This is a big problem” and the root of many bad decisions concerning NJ recreational fishing:
Capt.TB Quote:
So, what would a business man want? $14 or $19 going to the state with $1.00 going to the store owner, or potentially $15 or $20 more dollars going to them (or even a fraction of that let’s say 4 or 5 dollars) going to the store while the PEOPLE ARE IN THERE ANYWAY IN ORDER TO GET THEIR LICENSE….or $1.00 going to the store.
.A few businessmen think short term and would rather have a chance” of grabbing your twenty dollars today in lieu of you investing in the future of your salt water fishing.In complete disregard to the fact that the better the fishing the more sales he will have in the future. Many of them also have resisted a NJ salt water license out fear the true numbers of anglers and fish being caught will be found out and may” shorten the opportunity for them to grab your money.Many business really do not care what shape the fish populations are in , they only need to sell you on the possibility” of catching a fish no mater how remote that possibility may be.
Please note: There are many charter Captains like Cape May Ray that see the benefits to his business a salt water license would bring. They also are concerned with actual catching fish for their customers.
Bill S2984 will keep NJ in step with its reputation for investing in short term economic solutions. It will not provide the smart investment in the future of salt water fishing that a salt water license will provide.
New Jersey has between 800,000- 1.4 million NJ anglers depending on the year. That would generate about 40 million annually. New Jersey Anglers have lost about 100 million dollars of their far share of Federal excise tax funds due to the fact that New Jersey lacks a salt water license. Just this last year we lost millions of dollars in stimulus money and all the benefits to salt water fishing that went with it. Please take a look at states like Florida,SC and others that have had a Salt water fishing license in place for a minute.You will find excellent fishing and economic benefits that you will not find in NJ!! Why, because they have invested wisely in their recreation fishing resource via a salt water license. I am not surprised that the recreational fishing alliance {RFA}is opposed to a New Jersey salt water license as they always go for short term economic gain. It is time for New Jersey Anglers to invest in the future by supporting a salt water license. As the polls indicate NJ anglers would not mind kicking in a few dollars to improve their salt water fishing.Please take a look at the poll results from today 12-02-09 and the extract from the Newark Star-Ledger article.
Thank you, we have already counted your vote.
NJ salt water license with a law dedicating the funds to enhance nj fishing 91% (53 votes)
Set up the mandated registry with the funds going to the us general fund 9% (5 votes)
Total Votes: 58Return To Poll
PollDaddy.com
BY ALEXANDER LANE
(Newark) STAR-LEDGER STAFF
February 6, 2005
Whether fighting no-fishing zones, keeping white marlin off the endangered-species list or elbowing commercial fishermen out of favored waters, the Recreational Fishing Alliance makes its voice heard.
The New Jersey-based RFA, which has chapters in all coastal states, bills itself as a “grassroots political action organization representing individual sport fishermen and the sport-fishing industry.” It frequently touts its tens of thousands of members in brochures and press releases.
But according to two recent lawsuits against its executive director, there’s only one member that really matters. The suits say that New Gretna-based Viking Yacht Co., one of the nation’s premier luxury yacht manufacturers, tightly controls the non-profit, tax-exempt RFA, and the two operate as a “single integrated enterprise.”
Fishing advocates and environmentalists said they have long believed as much, maintaining that the RFA cares more about Viking’s interests than those of the fishermen it claims to represent.
“There’s a big difference between what they do and what we do,” said Al Marantz, a founding member of the all-volunteer Jersey Coast Anglers Association, with a membership of about 30,000. “Decisions can be made by (Viking CEO) Bob Healey himself and not really correspond to the wishes of the fishermen.”
Ken's Dock 