Ahh, the snow is gone and warmer temps are moving in. Striper season is open, summer flounder regs are in, and the great debate continues. Saltwater registry or is it a saltwater license? Free or fee? What’s NJ going to do to meet the federal mandate by Jan. 2010?
Here’s the situation:
NOAA will require a registry of all saltwater fishers by January 2010 and by January 2011 will impose a fee for that registration process. If a state already has a registry that meets the federal guidelines, fishers in that state would be exempt from the federal registry.
NJ remains one of the few states to have neither a registry nor a license. Call it what you will, the biggest issue about how to comply is money.
Sen. Jeff Van Drew (D-1) and Sen. Christopher Bateman (R-16) have agreed to work on a bill (S-2080) that would put a registry in place with no fees attached. Van Drew says that another fee is the last thing the recreational fishers of NJ need and Bateman withdrew his original bill that included a fee, to work with Van Drew to get the free registry in place.
Another bill A-3252 sponsored by Albano-Milam (D-1) is also moving through the legislature. It supports that the registry can be set up without any extra fees.
While free sounds good, there are many who would prefer to pay a fee, with strings attached, of course.
Those in favor of a fee point to the fact that it will cost the state money to just put a registry in place, administer and enforce it. (You’ll have to be registered in order to fish anywhere in salt water, even if it is free.) The fees collected would have to go into a dedicated fund (like the hunting and fresh water fishing license fees do) to enhance fishing in this state. (Skeptics stop the debate right here. No such thing as a dedicated fund in New Jersey, I was told.)
States that have a fee to register (license) have been able to use the funds to administer the registry, collect more accurate data, support fishery projects, hire biologists, build ramps, do stock assessments, and enforce regulations.
In reply, RFA’s Jim Donofrio and others say that the state will have to find the money to fund the mandated registry and that there are other ways to do so without putting another fee on the backs of the saltwater angler.
For example, he points to a conservation lottery with funds going to support parks, fisheries and the like. And the idea of a striped bass license plate has been around for years. Donofrio thinks this is the time to resurrect that idea.
DEP seems adamant about charging a fee since the administration of the federal registry will fall on them and with the state budget in trouble, one thing they don’t relish is more work for fewer staff members.
With just a $2 charge, they estimate that the registry would raise over $2 million. That’s probably more than what could be raise through a license plate.
Whether you call it a registry or a license, free or fee, NJ needs to get better data on the recreational fishing industry. Accurate information is the key to strong legislation and valid regulations. The old random phone calls and marina surveys are just not working.
But this is just the start of the debate. Other issues include an all-water license, the impact of the commercial saltwater fishing industry, a federal license that would be good in every state, charter boat compliance, and the rush to meet the impending deadline.
Let me know your ideas and thoughts on this hot topic. The registry is going to happen. New Jersey has a chance to do it right the first time before the federal government comes in and does it for us.
Back to the fishing scene:
The Atlantic Star, out of Wildwood Crest, reported one of the best trips of the winter with most anglers catching the limit on sea bass up to 7-pounds and 200 tile fish were boated. They had light SW winds all day. Who says you can’t fish in the winter?
Brad Warren, Malvern, Pa., caught all the sea bass he could and added 10 tile fish up to 12-pounds to his bag.
Bruce Lee, Fort Lee, and Efren Bautista, Woodside, NY, limited out on sea bass up to 6-pounds and still had time to catch 12 tile fish. Ralph Molinaro, North Haledon, outdid Bruce and Efren by catching 14 tile fish.
Dwayne Shepard, Queens Village, NY, had the limit of sea bass and eight tile fish including the 15-pound pool winner.
Check out SeeMyBigFish.com and be sure to send your fish stories to cmiller@cmcherald.com. This column appears first online at capemaycountyherald.com
Cape May – Governor Murphy says he doesn't know anything about the drones and doesn't know what they are doing but he does know that they are not dangerous. Does anyone feel better now?
