[kENSDOCK]

AS many of you know, the State of NJ is und. er federal mandate to establish a salt water license. If NJ fails to do so the feds will do it and take the money. At this point it is about who we trust with the money the State of New Jersey or the Federal GovernmentWith the feds we have zero chance it will be dedicated to improve are fishing resource, it goes directly to the general fund. The money can be dedicated to fish and wildlife in NJ, if NJ creates a salt water license. The money collected from hunting and fresh water fishing licenses and permits has been dedicated to fish and wildlife for over one hundred years”.In that time it has never been used for anything other than fish and wildlife. So we do have a chance if NJ establishes a salt water license. The NJ salt water license will generate about 40 million dollars annually to enhance your fishing opportunities. Take the summer flounder season as an example. If we had a salt water license in place this year here are some of the season possibilities, You would buy a license for the summer flounder season you prefer be it April 15 to June15 or June 16 to August 15 you get the point more flexibility in the seasons. As for the party and charter industry they could buy a license to cover all their costumers. Vacationers would be able to buy one day or week license. Without the license split seasons are not a possibility due to enforcement issues. Zero dollars anually to enhance NJ recreational fishing or 40 million dollars annually to enhance recreational fishing in our State? Now is the time to speak up.Take the pole.http://Kensdock.wordpress.com

[njdiver]

It is a shame, everyone is so confused about this. All the MSA is mandating is a very expensive phone book. NOT a license!

[jimga]

If you have to pay a fee to register, then it is a license to have the rights to fish salwater.

[njdiver]

Originally Posted by jimga

If you have to pay a fee to register, then it is a license to have the rights to fish salwater.

No, it is only a registry of recreational fishermen to enable NMFS to survey their catch in a more efficient manner than using a regular phone book. The license angle comes in when local state governments see an opportunity for a new revenue stream.

[Bill55]

Can we trust either to do the right thing? If we have to decide, i would go with NJ at least the decision makers have a stake in it.

[jgajma]

NJ Diver, you sound like politicians, if it is not a license then what would happen if you do not register.
Would you get a ticket like you would if you were driving and did not have a drives license or if you were an electrician or any other job that requires a license? If it is not a license like you says then if you do not register and you are ask by an officer then nothing should happen if you are not register.

[njdiver]

Originally Posted by jgajma

NJ Diver, you sound like politicians, if it is not a license then what would happen if you do not register.
Would you get a ticket like you would if you were driving and did not have a drives license or if you were an electrician or any other job that requires a license? If it is not a license like you says then if you do not register and you are ask by an officer then nothing should happen if you are not register.

Thankfully I am not a politician. The Federal Register publication of the National Saltwater Angler Registry http://www.regulations.gov/fdmspubli...ontentType=pdf did not promulgate any penalties. Generaly NOAA and NMFS use the threat of closure of a fishery to enforce their regulations. The individual Coastal States can set up whatever penalties their Regulatory Agencies or Legislatures' desire.

[mako15]

DE 'solved' the problem by issuing a state saltwater/freshwater lic for the same $8.50 price of the previous freshwater lic. Having been raised in NJ I KNOW NJ wouldn't do something that smart and inexpensive. Right now I have to buy my DE lic, MD Chesapeake Bay Lic, North Carolna SW lic - and I'm happy to do it particularly in the DE and NC cases as they actually spend the $ on things like super nice ramps that actually benefit boaters/fishermen!! Oh yeah the DE ramp is free to DE residents and costs only $35 PER YEAR for out of state residents and the NC ramps are FREE for everyone. The WORST ramp in either of those 2 states is better than the pay per launch ramps in NJ!
If you think lic are too expensive take the lic cost divide it by your total yearly expense for boating/fishing then multiply that result by 100% - better have a good calculator or big sheet of paper! It isn't so much the cost as to how the money is spent ( NJ general fund or marine police ) that makes so many people mad.

[njdiver]

Originally Posted by mako15

DE 'solved' the problem by issuing a state saltwater/freshwater lic for the same $8.50 price of the previous freshwater lic. Having been raised in NJ I KNOW NJ wouldn't do something that smart and inexpensive. Right now I have to buy my DE lic, MD Chesapeake Bay Lic, North Carolna SW lic - and I'm happy to do it particularly in the DE and NC cases as they actually spend the $ on things like super nice ramps that actually benefit boaters/fishermen!! Oh yeah the DE ramp is free to DE residents and costs only $35 PER YEAR for out of state residents and the NC ramps are FREE for everyone. The WORST ramp in either of those 2 states is better than the pay per launch ramps in NJ!
If you think lic are too expensive take the lic cost divide it by your total yearly expense for boating/fishing then multiply that result by 100% - better have a good calculator or big sheet of paper! It isn't so much the cost as to how the money is spent ( NJ general fund or marine police ) that makes so many people mad.

Those are precisely the reasons for not rushing into a saltwater license. The NSAR is an unfunded mandate. If we can resolve it with little or no cost to the individual and then work on funding NJ Marine Fisheries Bureau from the hundreds of millions the State collects from us in sales, fuel, hotel/motel and other taxes, a saltwater license will be a last resort. Only after an unsuccessful effort to redistribute our share of the General Fund into the Bureau should a license that has proper oversight, protection against “budget bolstering” and exclusive use of funds collected for recreational fishing be considered.

[workin man]

New Jersey isn 't the only state in the North east looking to institute the SALT WATER FISHING LICENSE New York is also jumping on the band wagon.The major difference is you can still fish in Jersey . The new regulations in N.Y. are not only more strict but getting a little confusing.In season out of season size next door in Conn . and Jersey different limits and sizes . Maybe the fed should take over then we would all end up being potchers .