'Pay to Fish' Averted in New Jersey

Christie signs bill creating free fishing registry

Anglers will not have to pay to fish in 2011, but they will have to register with the state. A week before New Jersey's striped bass season begins March 1, Gov. Chris Christie signed into law a bill designed to create a free registry of the state's recreational anglers. The bill provides for the state to create a registry system to account for recreational anglers, which brings New Jersey into compliance with federal law. Under the Magnuson-Stevens Act, which regulates fisheries management policies on the federal level, all recreational anglers must be registered with either the federal government or a state agency in order for scientists to keep better records of catch data. States with fishing licenses use their licensing regimes as …

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Lisa Frankenfeld

5:52 pm on Friday, April 8, 2011

I am glad people who enjoy fishing won't have to pay to do so. It seems like you have to pay for everything that is remotely enjoyable here in NJ. For example, you must pay to be near most bodies of water, be it the ocean, an inlet, a river, or a pool. Next thing you know we will be charged a fee for letting our kids run through the sprinklers.   more ›

Fishing Friday

Time for Christie to Show His Cards on Free Fishing Registry

New Jersey anglers shouldn't have to pay to fish in 2011

If there are any lawyers out there looking for work, you might want to contact the governor. His legal office seems pretty backlogged. A couple weeks ago, during a press conference, I asked Governor Chris Christie if he planned to sign pending legislation to create a free registry of the state’s anglers. He told me that if the bill made it to his desk, his legal team would review it before he made a decision as to whether or not he wanted to sign it into law. Well, two days after that press conference – and two weeks ago – it was sent to the Guv’s desk. I guess they’re still reviewing it. If Hizzoner doesn’t sign the bill, it could cost you $15 to fish this year. The federal government is requiring all anglers nationwide to register before…

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Fishing Friday

Jersey Anglers Can Still Have a Free Lunch if They Catch it Themselves

Bill to create free registry of state's anglers passes through a Senate committee

"There's no free lunch," quipped state Sen. Bob Smith about a year ago. Last December, Smith and I chatted one afternoon about the prospect of New Jersey creating a free registry of the state's anglers. Back then, the state was broke. It still is, but the blunt Senator from Middlesex County has changed his tune just a bit. Last year at this time, the state's anglers were in a tizzy over Smith's blocking a bill sponsored by Sen. Jeff Van Drew - a fellow Democrat from Cape May County - that would have created a free registry of New Jersey's recreational anglers. Under the 2006 reauthorization of the Magnuson-Stevens Act, a federal law which regulates fisheries, all recreational saltwater anglers in America must register so federal …

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