This has been a busy month with many meetings and a good deal of traveling.  I have attended meetings on weakfish, croaker, ecosystem management, Oyster Creek, the American Sportfishing Association Summit and Board Meeting, and others. 

            In this newspaper and the previous edition, we covered the information on the weakfish management plan.  The ASMFC meeting agenda has a weakfish meeting scheduled for November 2 at 10:15.  This is a perfect opportunity for you to participate in the process.  The striped bass meeting will be held at 8:00 on Monday, October 31.  Both meetings will be held in New Jersey making them accessible to all of you.  I hope to see many of you at those meetings. 

American Sportfishing Association Summit

            When I first began attending ASA meetings, they were primarily social.  However, with Mike Nussman’s leadership, ASA has taken a more serious look at the politics and other influences that impact on the fishing industry.  The members of ASA have become much more willing to look at all of the variables that impact their industry including tax issues, environmental issues, and participation.  Some of the committees that met during the recent summit were revenue, data and statistics, saltwater, freshwater, government affairs and finance.  There were also speakers from other businesses sharing ways they promote their own industries.  Many directors of federal and state agencies were available to discuss a variety of issues.  As the only advocacy representative of recreational anglers on the board of directors, I have a unique opportunity to share our perspectives and learn from the best in the industry. 

            The dates are set for 2006.  ASA’s Summit will meet October 17 – 19 in San Diego.  If you earn a living from recreational fishing and are members of ASA it would be a great learning experience for you or one of you employees to attend the next summit.  Bob Feldsott, president, Folsum Industries, a first time attendee at the summit said, “I recognize the value of this summit and will be a regular participant in the future.” 

Oyster Creek

            Included in this newspaper is an article about the recertification of Oyster Creek.  JCAA’s position is that Oyster Creek should be required to install the most up-to-date cooling tower process in order to be recertified.  I hear from some anglers that the warm water actually improves the fishing.  While that may be true, it is like a moth drawn to flame.  You may draw more moths but eventually they get too close and are fried.  Every time the plant shuts down and stops discharging the hot water, the fish kill is significant.  You can’t change the ecology of the bay by adding warm water and chlorine without long-term negative consequences.  There will be a hearing on October 24^th.  Check the press release below for details.  It is important that our position is well represented at this hearing.

Senator Jon Corzine attended the Governor’s Surf Fishing Tournament and held a press conference.  The release below was provided to JCAA, NJSFSC and members of the press who were present.  JCAA does not endorse candidates but is passing this information on to our members.  As always, we will share fisheries information we received from other elected officials and candidates for major offices. 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE October 2,2005

CONTACTS: Ivette Mendez, Allyn Brooks-LaSure, Gloria Montealegre 732-729-9820

 CORZINE ADDRESSES ECO-TOURISM, RECREATIONAL FISHING
DURING STOP AT GOVERNOR’S FISHING TOURNAMENT

Opposes Bush Administration’s Proposed Saltwater Fishing License and Fee

NEW BRUNSWICK – U.S. Senator and gubernatorial candidate Jon Corzine today attended the beginning of the Governor’s Fishing Tournament on Island Beach State Park where he met with tournament participants and leaders of the Jersey Coast Anglers Association and other fishing organizations.

According to a recent study, if wildlife-related recreation in New Jersey was a company, including salt and fresh water fishing, it would be a member of the Fortune 500. In 2001, more than 3 million persons in New Jersey enjoyed wildlife-related recreation.  These activities have a total ripple effect on the economy of $5.6 billion and support about 50,000 jobs^.

“I am absolutely opposed to the Bush Administration’s proposal to create saltwater fishing license and any associated fee system,” said Corzine.  “I am committed to ensuring that our state’s policies support recreational fishing and other recreational activities.”

If elected, Corzine said he would:

Oppose the Bush Administration’s proposal to create saltwater fishing license and any associated fee system.

Support establishing a new striped bass catch limit. Currently, New Jersey does not use the 2 fish at 28 inches rule that is currently in place in New York, Pennsylvania and Delaware.

Oppose the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission proposal to limit recreational fishers to one weakfish rule.  This would destroy the recreational weakfish industry.  ASMFC is not proposing a quota on the commercial fishing industry.

Support increased funding for state parks and Fish and Wildlife programs. Specifically, Jon Corzine will fund stronger stock assessments and the artificial reef program. He also supports ensuring that the Garden State Preservation Trust, when renewed, will create a dedicated revenue stream for park maintenance and expansion.

Create a new program that would create a new statewide “NJ’s natural treasure” designation for areas of the state with unique and threatened environmental resources. Areas such as the Barnegat Bay, and the Delaware Bayshore would be considered. State grants and funding would be directed to protect these critical areas and the DEP would prepare a long-term natural resource plan for the areas.

 Support statewide eco-tourism and other recreational activities.  Specifically, Corzine would create passive-natural related recreational and educational opportunities, strong financial incentives for private lands stewardship, and invest in products and marketing to make wildlife-related and passive recreation more accessible (e.g. model – Birding and Wildlife Trail guides).

Implement strong clean water protections to ensure continued improvements in water quality. Specifically, Jon Corzine supports additional C1 waterways that ensure the strongest protections for waterways that are key trout production and drinking water resources, and updating the state’s clean water laws to reduce runoff and storm water discharges.

 Make appointments to the Atlantic States Fisheries Commission that represents all of New Jersey citizens and our fishing interests and has the experience to protect those interests.

In the United States Senate, Jon Corzine has been a strong advocate for recreational fishing and eco-tourism in the state.

 John Bushell

John Bushell touched tens of thousands of anglers running Betty and Nick’s.  If you fished from Lavallette to Island Beach State Park, Betty and Nick’s was a major source of information, tackle, lunch and fisheries politics.  John was part of those early discussions about fisheries management at Betty and Nick’s or the Berkeley Striper Club.  When I first got involved with JCAA, John was an enthusiastic supporter and that never changed.  John was a supporter of striped bass gamefish despite some friends and customers who like to sell their bass.  When JCAA had no operating funds, John would loan his copy machine for our newsletter.  On a personal note, I chatted with John about a week before he died.  As usual we talked about fishing and about fisheries politics but we also talked about friends we hadn’t seen in awhile.  We made a date to fish together soon.  Unfortunately, that date will not be kept.  Speaking for all the anglers in New Jersey, we will miss John as a source of tackle and information but mostly we will miss him as a fellow angler who loved the beach and loved to fish.  Now it is up to John Jr. to keep his dad’s and grandfather’s tradition alive

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