Youth Education Report

HERE WE GO AGAIN

The Hooked on Fishing-Not on Drugs bill was first introduced as bill S1778/A2823 10 years ago. The last session HOFNOD bill number was S106 (IR) A 288 and now is bill S178: Establishes Hooked on Fishing-Not on Drugs Program in DEP and appropriates $200,000 therefor from Drug Enforcement and Demand Reduction Fund Environment and Energy. Connors, Christopher J. as Primary Sponsor, Beck, Jennifer as Primary Sponsor, Buono, Barbara as Co-Sponsor, Madden, Fred H., Jr. as Co-Sponsor, Oroho, Steven V. as Co-Sponsor, Greenstein, Linda R. as Co-Sponsor, Addiego, Dawn Marie as Co-Sponsor, Allen, Diane B. as Co-Sponsor, Norcross, Donald as Co-Sponsor. Please write to your legislators to support bill S178/A638. Let’s see if we can make this happen soon.

CLUB AND ORGANIZATION PROFILE

For a number of years fishing clubs, organizations, state agencies, and individuals contributed to the betterment of sport fishing and promoting conservation efforts in New Jersey. This was done by actively organizing their staff or membership to volunteer time to protect our aquatic resources and promote healthy outdoor activities for families, veterans, disadvantaged youth, and the physically challenged. We all benefit from volunteerism and the JCAA Youth Education Report will feature a club profile each month to recognize clubs and organizations for their continuous hard work. If your club or organization would like to help with this effort, please contact a member of the JCAA Youth Education Committee: Paul Smith paulsmith917@comcast.net, Dr. Eleanor Bochenek bochenek@hsrl.rutgers.edu, Tim Burden tb2fishon@aol.com, Tom Fote tfote@jcaa.org, Greg Kucharewski gkucharews@aol.com.

This month we recognize the New Jersey Beach Buggy Association (NJBBA). The NJBBA was organized in 1954 and is one of the most highly respected organizations in New Jersey and along the Eastern coast. Since their founding, the NJBBA has fought to preserve beach access for all beach users. They are not only dedicated to building protective snow fences each year to protect the dunes, but also install string line fences to protect endangered and migrating wildlife. This, in turn, allows sportsmen public access to the shoreline. Annual fence projects have taken place at Island Beach State Park and Brigantine, NJ for years. The NJBBA get involved with community leaders and other notable organizations to keep beaches open and clean for all users. They truly follow their mission statement. From birding to fishing and horseback riding or just for folks who like to walk the beach, the NJBBA is there for outdoor enthusiasts. On their web site (http://njbba.org/about-njbba.html) you will find many links to enjoy the outdoors such as; weather reports, fishing reports, the latest information about surf fishing tackle, beach access, driving on the beach etiquette, and their famous calendar of events that includes fun stuff for the entire family. If you are looking for surf fishing items check out the NJBBA trading post. This is the perfect time to collect equipment for the upcoming surf fishing season.

Take time to peruse their scrapbook of pictures and you will notice this is not just about surf fishing. It's about good old family fun and enjoying the friendship of others that utilize our outdoor resources. You can tell by the smiles throughout the scrapbook that NJBBA has a way of getting families to have fun. I can attest to the friendship statement because you get a special wave from NJBBA members when riding the beach. NJBBA members are always willing to help if you happen to need a hand on the beach. Many years ago, I witnessed their kindness to a family of novice anglers that unfortunately got their vehicle stuck in the sand at Island Beach State Park. I noticed three NJBBA license plates and six NJBBA members pushing and pulling the vehicle back from the rising surf. The Courtesy Patrol members ride the beaches keeping an open eye on their areas to assist the beach community, supply NJBBA information, and report any issues concerning destruction of dunes. Courtesy Patrol members can be identified by a NJBBA flag or magnetic plaque attached to their vehicle.

Through the JCAA, the NJBBA has numerous Future Fisherman Foundation “Hooked On Fishing Not On Drugs” certified instructors and were one of the first organizations to receive the Jersey Coast Anglers Association's Youth Education Award back in 1999. Paul Harris, current president for NJBBA, also received the 2008 JCAA Youth Education Award as an individual recipient for volunteering countless hours to teach youngsters to fish. We are also proud to have NJBBA 1st Vice President Tim Burden serve on the JCAA Youth Education Committee. Tim has been a devoted youth angler advocate, promoting and assisting in youth fishing programs for decades.

