License question
 

Hey all. I am the den leader for my son's cub scout den. I am planning a spring fishing day for the den. I am trying to find out if the parents need to be licensed if they are just assisting their sons fishing. Not fishing themselves, but baiting hooks, dehooking fish, etc... Thanks

Re: License question
 

I would say yes buy a day licinse its cheap and prevents a good day from being tarnished

Re: License question
 

They state also does a "free fishing" weekend, usually in June, that no one needs a license.

Re: License question
 

I am 99% sure they don't need one. If they are just helping cast and handing it off to the kid, I'm almost positive that's perfectly legal.

Re: License question
 

You might want to think about calling the hatchery and asking for a "reservation" for your pack or troop to take a private tour of the facility. There are private group tours which include a "sesssion" at the education trout pond where the kids are taught to fish. Rods and reels are provided and it's a great experience for young kids, especially a group of scouts. Times and dates are limited so call and ask. Some packs and troops have camped out for opening day in Stokes and fished Lake Ocquittunk and the Flatbrook. The campgrounds are a great place later in the season as well when the weather warms up. The cubs and their parents might like that better.

Re: License question
 

If any game warden gives you guys a hard time for helping kids fish without a license, please be sure to get his name so we can send him nasty letters.

Re: License question
 

It sounds like this is going to be a parent/cub scout outing. I can't think of a Conservation Officer who would deny a parent the opportunity to spend time with his son because he didn't have a license. Baiting hooks, untangling lines etc. is what adults should do for the kids until they can do it by themselves. Maybe some of the parents already have licenses. The free fishing days are good alternatives for everyone if you are in doubt. Finally, make sure you take the kids to a place where they can catch some fish. The catching part of fishing is important if you want the youngsters to enjoy the experience. Perhaps taking them to a local kids' tournament might be an alternative. I'm not sure where you live but keep inquiring about kids' fishing days. There is a great opening day fishing tournament with kids as the primary focus in Spring Lake. There are many helping hands there and prizes as well. There are lots of options for you to think about but by all means "Take a Kid Fishing"!

Re: License question
 

I think your best bet is to ask the Division of Fish and Game, you can email them at njfishandwildlife@dep.state.nj.us or call one of their contact numbers listed on http://www.nj.gov/dep/fgw/contact.htm. Sounds like a great idea, good luck and have fun.

Re: License question
 

Thanks for all the responses. I know about the free fishing weekend in June, but want to do this before Memorial Day weekend. The hatchery tour is a good idea, but these are a bunch of six and seven year olds, and attention span is a concern. I plan on taking them to a local pond which will be full of voracious bluegills in early May. I don't anticipate a hassle from law enforcement, but want to encourage following the law as part of what we are teaching them through the scouting program. I will contact fish and wildlife to see if I can get an official response in writing. Thanks again to everyone.

Re: License question
 

absolutely not!!! Take the kids fishing. The parents do not need a license. Can't believe some people are suggesting every parent get a license to take a child fishing. Unbelievable!!!

Re: License question
 

Here's another suggestion, if you don't mind. The Division of Fish and Wildlife has an art contest each year. It might be something one or more of your cubs might want to do. There are age group categories. I used to judge the essay contests for the division many years ago and I was amazed at how well the contestants could write and about the passion they had for the outdoors.

Re: License question
 

it depends on the type of parents you have for your den... you know the type, the ones who build their kids whole pinewood derby car for them including a professional paint job, etc. if you've got some of them that will be doing it for the kid instead of letting the kid do it themselves then yeah, get them licensed up. casting = fishing.

if they are actually just baiting hooks and untangling lines, then i would say no license is required.

one thing that i would say that everyone else has missed so far... you should encourage the parents to get licensed up anyway! they should be fishing WITH their sons, not just standing around watching. and that way, when the kids ask to be taken fishing again later in the year, the parents are ready to go as well.

Re: License question
 

That's a great idea. Take a mom or dad fishing! If you can do that, the cub scouts should have a special awards badge for each cub who can get a parent to go fishing. it usually doesn't work that way but you never know. Thank goodness for volunteers and relatives and friends and neighbors who take the time to take kids fishing. Had it not been for my uncles, I don't know if I ever would have experienced the fun of fishing when I was a kid. As a city boy, my dad never fished in his life. My uncle used to take me fishing with him and I thanked him every time until the day he died.

Here's another fun thing for the kids to do with you or some other adult. Take them out after dark and break out the flashlights. That's right........gathering bait.........nightcrawlers. If that's not something you want to do, then try taking them to a garden or compost pile and dig for worms. Give them the whole experience. I'll bet there are newbies out there now who only get bait in containers in stores or machines.

