The Fishing Line: Registry still a Hot Topic

Oh, Happy Spring. Fishing is back.
Captain Fred at Harbor View reports the first stripers of the season in the bay, mostly shorts but a few keepers. Fish were caught from Bug Light to #1 Buoy. Fresh clams and surface plugs were the deciding factor. Harbor View is now open with plenty of bait, tackle and fuel.
On the subject of a saltwater license verses free registration, strong feelings continue to emerge on both sides of the issue.
One charter captain wrote, “I am not anxious to increase operating expenses, but when it comes to NJ, a growing number of recreational anglers feel there is a real need for a saltwater license.
“The free registration proposal elected officials want to give us sounds really good, but what do we really get for free?
“New Jersey has failed to provide adequate funding for marine fisheries and has one of the smallest budgets of any state along the coast, even though we have more anglers than other states.
“The state can use more enforcement of fisheries laws and it would be nice if they could do some of the things that other states do for their anglers.
“Where will the money come from to pay for the free registration? Some one is going to have to pay for it. In the midst of a budget crisis, I do not think the state is going to allocate extra monies for recreational fishermen to fish.”
What I am hearing from many captains is that a license is preferable because: 1) Saltwater license fees would provide needed funding for NJ Marine Fisheries, add to it federal monies from the Wallop-Breaux Federal Sport Fish Registration Program.
The current proposal does not address any funding for Marine fisheries. Opponents argue that any money collected by the state could be raided and not used for its intended purpose.
This may have happened to beach replenishment money but it did not have Wallop Breaux money attached. Nowhere has monies collected for license fees matched with Wallop-Breaux funds been taken. If it is taken, the state has to pay back the matching funds to the federal government.
NJ Freshwater License monies have federal excise taxes attached and they have not been raided for that very same reason.
2) Free registration does not address the fact that New Jersey anglers must purchase an out of state license to fish the shared waters between our bordering states where a saltwater license is in effect.
NJ anglers fishing in Delaware Bay or Sandy Hook, will have to buy an out of state license to fish waters past the midway point of shared waters and yet Delaware and New York anglers may come over to our side and fish without paying anything.
If New Jersey had a saltwater license, reciprocal agreements could be made to recognize each state’s license.
3) If a Saltwater License is so bad, why is New Jersey one of the last states not to have one? It would provide realistic funding which our state refuses to or cannot do on its own.
4) Some argue that the cost will stop folks from fishing in NJ. Where will they go to fish if all the other states have licenses?
A free registration doesn’t solve the major problems facing saltwater anglers. If you are going to fix the problem, why not do it right? It seems to be a win-win situation for both the anglers and the State of New Jersey.
The RFA opposes a saltwater fishing license. The NJ bill, just passed in the Assembly and awaiting to be heard in the Senate, would exempt recreational anglers who fish in NJ coastal waters from having to pay NOAA to store their name and contact information on file (the registry).
As of 2011, NOAA has said they may begin charging anglers to register with the federal system, unless states have their own system of gathering angler information.
Both bills (A823 and S1122) have been written specifically to allow NJ to apply for “exempted state designation from the federal registration requirements,” while also stating that the “DEP shall not charge a fee for the required registration program.”
RFA argued that the need for a federally mandated saltwater registry in the state was essentially co-opted by advocates of a saltwater license, which is purely a funding debate. (www.rfanj.org)
IN OTHER NEWS: The NJ DEP Division of Fish and Wildlife received notice that they have until July 30 to implement regulations necessary to avoid a shark fishing moratorium. The state was found to be in non-compliance with regulations. Visit www.njfishandwildlife.com/news/2010/shark_extension.htm
Delaware River Shad Fishermen’s Association announced that the Delaware River Fish and Wildlife Management Co-operative has given the green light for an American Shad hatchery on or near the banks of the Delaware River.
The DRSFA believes that a hatchery is one way to combat open ocean fisheries, mainly mid-water herring and mackerel trawls that are believed to be decimating river herring and shad runs up and down the east coast.
Boating Safety Courses:
April 17, Strathmere Fishing Club, 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m., $50, 384-6225; April 17, Wildwood Crest Rescue, 9 a.m.-4 p.m., 886-6243.
Send your fish stories and photos to cmiller@cmcherald.com. All photos submitted appear online at SeeMyBigFish.com.