By Ray Marione
(from Jersey Coast Anglers Association May 1995 Newsletter)
The Hudson River Fishermen’s Association-N.J. Chapter has been on the forefront of angler access issues since 1983. Historic battles include the Caven Point Pier and Liberty State Park Walkway. We now have several access points available on the Hudson River due to the tireless efforts of "our" friend at N.J. D.E.P., Bill Neyenhouse, and several more areas are planned for the future. This all ties into the Hudson River Walkway Project which eventually will link the George Washington Bridge with the Kill Van Kull. Here is a list of fishing areas which are already open starting at the George Washington Bridge: (H) Denotes handicap access
- Palisades Interstate Park from Alpine to Edgewater
- Pier 13 on the Arcorp. property in West New York
- Newport Yacht Club behind the Newport Mall in Jersey City (H)
- Colgate Pier in downtown Jersey City near "The Clock"
- Liberty Park Walkway in Liberty State Park in Jersey City (H)
- The Autoport facility near the Global Terminal in Jersey City
- The Chart House and the Lincoln Harbor Pier Head in Weehawkin (H)
There are several areas in the developmental and or permit stages and they will all eventually provide waterfront access. We will make announcements in this newsletter as new opportunities open up. Another project which the H.R.F.A.-N.J. Chapter has been involved with is "The NY/NJ Harbor Estuary Program". We recently co-sponsored a public hearing along with H.E.A.R.T. and the H.M.D.C. at the Environmental Center in Lyndhurst. The meeting was well attended issues affecting the quality of water in the estuary were commented on. These include: Access, Dredging, Habitat Loss, Public Education and various forms of pollution. For more info on the Harbor Estuary Program please contact:
Rhonda Roff
Public Participation Coordinator
c/o A.N.J.E.C.
PO Box 157
Mendham, NJ 07945 Phone: 201-539-7547
The final project which we are concerned over is an issue which on the surface may not appear to be related to fishing but in an urbanized estuary like ours almost everything affects the fishing. The N.J. Department of Transportation is developing a light rail system to serve Hudson and Southern Bergen Counties. While we have no objection to mass transit, what we do object to is the route along the waterfront in Hoboken. There is no reason that this project should be near the shore of the Hudson River and there is an alternative route through the town of Hoboken. We fear that by sighting the route along the river it will act a s a magnet which will only attract more and more inappropriate development to the water’s edge, which will only have adverse effects on the Hudson River and the NY/NJ Harbor.
Ray Marione is a member of the Hudson River Fishermen’s Association-N.J. Chapter and Chairman of the JCAA Northern Access Committee.