Youth Education Report

The NJ HOFNOD bill S229 will most likely be carried over for 2026. When it becomes public, we will post the new bill number in our JCAA newspaper. Please help us continue to support increased funding for NJ HOFNOD. This bill needs to move forward we are asking you to contact your legislators. The importance of properly funding NJ HOFNOD is essential to provide needed funds to expand NJ HOFOD. The bill appropriates $450,000 to the Department of Environmental Protection to fund the cost of implementing the “Hooked on Fishing-Not on Drugs” Program. The money would be appropriated from the "Drug Enforcement and Demand Reduction Fund," a statutory account established to receive fines and penalties from convicted drug offenders that are used to support State-authorized drug and alcohol abuse abatement programs. The bill encourages the Legislature to appropriate sufficient funding annually from the "Drug Enforcement and Demand Reduction Fund" or any other appropriate source to maintain the operation of the program in future years.

We also ask if you would like to become a certified NJ HOFNOD instructor, please contact Liz Jackson, NJ DEP Division of Fish & Wildlife, HOFNOD, 605 Pequest Road, Oxford, NJ 07683, (908) 637-4125 x122. Visit the NJ HOFNOD website to view a group near you.

Be sure to visit our JCAA booth at upcoming fishing and boating shows. Stop by and meet our team. They will answer all your questions about saltwater fisheries management and pending regulations. Don’t forget to support high school fishing flea markets that help our youngsters learn about fishing and become ethical anglers.

Families are welcome to try this fun winter fly fishing program at Pequest Trout Hatchery. Take a road trip this year and explore all the educational opportunities the Pequest Trout Hatchery has to offer. Winter Hiking Essentials will be available on January 29, 2026, registration is required. Register early for any upcoming event at this link.

We just completed our third “Hooked on Lunch and Learn” activity for middle school students. If you are a JCAA member club and would like a copy of one of the following Lunch and Learn activities: Hooked On Lunch and Learn Fish Anatomy, Guess the Fish, and our NEW “Check It or Lose It” learning activity, send us an email. The activities are designed to teach students about how they can successfully catch fish by knowing more about fish anatomy, species of fresh and saltwater fish and how to check and maintain fishing equipment so you don’t lose that fish of a lifetime.

Don’t wait till the fish are biting to have rod and reel repairs done. January, February, and March are the perfect months to get your equipment ready for the 2026 fishing season.

During the holidays, please stop by your local tackle dealer and check out their bargain bins. You never know what you will find. Many dealers offer gift certificates for rods/reels and new gear. Tip: Shop locally and visit our tackle dealers list for veteran discounts.