It’s that time of the year when everybody is getting the itch for the upcoming fishing season and better weather and start going through their tackle and see what they need to purchase for the upcoming season. A great place to get some good deals is at fishing flea markets, local tackle shops and at the larger shows. You should support the people that back you and your sport.
The show season is in full swing. JCAA will have a booth at the Atlantic City Boat Show which is March 1st to 5th and Saltwater Fishing Expo on March 17th to 19th. You should attend these great shows because there is a lot of items you may be interested in. I am assigned to get volunteers to staff these booths. If you are willing to volunteer your time for JCAA in staffing these booths, contact me so I can enter your name on the sheet. What I try to do is split the show day into two 4-hour shifts. I can be reached at mtsport64@aol.com or 732-245-9445. This is one of the ways to reach anglers that don’t belong to a club or have the latest information. We need to educate them. Remember to purchase your High Roller Raffle Tickets. We will be selling them at the shows as well.
Not everyone that fish is aware that fishery issues and decisions are happening all times of the year. That is why JCAA along with many others continue to tell people to get involve. The only way things can change is if more people get involved and know what is going on in the fishery. Right now, on March 2nd in the morning, ASMFC will be approving the options that the states will have to choose from for Summer Flounder, Black Sea Bass and Scup. Later that evening the NJ Marine Fisheries Council will be holding their meeting with a public comment session and decide what NJ law for those species will be. You need to get involved, read the options and voice your options. Check out JCAA’ s Facebook page that Paul Haertel posted or go to ASMFC webpage. For more about this read Paul’s article.
Unfortunately, JCAA, Sandy Hook Bay Anglers and the NJ Recreational Fishing Community have lost another great guy we all will greatly miss. Bruce Smith attended McDonough Military Academy and served his country in the US Army. He leaves behind his wife of 65 years Betty along with three daughters and five grandchildren. Bruce was a dedicated family man with a love of fishing. Bruce joined the Sandy Hook Bay Anglers where he was greatly involved. He was not the type of person that sat back. He was the person that was always there to help who ever needed it. Bruce helped his club with their annual fluke tournament, events and fundraising. He was their representative to this organization (JCAA) where he got right into it from the start. Bruce participated by going to meetings locally when issues came to light, fundraising events and eventually became President of Jersey Coast Anglers Association. Bruce, we all salute you for all you had done for your family, this country and the NJ Recreational Community.
Paul Haertel and committee put together our 2023 JCAA High Roller Raffle. Times are being tough on all of us, and the price of things continue to rise. It is getting tougher to raise money for clubs, this association as well as others to continue to operate. We all need to dig deeper to help each other out if we want to have a future in fighting for what we love doing for recreational fishing. JCAA will be rolling out this fundraiser shortly and will have tickets at each of the shows we have a booth. For more information read Paul Haertel’s article and contact us if you want to purchase a few tickets. Help support JCAA Fundraiser. Paul and his committee have already sold tickets at a few fishing flea markets. Great job.
Membership Chairman John Toth has some fishing clubs already scheduled for the JCAA presentation. If you belong to a fishing club or group that currently does not belong to JCAA and wants to learn more about us, read John’s article in this newsletter for more information. Please reach out to John Toth at 732-656-0139 or tothjohn@verizon.net.
If you want to get involved with JCAA contact me at mtsport64@aol.com or 732-245-9445. We all need to get involved so the future of fishing as we know it will be gone.