President's Report

by Mark Taylor

(from Jersey Coast Anglers Association March 2010 Newsletter)

At our January 26th meeting there was election of officers. Congratulations to the newly elected officers, Eileen Smith, 1st Vice-President and Don Marantz 2nd Vice-President. Thank you for electing me to be your President for another year. I take this position very seriously and will continue to make Jersey Coast Anglers Association even stronger. This can be done with the help of your newly elected officers and you.

I have been mentioning in my column for the pass few months that everyone must keep updated and informed on the issues. There are news releases from ASMFC that are sent out from time to time. The ASMFC had their 2010 Winter Meeting in Alexandria, Virginia on February 1st to 4th. You can get a copy of the meeting summary at http://www.asmfc.org/breakingNews.htm. It is very important that everybody participates in this process. You and your clubs need to attend and submit written comments on all issues whether it is for or against. If you don’t then we as a recreational community have no voice in the matters at hand. So get more involved so the recreational community has an even stronger voice. It is very important that each club keeps up to date with all the issues that are affecting us. There are so many issues that are happening right now so continue to check out our website. Club Presidents should make sure that their representatives attend every JCAA General Meeting to bring this information back to your individual clubs for discussion.

The NJMFC has scheduled their Summer Flounder Committee on February 23rd. The purpose of this meeting is to discuss the 2010 recreational management measures. JCAA will have someone present at this meeting.

There is a Fishermen to march rally in Washington on February 24th. The rally is to demonstrate against the unintended negative impacts of the Magnuson Stevens Conservation and Management Act (MSA) and get congressional support on Congressman Frank Pallone, Jr.’s (D-NJ) Flexibility in Rebuilding American Fisheries Act (The Flexibility Bill) of the Magnuson Stevens Conservation and Management Act (MSA). The Magnuson Stevens Conservation and Management Act (MSA) was revised in January of 2007. There are buses being made available for the ride down to Washington. To find out more information about the buses check out some of the organizers of the rally’s web sites. Save the summer Flounder www.ssfff.net, RFA, CCGF, United Boatmen of New York, United Boatmen of New Jersey, New York Sportfishing Federation, Maryland Saltwater Sportfishermen’s Association and the Fishing Rights Alliance. Jersey Coast Anglers Association does support Congressman Pallone’s Flexibility Bill. If you don’t have a seat on one of the buses, this is your last chance.

Pots off the Reef Bill S221 made its first step in the new legislature. It passed out of the Senate Environment and Energy Committee. This bill has a long way to go in the process to become a law. We will keep you informed. There are a list of bills that are being put together to help you keep your eye on. When the list is completed it will be available.

After talking with a lot of people at the resent shows there are many people that don't know that there is a new federal law in effect. At the booths we informed those individuals but we as New Jersey Saltwater Recreational Fishermen need to help get the information out to fellow fishermen. The new federal law that is affecting all New Jersey saltwater recreational fishermen starting January 1, 2010 is a National Saltwater Angler Registry. The National Saltwater Angler Registry is free in 2010. To register anglers can visit http://www.countmyfish.noaa.gov and click on the Angler Registry link, or call the toll-free registration line at 1-888-MRIP411 (1-888-674-7411) from 4:00 am to 12:00 midnight EST daily. Anglers will need to provide their name, date of birth, address and telephone number, and will receive a registration number that will allow them to begin fishing immediately. Anglers will receive a registration card in the mail in about 30 days.

The High Roller Raffle is in full swing. As usual the items that are in the raffle are great quality. Raffle tickets are being sold at each of the shows that JCAA has a booth. So come see us at one of the shows or call the office to get your raffles.

With the show season now in progress, JCAA is still looking for volunteers to staff a booth. With the Atlantic City International Power Boat Show which was held on Feb. 3rd -7th completed, I would like to thank those that volunteered the time through this rough show due to the bad snow storm. There are two shows and one seminar that we will be attending the rest of the show season. There is Saltwater Sportsman National Seminar Feb. 27th, The Saltwater Expo Show Mar. 19th to 21st and The NJ Wild Outdoor Expo Sept. 25th to 26th. Mark these dates on your calendar and plan to attend. If anyone is interested right now in volunteering, please contact me at mtsport64@aol.com. This is where we interact with people who do not belong to any clubs and are misinformed on issues. It is a great experience to meet many different people who enjoy something you love to do.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION: the Coast Guard will be terminating its transmission of LORAN-C. The Coast Guard published a Federal Register notice on Jan. 7, 2010 regarding its intention to terminate transmission of the LORAN-C signal Feb. 8, 2010. A LORAN Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement Record of Decision stating that the environmentally preferred alternative is to decommission the LORAN-C Program and terminate the North American LORAN-C signal was published in the Federal Register on Jan. 7, 2010. Don’t be one of those individuals that read this and forget about it until you are getting your boat ready.

As I mentioned in past newsletters, the newspaper committee is looking for clubs to send in a 500-word description about your club including who you are and what you do. Send it in by e-mail to jcaa@jcaa.org with the stipulation that we will be using these highlights in the order that they are received and they will be published in the JCAA newsletter. So send in a description and promote your club and possibly get new members that live or fish in your area.

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