If You Plan to Saltwater Fish in NJ Read This

[Gerry Zagorski]

If you plan to saltwater fish in NJ in 2010 you may need to register to do so. I know there are mutiple threads spread all over the place but figured it would make sense to have one thread with all the realted info on it.

The purpose of the registry is to collect your contact information so someone from NJ Fish and Game or NOAA can contact you to get information on your fishing habits and catches. The reason we have this registry is because Federal Law requires states to either have a saltwater license or to have their anglers register. NJ State has opted for the registry option for now and it's free, but who knows what will happen in the future.

Here is what I believe to be the case:
- If you are 15 or under you don't have to register
- If you are not a US citizen you don't have to regsiter :confused:
- If you hold a salwaterfishing license from NY (or some other coastal states that have sw licenses) you don't have to register and can fish in NJ saltwater.
- If you are fishing on for hire vessel (party or charter boat) that is covered by a NOAA for hire permit, you are covered while fishing on that boat.
- If you are fishing on a private boat although they might have a NOAA permit for the boat, like a Highly Migratory Species Permit, the person
who that permit was issued to is covered, but the people fishing on the boat are not. They need to be registered.
- If you plan to fish from shore or from your own boat you are going to need to register unless you are covered by one of the other rules above.
- Even if you are registered this does not allow you fish in NY State waters. You need to buy a non resident NY Saltwater license to do so or the for hire boat you are on may have a permit from NY that covers everyone on board.
- None of this applies during the first wednesday of each month during leap years. Only kidding :D

To register go to this link... https://www.countmyfish.noaa.gov/index.html You will be issued a temporary card to print out until your official card is mailed. You need to have this card in your possession at all times unless you are covered by one of the rules above or your are subject to fines.

Feel free to pile on here with other whacky scenarios and please do correct me if I am wrong.

[Fish_Harder]

Thanks Gerry,

That made it very easy to register and simple to understand.

FH

[Gerry Zagorski]

Thanks I'm glad you understand it Harder. This stuff is confusing enough to drive a person to drink. And that for me is a very short drive ;)

Next I will attempt to explain how people can actually record one TV show while watching another :)

[Fish_Harder]

That might be a bit to complex for the likes of me LOL

I also travel that short road of driving to drink :D

[Skolmann]

Maybe we should all registered ACORN style under the names of the dead.

Seriously, non US citizens do not have to register ???!!!...man the jetties are going to be packed now.

[Blackfish Doug]

Thanks I'm glad you understand it Harder. This stuff is confusing enough to drive a person to drink. And that for me is a very short drive ;)

Next I will attempt to explain how people can actually record one TV show while watching another :)
Thanks Gerry that was easy to understand. Now all you got to do is teach me how to tie my shoelaces LOL .

[Gerry Zagorski]

I hear you Doc.... It seems bass akwards to me too. You would think that if anyone were exempt, it sould be the people who are US citizens that live in NJ and as a result pay some of the highest taxes in the country.

I can see it now..... Some NJ resident is fishing on a Jetty somewhere and the fish cops show up and he/she does not have their registry card... They get a ticket and the illegals don't ?

Hmmmm - I think I may have heard something like this before....Oh yes!! Our new Goverment proposed Health Care Plan. Manditory for us and or our employers, but free to illegals :mad:

[skate king]

Gerry,
This is a true story for you.
Back about 5 or 6 years ago I was taking pictures of the Miss Belmar Princess leaving the inlet. On the south side, right by the bridge, there were 2 or 3 Asian's with a 5 gallon bucket that had small blackfish and fluke in it. And I mean small. The fish cops walked down the stairs to the jetty and did not even glance their way but stopped further down the jetty to see what other people had caught. I don't know what they found but they got almost to the end and turned around and walked back to their SUV without asking anybody questions. Just looking. Never said a word to anybody as far as I saw.
Maybe a coffee break without the coffee?

[Last Call]

Thanks Gerry!

[jigmup]

I had heard this mandatory registration, thanks for posting, no time like the present to take of this gov't business.

[Capt. Ed Tapping]

What HAPPENS if you get caught fishing without it if it is FREE?????.Can't find that answer anywhere:confused:

[Gerry Zagorski]

The registry is free (for now) and if you get caught with out a card your are subject to fines... What those fines are I have no idea.

[Capt. Ed Tapping]

Gerry,
That's my point. Not even NOAA can answer that question because I called and asked:eek:

[Reelron]

Did you ask who is going to enforce this if they ever figure out what the fines are? Sounds like a job for the Coast Guard.

[Capt. Ed Tapping]

No did not ask that question got to frustrated trying to get the fine question answered after talking to three different people and 25 minutes later :mad:

[Stumpy]

What if you are not NJ resident?? I mainly fish from charter boats but do occasionally fish from the beach/ jetties. Do the same rules apply or is there a different set of rules for non-residents???

Thanks

[sbalewitz74]

If you are NOT a Citizen, you don't need to register?
what a crock of s___!!!!!

[Topeka Boy]

Mine came in the mail today. Took about 3-4 weeks. Now big brother knows im a fisherman. :cool: :cool:

[njdiver]

What HAPPENS if you get caught fishing without it if it is FREE?????.Can't find that answer anywhere:confused:
Later this year when they publish the proposal to charge for registering they will no doubt also publish penalties. For now the enforcement is only warnings.

[Gerry Zagorski]

What if you are not NJ resident?? I mainly fish from charter boats but do occasionally fish from the beach/ jetties. Do the same rules apply or is there a different set of rules for non-residents???

Thanks

If you fish from a charter or party boat you should be covered by their permit/license.

If you are fishing from the surf you need to register.

[italianfisherman]

thanks gerry....

[Flukinator]

Thanks for this. They do kind of guide you on that website to figure out if you need it or not, but Gerry's explanation is actually better.

[bigchefguy710]

F the government total anarchy rules!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! lol:D

[Pennsy Guy]

I've always fished PB's(one in particular) the past few years, but you never know if I'll do the surf casting thing at some point, so I just registered.
If you go on the site Gerry listed, go to "FAQ's about MRIP" and click #9. Next year it looks like a $15-25 registry fee depending on # of anglers registered this year. Looks like a fee is inevitable for anyone not aboard a licensed PB or charter........:( :( :mad:

[Detour66]

What about the people who go fishing once a year and are not really anglers just friends coming along for a day out on the water. This in NO GOOD!
Are they going to fine them?

Thanks for the link Capt!

[Rum Runner]

Thanks G.
:eek: Back from a 2 year absense~

[seadog]

Maybe I could make a deal with state. I'll give them my 1st born male child and they could leave me alone for life. Not sure he'd go for it, He's 28 and already works for the state. But maybe I could give him the take one for the team speach???

[wwm12]

And what website do we use to get a NY lic?

[njdiver]

And what website do we use to get a NY lic?
Try this:

http://www.dec.ny.gov/permits/28941.html

[spearo]

"- Even if you are registered this does not allow you fish in NY State waters. You need to buy a non resident NY Saltwater license to do so"

I am a little confused about this one. My boat is registered in NJ and docked in NJ but I net bunker for bait on the NY side of the bay and do fish on the other side of the state line in the bay some times. Does this mean I need to get a NY non-resident permit for NY ?

[eagleyankfan]

Your answer is in your own quote. Short answer, YES.

[crabby]

ok so if i get stopped all i have to say is " no speaka de english??????"