Youth Education Report
New Jersey Beach Buggy Association will host the 29th Annual surf fishing contest for children on Saturday, September 13th at Island Beach State Park (IBSP). The FREE EVENT is for youngsters 16 yrs. old and younger. Registration starts at 7:30 am at the first swimming area, “OBA-1”. The kids will receive an event t-shirt and a grab bag full of goodies after attending 5 Learning stations. “Prizes will not be given out before the awards ceremony. Fishing starts at 10 am, any fish caught could be a winner. When the 3-hour fishing period ends, everyone returns to OBA-1 for a FREE lunch. Please contact Ken Hollins at: njbbawebmaster@gmail.com for more information.
Mr. Vito Cardinale and Randy Johnson, along with their family and friends hosted the 9th Annual “Play HOOK-e” Veterans, Children with Disabilities and Active-Duty Military Fishing Day on August 23, 2025. The Vietnam Veterans of America Shore Area Chapter 12 presented their Eagle Award to Dominic Tanzi, and the membership of the Jersey Shore Surfcasters Foundation their generous support and their member volunteerism since the first Play HOOK-e from PTSD event.
Last year Don Marantz received the Eagle Award for his dedication to the disabled veteran fishing community.
All participants enjoyed a fun day at Ponderosa Estates Farm, Millstone, NJ to catch and release fish at Lake Julianna. Pictures and a story will be posted in the October 2025 Newspaper along with photos on the VVA Chapter 12 Play HOOK-e website.
We thank our gracious hosts and all the volunteers, food handlers, and merchants that make the 9th Annual Play HOOK-e, KWTGF, and Take a Veteran Fishing Day a remarkable success. We regret we cannot mention all the business names and contributors at this time.
The JCAA Youth Education Committee wrote letters of support (included below) for the American Sportfishing Association’s (ASA) and Recreational Boating & Fishing Foundation (RBFF) to support their R3 grant applications. According to the 2025 Recreational Fishing and Boating Foundation’s Special Report on Fishing, there were 16.6 million anglers that fished in 2023 that did not return in 2024. This program directly targets what is widely seen as the sport’s most pressing challenge. This initiative is essential to ensuring the long-term health and growth of recreational fishing.
The R3 Grant Program is designed to fuel solutions that:
- Retain current anglers and build relationships with retailers
- Recruit new anglers to participate through the retail programs
- Support the sportfishing industry with revenue streams for sustainable tackle sales at the retailer.
Over the years JCAA has utilized and assisted with developing learning materials for school age children. Hopefully, we can help rebuild and retain the anglers that did not return in 2024.
I am writing to express our dedicated support for the American Sportfishing Association’s (ASA) application for funding through the 2025 National Outreach Communication Program Grant.
ASA’s proposed initiative to increase participation in recreational fishing through the recruitment, retention and reactivation of anglers at fishing tackle retail stores is a key investment in the health, well-being, and economic vitality of communities across the United States.
ASA has been the leading voice of the recreational fishing industry for more than 90 years, supporting conservation and representing manufacturers, retailers, and the entire recreational fishing community with a focus on clean water, abundant fisheries, and access to those fish. Their history to work with federal and state governments, as well as Congress and non-profit organizations, demonstrates their commitment and effectiveness in growing fishing participation in a sustainable, impactful way.
ASA’s proposed program is unique as it will be the first national outreach to draw hundreds of thousands of new anglers to fishing tackle retail stores through events, education and follow up programs that will engage and retain anglers for years to come. It connects families, inspires youth, and fosters an appreciation for our natural resources. It is exactly the kind of forward-thinking, community-driven initiative where excise taxes should be invested.
Our organization supports this initiative and looks forward to partnering with ASA to ensure its success. Over the years, ASA has partnered with the Recreational Boating and Fishing Foundation that also provided resources to JCAA member clubs and stakeholders that serve to educate our recreational fishing and boating community. As marine educators in the industry JCAA relies on new educational materials to continue our mission to promote fishing/boating as healthy outdoor activities for families and retain/recruit new anglers.
I urge you to give the American Sportfishing Association’s application your full consideration. Their leadership, experience, and national reach positions them to make a meaningful and lasting impact on the future along with educating our most precious resource “youth anglers” that will grow and protect the tradition of sportfishing.
