President's Report

By Al Ristori, The Star Ledger 11/11/2007

The announcement Friday evening that Rep. Jim Saxton will retire in January of 2009 (after his current term) is a setback for anglers all along the coast. The N.J. Republican was a former chairman of the House Fisheries Conservation Subcommittee, and remains a senior member of that subcommittee. The announcement noted that Saxton is fighting prostate cancer and other ailments.

It was Saxton who introduced and pushed through the amendment to the reauthorization of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Management Act, when Republicans were in the majority. That action extended the summer flounder rebuilding period by three years, saving this year's fluke season. If it hadn't been passed, there would be no hope at all for next year and beyond.

Saxton, who received the annual award from the Metropolitan Outdoor Press Association in 2006, has long been a force for responsible conservation in the House since replacing another great conservationist, the late Rep. Ed Forsythe, in his mid-state congressional district. Anglers owe Saxton a debt of gratitude for his efforts on behalf of marine conservation and their rights.

The Sportsmen's Alliance flexed its muscles on Election Day and came up a big winner as Sen. Ellen Karcher (D-District 12) was handily defeated by Assemblywoman Jennifer Beck despite the fact that Karcher had a huge advantage in funding as the state Democratic party poured millions into the Monmouth County race. Karcher drew the ire of the state's sportsmen by introducing a bill that would politicize the State Fish and Game Council by allowing the Governor to appoint anyone to it rather than only those with knowledge of fish and game. This was an attempt to replace qualified individuals with those representing animal rights groups, and was a big enough threat that even normally complacent sportsmen were forced to act. The favored Karcher was beaten by a surprisingly solid 54 percent to 46 percent margin.

Her running mate and Assembly sponsor of the bill, Michael Panter (D-Dist. 12), was also defeated in a much closer race that may well have been decided by the votes generated by Sportsmen's Alliance efforts and advertisements. Republicans Declan O'Scanlon and Caroline Casagrande captured the District's two seats, with the latter finishing only 333 votes ahead of Panter.

By John Geiser, The Asbury Park Press 11/11/2007

Anglers, hunters and farmers are amused at the spin that political analysts put on the defeat of the two state legislators who sponsored legislation that would have stripped sportsmen and farmers from representation on the state Fish and Game Council.

Sen. Ellen Karcher, D-Monmouth, and Assemblyman Michael Panter, D-Monmouth, introduced bills (S-2041 and A-3275) that would have replaced hunters, anglers and farmers with political appointees of the governor.

Further, the bills would have removed the statement of fish and game management purpose "for recreation and food." Additionally the bills would have directed the council to investigate non-lethal wildlife management options prior to setting hunting, fishing or trapping programs.

The academics who weighed in on the defeat of the legislators on Tuesday claimed that the big issue was Karcher's Christmas tree farm tax break. It was said that polls reflected the change in public sentiment at the time the story of her tree farm broke.

Ask a hunter or fisherman in any bait and tackle shop or sporting goods store in Monmouth County what the real issue was: the future of hunting and fishing.

Ask a farmer anywhere in New Jersey what one of his or her major problems is: wildlife damage.

A newly formed, one-issue movement — the New Jersey Outdoor Alliance — got under way as soon as Karcher and Panter introduced their legislation, and it attracted Republicans, Democrats and independents who hunt, fish and till the soil like iron filings to a magnet.

Anthony P. Mauro, a hunter and fisherman from Belmar, practically gave up sleeping in an effort to attract support for the alliance. It came from all over the state, thousands of hunters, anglers and farmers responded.

If they could not vote in the 12th Legislative District, or even in New Jersey, they still sent money or lent their vocal support.

"These may well have been the most important votes ever cast by a sportsman in New Jersey," Mauro said. "They were votes to protect your rights as outdoorsmen and women."

The state Fish and Game Council was created by the state Legislature in 1945, and is made up of hunters, anglers and farmers who are responsible for adopting the annual Fish and Game Codes as well as overseeing the Hunters and Anglers Fund, which supports the conservation and protection of fish and wildlife in the state.

It has done an outstanding job of balancing wildlife populations with the available habitat and the everyday lives of the state's citizens.

The drivers who hit thousands of deer on the state's roads every year or the golfers who wade through acres of Canada goose evidence may think the council should do more, but it does its best within the political climate that exists.

Hunters and anglers recognized that the measures introduced by Karcher and Panter would have destroyed this traditional management, and, under an animal rights administration, could have ended hunting and fishing in the state.

The political analysts who thought Karcher's tree farm was the big issue apparently never talked to a hunter or fisherman. They are not hard to find. There are an estimated 80,000 in Monmouth County and over one million in New Jersey, and they are eligible to vote.

They throw political labels aside when their favorite recreation is threatened. The campaign heated up at the same time as the tree farm discussion, but there was probably not one bass fisherman or deer hunter in 2007 cared about the tree farm issue.

They cared about the threat to the future of hunting and fishing, though. They rose up and went to the polls as bowlers would fight a proposal to close all bowling lanes or tennis players would oppose a ban on the game.

The political climate, in fact, was ideal on Tuesday for a rebellion. Saltwater fishermen, especially summer flounder anglers, are seeing their favorite fishery destroyed by protectionists. They wanted to lash out.

It is well known by sportsmen that the council and the state Division of Fish and Wildlife rely primarily on funds derived from the sale of hunting and fishing licenses, stamps and permits, and from money from the Federal Sport Fish Restoration and Wildlife Restoration programs that come from taxes on hunters, anglers, boaters and shooters.

They demonstrated on Tuesday that they are not ready to turn the use of these funds and control of the future of hunting and fishing over to unfriendly administration.