Kean said the law passed in September is confusing and unfair to many anglers. Further it has hurt charter and party boatmen and has resulted in the suspension of the bonus fish program.

The present law provides for the harvest of one fish between 24 and less than 28 inches, no fish between 28 and less than 34 inches, one fish from 34 inches up, and there is no bonus program.

"I am a striped bass fisherman and I can tell you that many of the individuals that I run into that also fish are confused by these new rules," he said. "Fishermen in Monmouth County are bewildered as to why the state passed such a complicated scheme."  Kean said his bill, which will be introduced Feb. 7, will be easy to understand and comply with. It is also acceptable to the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission, and conforms to the coastal standard.

"Recreational fishing is one of the most popular activities of both residents and visitors to Monmouth County and New Jersey," he said. "Going forward with these unnecessarily complex regulations will hurt the fishing and related industries and will ultimately impact tourism."

"New Jersey needs a fair and easily understandable striped bass policy that lets the state's fishermen concentrate on battling fish instead of battling bureaucratic red tape," he pointed out.

Kean acknowledged that different regions of the state have different needs, and he respects efforts to provide regional autonomy with respect to fish size, but until a system is worked out, he said the state needs to simplify and clarify the regulations to avoid confusion, and accommodate the majority.

Two fish at 28 inches or over is not a demand spawned in New Jersey, it is the coastal standard, the base agreed upon by the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission.

Two fish at 28 inches is the choice of the state Division of Fish and Wildlife, and it is the only measure that will allow them to continue the traditional bonus program for all striped bass fishermen who want to participate.   Any other bonus option that might be created under the present law will exclude some, if not most, bass fishermen from the bonus program.

The Recreational Fishing Alliance has compiled the results of its membership questionnaire on bass fishermen's preferences, and it was found that the majority favor two fish at 28 inches or above.

A total of 814 respondents or 45 percent chose two fish at 28 inches with a bonus program, and 1,034 or 57.66 percent favored two fish at 28 inches without a bonus program.  The survey revealed that 645 anglers or 35.7 percent favored the present law with a bonus program of some form and 441 or 24.59 percent favored the present law without a bonus program.

Another 346 persons or 19.1 percent favored one fish between 26 and 30 inches and a second fish at 33 inches or over with some form of a bonus program, and 318 or 17.73 percent favored one fish between 26 and 30 inches and one fish 33 inches or over without a bonus program.

The Jersey Coast Anglers Association, representing 75 fishing clubs, met Tuesday night in Brick, and representatives voted overwhelmingly to change the present law to two fish at 28 inches or over plus a bonus program.

Bruce L. Freeman, research scientist for the state's Bureau of Marine Fisheries, said Tuesday that the bonus program can be continued as it has for 13 years without additional funding, if the law is changed to two fish at 28 inches or over.

Thomas P. Fote, legislative chairman of the Jersey Coast Anglers Association, said that organization decided that it will circulate a petition at the upcoming Atlantic City Boat Show to get further support for changing the present law to two fish at 28 inches.

More than 60,000 persons went through the show last year, and a larger crowd is expected this year.

"This will be a simple petition asking people if they support 28 inches and a bonus program the way it has been for 13 years," he said.

Joe Pallotto, president of the Asbury Park Fishing Club, which has over 100 members, said he is heartened by the results of the RFA membership poll and the stand of the JCAA's clubs, the state's backing of two at 28 and the support of the New Jersey Federation of Sportsmen's Clubs.

"This proves to everyone that two at 28 is the way to go," he said. "It has already been approved by the ASMFC -- no hang up there -- all we have to do is get a bill introduced, and impress upon the state Legislature that this is what the majority of bass fishermen wants."

The Asbury Park Fishing Club, which dates back over 100 years, has been in the forefront of striped bass regulations in New Jersey since the first measures were passed in the last century.  "We don't have an axe to grind here," Pallotto said. "We're not interested in party politics, we're interested in doing what is right for the majority of the fishermen in New Jersey.

Greg Hueth, a spokesman for the Shark River Surf Anglers, another club with over 100 members, said his membership is unified in its support for two fish at 28 inches plus the bonus program as they have known it for 13 years.

"It's pretty clear what is in the best interests of the fishermen of New Jersey -- what's right for them," he said. "We need to move forward now; we can't wait on this."