On behalf of the Jersey Coast Anglers Association’s Youth Education Committee and member clubs, I would like to express strong support for the Recreational Boating & Fishing Foundation (RBFF) and its exemplary work to increase participation in recreational boating and fishing and aquatic conservation.
RBFF’s work to recruit, retain and reactivate (R3) participants through its consumer marketing campaigns, digital resources, state agency and industry focused programs and products has helped remove barriers to boating and fishing participation for all Americans, contributing to recent all-time high fishing participation numbers, as well as to significant fishing license and boat registration sales. These sales and all-time high participation numbers directly benefit the critical work state agencies do to manage our nation’s aquatic natural resources and boost our nation’s sportfishing and recreational boating economy.
Since the inception of RBFF, the Jersey Coast Anglers Association (JCAA) has utilized their digital resources and family fishing/boating learning aids. As marine educators in the industry, the JCAA Youth Education Committee relies on new aquatic educational and advanced marketing materials for our member clubs to expand our mission of teaching youngsters and their families about conservation and sportfishing. Please award 2025 National Outreach and Communication Program funds to RBFF for their Community -Based First Catch Centers grant application.
With its longstanding history of high-quality boating and fishing how-to information, access locations and state-by-state resources, in addition to impactful programs and products to support state and industry R3 activities, RBFF can leverage its deep industry knowledge, connections and partnerships to provide the highest quality experience to consumers and remain an invaluable partner to state agency and industry stakeholders in their outreach to consumers.
We urge you to award RBFF a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service National Outreach and Communication Program grant so that they may continue their important work to grow fishing and boating participation and build upon their success – success that is vital to sustaining not only the fishing and boating industries, but also the critical aquatic conservation projects that enhance the waters in which participants boat and fish.
We already have a nomination from Hi- Mar Striper Club for 2025. There is still time to send your nomination to the JCAA Youth Education Committee. We will announce the recipient in the next JCAA Newspaper.
Youth Education Award Criteria: Promoting “Hooked On Fishing Not On Drugs (HOFNOD),” Certified HOFNOD instructors, number of fishing or aquatic education events, JCAA lending library usage, and creativity for promoting youth fishing events. Submit your nominations in writing and email to gkucharews@jcaa.org. Please view the JCAA website for the next general membership meeting.
NJ’s second Free Freshwater Fishing Day will be Saturday, October 18, 2025, when no license is required to fish regardless of age.
This fall, consider becoming a HOFNOD instructor. New Jersey HOFNOD facilitator workshops are hosted by the DEP Division of Fish and Wildlife. It is well worth the time to learn creative aquatic activities to teach youngsters the importance of becoming environmental stewards. This workshop is a great learning experience. If you are interested in attending a NJ HOFNOD workshop, please phone or email Liz Jackson, NJ HOFNOD Coordinator Phone: 908- 637-4125 x 122 email: liz.jackson@dep.state.nj.us.
Warrior Day is Saturday, October 11th. Don't forget to let Al Dolce know if you will attend. Many of our Play HOOK-e Go Fishing veterans are attending. Register early Al needs a headcount for food and supplies. Central Jersey Rifle and Pistol Club, Jackson, NJ. This is always a great event for veterans. I remember the sporting goods giveaways that you get. Email Al at njgunfun@gmail.com or call him at (732) 637-7881.
Well, I’m still finding better ways to introduce new anglers to fishing. I decided to take all the little tricks I learned over 50 years and apply them to a new quick start five station instructional guide. I’m working with some very talented members from the Flagler Sportfishing Club. Our team is awesome, and we are utilizing all the bits and pieces of information from Pathway to Fishing, Passport to Fishing and Boating, Fish America, The Future Fisherman Foundation, NJ Fish and Wildlife, and our own JCAA Youth Education Committee members and member clubs to include the Flagler Sportfishing Club. The development of the five Station Quick Start Guide is to add humor to each station and have fun while learning and presenting the program. The guide will teach instructors how to interject fun while teaching and getting the fishy message across to students and parents. If you would like to learn more about the five Station Quick Start Guide, send me an email at: gkucharews@jcaa.org and we’ll be happy to share our winning ways!
Most tackle dealers offer discounts to veterans. Here is a list of local tackle dealers to support.