Re: Sea Bass Options Update and Survey
 

Paul you feel like you had a "Gotcha moment" when you said to Dan "the problem is BMF is understaffed and underfunded" in reply to his comment "the state of NJ doesn’t do crap to fight for our fisheries like other states do for their sportsman." Aren't you both saying the same thing differently? Whose fault is it that BMF is understaffed and underfunded? And are you implying all other states are properly staffed and funded except New Jersey as I'd find that highly improbable in this day and age. If New Jersey recognized the importance of recreational spend on our economy as they should, wouldn't the state properly fund and staff BMF?

From your exchanges, other states have figured it out, why in your opinion hasn't New Jersey. The squeaky wheel gets the oil, may BMF hasn't squeaked enough. And please don't say it has anything to do with the size of New Jersey, on a per capita basis we fish and contribute more to the economy than many states combined.

Re: Sea Bass Options Update and Survey
 

Paul in replying to my question, keep the following in mind.

New Jersey recreational fishing is a national leader in economic impact, generating over $2 billion annually with roughly 1 million+ anglers, consistently ranking among top states for expenditures and participation. While specific per capita rankings vary, it is a premier coastal hub, heavily driven by marine activity.

So again I ask the same question, why or how is BFM in your opinion underfunded and understaffed and more importantly what can or has been done to address that problem. You've been the President and I believe still are an active Board Member of the states largest recreational salt water advocacy group JCAA, why does the problem you pointed to exist and more importantly how does that problem get resolved?

And the problem to be clear is the spend by the recreational community is there in abundance, the apportionment of that spend to the recreational community isn't. What's the answer in your opinion?

Re: Sea Bass Options Update and Survey
 

IMO too many sportsman in Nj actually think we have a large voice here .
WE DONT

less than 1 percent hunt
less than 1 percent freshwater fish

While there is a possibility that 5 % fish Oceanside which IF we had an actual Salt water license we would know better , as the accounting using the registry doesn’t account for many who only fish on charter or head boats .

So to politicians here it’s not worth their efforts to chase money that only supports that super small percentage of it’s residents.

Until those who enjoy the outdoors figure out how to have a louder voice there won’t be any change in thinking higher up .

Our reef program is a classic example. No funding except paying its director who now has to wear many other hats in the fisheries work .
Only deployments are through donations . Yet the reefs really add to our fishery here .
ITS SAD that we as a coastal state don’t fo everything we can to improve what we have .
Many one time world class fisheries on the brink of being lost . Because too few people understand what we have , and care about its future .

Economic impact from our fisheries probably affects less than 7% of the state overall , between hotels , gas , food , tackle .
Still a drop in the bucket .

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Re: Sea Bass Options Update and Survey
 

Last question and I'll leave it to you guys to discuss. If your statement about angler or hunter participation is true, how does NJ generate over $2 billion and rank in the top states in spend and participation annually from recreational fishing activities. One of the national leaders. A weekend fishing the Jersey shore from any inlet in our area by "private" boats, not party and charter boats, seems a whole lot more than 5%. You know as well as I at times it's an absolute parking lot out there during summer months.

Re: Sea Bass Options Update and Survey
 

You’re a numbers guy 9.5 million residents .
72,000 hunting license sales
130,000 fresh water license sales
117,000 in saltwater registry , though they say 500k to 1 million may fish in the salt via charters and head boats .

Re: Sea Bass Options Update and Survey
 

If I didn't know better, I'd say that almost sounds like a backhanded compliment. I'm an analytical guy who basis his opinions and conclusions on facts and what I see with my own eyes. In the event you weren't aware, calling someone a numbers guy is typically viewed as a condescending comment. I think I've proven I'm a lot more than that even though you might believe otherwise.

Re: Sea Bass Options Update and Survey
 

No disrespect was intended .
those are the actual numbers . For you to actually see how small a percentage of NJ Population we actually are

Economic impact is across the board for inclusions of everyone effected by us going out to fish .not just by Nj residents but all those who head to fish our waters from other states .

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Re: Sea Bass Options Update and Survey
 

Those are good questions and although we have tried, most politicians have other priorities and are not particularly concerned about fishermen and hunters. Many of today's fishermen don't get involved with management issues or even belong to a club. Other organizations that helped fishermen have gone by the wayside and JCAA won't be far behind if we don't get more people involved. i suppose the only solution is to get more people and clubs involved and fight together on issues we agree on. If you have any ideas on how to do that, please let me know.

Paul Haertel

Re: Sea Bass Options Update and Survey
 

Hi Paul
We met many times while I was working with SSFFF and RFA NJ. Agree not enough anglers involved! Facebook is the enemy! Don't have the answer but been there done things and yet I believe the audience is result driven and no matter what group, we try but cant satisfy them all. Please keep up the fight.

Re: Sea Bass Options Update and Survey
 

I think there are many more involved than there used to be.. This is due in large part to technology more easily allowing people to get information and participate in the meetings being held online now.

More importantly, they're getting involved sooner in the process. The only time most people used to get involved was at the State level meetings after the most important decisions like quotas had already been decided.

I certainly think more should get involved and maybe since we finally got a win, people will feel they can make a difference whereas in the past they thought it was futile.

Another part of the problem we have is these fisheries management issues can be complex and even boring to some. I like to read fishing reports but I'll pass on these sorts of posts. When we type this stuff up I sometimes feel people rolling their eyes. Oh here goes Gerry, Dave, Paul or Hutch again.

I'm not going to let that deter me and in the mean time, if just a few more people get involved and informed, it's worth it.