Re: License question
 

TJ,



Great idea...i honestly don't think they need to be licensed to assist with baiting and tying of hooks and helping get bluegills off the hook...however, if they start casting themselves they may want to get a license...i would take em over to the ramapo...plenty of hungry sunnies in there to keep em busy!!


-matt-

Re: License question
 

23:3-1. a. A person shall not at any time hunt, take or attempt to take, kill or pursue, with a gun or any firearm of any kind or character, or with longbow and arrow, a wild bird, animal or fowl, or take or attempt to take any skunk, mink, muskrat, or other fur-bearing animal by means of a trap, or set a trap for any fur-bearing animal, nor shall any person above the age of 16 years at any time take or attempt to take fish in any of the fresh waters of this State by the method commonly known as angling with a hand line or rod and line, or with longbow and arrow, unless he has first procured a proper license.

It depends unpon the particular Consevation Officer's interpretation of the adult's actions.

23:3-1 Hunt, fish, trap without a license fine: $99

Re: License question
 

At every parent/child fishing torney I have been at the parents do 99% of the fishing.
It starts out as dad baiting and casting while the child holds the pole.
15 minter and no fish being caught dad takes over while the kids all run around.
Once a fish is hoked dad reels it in almost completley and when the child arrives he takes over and beaches the fish.
So really who is fishing or who really caught the fish?
You would have to be a hell of a prick to summons dad but honestly he is the one fishing.

Re: License question
 

This is an incredible amount of discussion for a matter of $22.50 that winds up funding the fishery anyway. If you need $22.50 to take a bunch of kids fishing, PM me and I'll give you the money. Hell, I'll even buy bait.

Re: License question
 

I think it was more of a question out of principal, not over the $22.50.
As with any simple question here the subject gets changed and everything goes nuts.
Sometimes the actual question goes un answered. Lol.

Re: License question
 

This is the answer: “It depends upon the particular Conservation Officer's interpretation of the adult's actions.”

23:3-1. a. A person shall not at any time hunt, take or attempt to take, kill or pursue, with a gun or any firearm of any kind or character, or with longbow and arrow, a wild bird, animal or fowl, or take or attempt to take any skunk, mink, muskrat, or other fur-bearing animal by means of a trap, or set a trap for any fur-bearing animal, nor shall any person above the age of 16 years at any time take or attempt to take fish in any of the fresh waters of this State by the method commonly known as angling with a hand line or rod and line, or with longbow and arrow, unless he has first procured a proper license.



23:3-1 Hunt, fish, trap without a license fine: $99


Mark Boriek, Principal Fisheries Biologist
Mark.Boriek@earthlink.net
NJ Division of Fish & Wildlife
Bureau of Freshwater Fisheries
P.O. Box 394, 1255 County Rt. 629
Lebanon, NJ 08833
(908) 236-2118 Fax: (908) 236-7280

Re: License question
 

The problem with NJ game laws is they are not specific enough.

NJ law for fishing with kids.
I could not find a regulation for fishing with kids.

Fishing with kids, Pa. law States: (pg. 33 of regulation book)

An adult who assists a child (12 years of age
and under) by casting or retrieving a fishing line
or fishing rod is not required to possess a valid
fishing license provided that the child remains
within arms’ reach of the assisting adult and is
actively involved in the fishing activity.
An adult may assist a child by baiting hooks,
removing fish from the line, netting fish, preparing the fishing rod for use and untangling the line
without possessing a valid fishing license.
An adult is required to possess a fishing license
if they intend to set the hook for the child.

The NJ regs. need an overhaul and some additions to be more clearer to both the fishermen and the CO's. IMHO

Re: License question
 

Definitely check with fish and game first! I believe anyone holding a rod or baiting a hook is considered in the act of fishing.

Re: License question
 

Well, being that Mark B works for NJ DFW, i would say that unofficially, he has his answer: the way the laws are written, it would depend on what the CO sees happening

Re: License question
 

We took the whole pack last night to the Ramapo Reservation. We had about 25 kids show up and their parents. The kids had a great time, about two dozen fish caught consisting of sunfish and yellow perch. A big thanks is due to njfishing.com member Mcfish82 who volunteered his time to help the kids cast and bait hooks. Also a big thanks to Ramsey Outdoor Store, which generously donated 4 rod setups and lures for us to give away to the kids. Hope to do this again next year.