The following is an impressive list of accomplishments made by the NJBBA over the years:

Every year NJBBA has completed Volunteer Beach Conservation Projects; Charitable Community Projects/Programs; National Hunting and Fishing Day for children with special needs; Schools with special needs children teaching them to fish and enjoy the beach; Annual NJBBA Youth Fishing Tournament; Veteran Fishing Days for disabled anglers; Provides Committee members, judges, and volunteers for the Governor’s Surf Fishing Tournament; Volunteer committee members for the Jersey Coast Anglers Association Youth Education Committee; Provide volunteers for the Island Beach State Park Surf Fishing Clinics; Provides support for the Boy Scouts of America Ocean County, Atlantic County, Southeastern Burlington County, and Ocean City NJ; Volunteers for the NJ Outdoors Program for Women and Novice Anglers; Provides Association representatives for JCAA Board, General and Fluke Tournament Meetings; Annual Fishing Contest for members; Annual Flea Market; Free Beach Driving Class; Annual Recognition Banquet and the Jeff Paul Scholarship Fund. Additionally, one of the NJBBA's 2011 highlights was receiving the "Clean Communities Award" for participation in the Adopt-A Beach Program beach clean-ups over the years. Another important activity was attending all of the 2011 DEP Access Hearings to voice opposition to the proposed tidal water access changes that alters the Public Trust Doctrine and allows for limited beach access. Throughout these hearings, the NJBBA, the JCAA and other fishing club representatives expressed overwhelming resistance towards the DEP's proposals and have since met with the DEP on numerous occasions to rewrite many of the changes.

Below is a list of current NJBBA Officers and their respective involvement:

• President / Beach Access Advisory Chairman / COA's Beach Clean-up Coordinator / Beach Driving Program Coordinator / NJSFS & NJOA Delegate: Paul Harris 732-269-8878 firstfishingpox@comcast.net
• 1st Vice President / Beach Access Advisory Co-Chair / Youth Tournament Chairman / Gov. Surf Fishing Tournament Committee / NJOA & JCAA delegate: Tim Burden 201-983-2300 tb2fishon@aol.com
• 2nd Vice President / Beach Access Advisory / Surf Fishing Team Coordinator / ASAC Delegate: Kurt Renart 856-457-5532 bucket1740@comcast.net
• Treasurer / Supplies Coordinator: Becky Jones 609-296-6484 rjones4366@aol.com
• Membership Secretary / Courtesy Patrol: Ken Hollins 848-333-4707 bigfishboy50@aol.com
• Recording Secretary / Awards Banquet Chairperson: Kathy Burden 732-279-3177 goofygirl0804@aol.com
• Corresponding Secretary / Beach Access Advisory / Courtesy Patrol / UMAP President & delegate: Reb Gilliland 609-610-2828 reb@rebsrods.com
• Director / Webmaster / Booster Club Chairman: Dave Paulick 609-259-3155 basshawg@njbba.org
• Director / Courtesy Patrol Statewide Coordinator /Awards Banquet Co-Chair: Carole Harris 732-269-8878 firstfishingpox@comcast.net
• Director / National Hunting & Fishing Day Co-Chair: Angel Prouty 609-893-8432 prouty5@comcast.net
• Director / Public Relations Specialist / Newsletter Editor: Nancy Paulick 609-259-3155 nanpau@verizon.net
• Director / Courtesy Patrol / Fish Pools Chairman: Bill Mackintosh 732-269-1954 ourbmw3@comcast.net
• Director / Facebook Committee Coordinator: Mike Norris 856-809-9779 mnor923@verizon.net
• Director / Scholarship Committee Chairman / Special Needs Fishing Chairman: Gary Conk 609-556-9241 gcjock@aol.com
• Director / NJ Access Info Coordinator: Doug Taylor 856-981-3787 fishteck@comcast.net
• Director / Disabled Veterans Outing Chairman: Ron Patten 856-468-6950
• Director / Courtesy Patrol: Mike Bach 732-349-5112 mike_bach2002@yahoo.com
• Director / Banquet Committee: Diane Hollins 732-581-5713 bigfishboy50@aol.com
• Chairman Board of Trustees: Eric Paulson rbthepirate@att.net

If you would like to participate in any of the numerous activities of this great organization, please contact NJBBA President Paul Harris or 1st Vice President Tim Burden. The NJBBA is always looking for its members to "Get Involved and Stay Involved". The next upcoming event is the Annual NJBBA Membership meeting (9:00 a.m., Sunday, February 5th, at the Country Lakes Fire House, Fire House Rd., Browns Mills, NJ 08015).

 

BOLGER MIDDLE SCHOOL

Despite the snow and cold weather the Father Time Fishing Environmental Expo at Bolger Middle School, Keansburg, NJ was a great success. As always, Jeff Johnson, Father Time Director did a great job of coordinating the Environmental Expo and a number of organizations, fishing clubs, and state agencies helped students learn the importance of environmental stewardship. I enjoyed the winning environmental letter Jeff read about a student and her father fishing on the beach. The young girl stated it was the best time of her life to watch her father battle a fish in the surf even though the fish snapped the line. The Bayshore Saltwater Flyrodders received a plaque of recognition for their participation and supporting the Father Time Annual Fishing events. The JCAA Youth Education Committee provided a Fish Anatomy and Species Identification learning activity for students attending. Children received prizes, and HOFNOD materials for completing the learning station. If you would like to learn more about the Father Time program contact Jeff Johnson sumrwind@optonline.net or phone Jeff at 732 787-2007 Ext 5833.

 

If you would like to help with our youth education efforts and offer some of your time to teach children the joy of fishing, please phone 732-785-9278 or e-mail gkucharews@aol.com.

 

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