If I remember correctly I believe there was someone in the Christie administration that floated a trial ballon for a paid NJ Saltwater fishing license. I think it was an election year and it met a lot of public opposition so much so that every politician ran from it and it died from lack of political support. Shortly afterwards the RFA fought for and got the support need for the free registry we have now.
Further NY had a paid license for a short period of time and it was repealed and replaced by the free registry.
Lastly you’ll see here that the RFA was very involved in getting the free registry we have in place today. Read more here
https://www.njfishing.com/forums/showthread.php?t=20354
