President's Report

(from Jersey Coast Anglers Association December 2006 Newsletter)

SPORTSPERSON OF THE YEAR AWARD CEREMONY AND DINNER

Crystal Point Marina on Sunday, November 19^th

Early registrations indicate a big turnout in support of our honoree and the JCAA mission. Thanks to our dinner committee, guests and sponsors.

This edition will be going to press before the Award Dinner due to the Thanksgiving Holiday. By the time you receive this newspaper the event will be history.

Eleanor Bochenek is the JCAA Sportsperson of the year for 2006. Her bio is in another part of this newsletter.

Hudson River Fishing Association is the recipient of this year’s Youth Education Award.

Get on the Bus !,

JCAA is formulating plans to provide ground transportation from central Jersey to NYC on Monday, December 11^th to demonstrate to the ASMFC how important the fluke fishery is to New Jersey’s recreational fishing community.

We will discuss this in detail at the General Meeting on November 28^th.  We are planning pick-ups at Forked River, Asbury and Cheesequake Rest Areas on the GSP.  John Toth is the event coordinator.  You can contact him at 732-446-6298. 

There is a meeting of the joint Councils in Philadelphia on November 20^th.

Ballot Question #2 was approved by a 60% statewide majority.  Nearly 1 Million yes votes were cast.  Thanks to all who supported this initiative. 

The Garden State Preservation Trust, (GSPT), the funding mechanism that pays for the preservation of parks, farms and natural and historic sites, will run out of money in 2007. The Outdoor Recreation Alliance (ORA) has launched a campaign to renew and strengthen this program.

At 25 years, still going strong.

A group of eight members of the Board of Directors and Committee Chairs met recently to discuss short and long term planning for JCAA.

A special thanks to Tommy and the crew at the Dock Outfitters, Seaside Heights for the use of the loft area and for their hospitality.  We greatly appreciate it.

Swan Song.

Due to term limits, I will soon step down as President of JCAA.  It has been a busy, interesting, challenging and often frustrating two-year ride. It takes a while to learn the ropes and then, before long, you term out. I often feel that we are “spitting into the wind of the best available science.”  For the life of me, I cannot understand why the councils and the national service ignore the anecdotal evidence and empirical data from the recreational and the commercial sources in deference to the MRFSS surveys in which even they have little confidence. While it insults our intellect, we have to keep trying.  That is why I plan to stay engaged fighting for anglers’ rights, the marine fishery and the environment. 

Thanks for the opportunity to serve.

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