting a crime.

No, they aren't a scam.

Probably trying to keep you in your house cause of corona.

In what way is it "impossible"?  You can buy one online, it will take you about 5 minutes.