NJ Boating/fishing regulations question

[Capt. Debbie]

Bullet,
You know that CT and NJ have NO reciprocity?

Originally Posted by bulletbob

I went to the NJ State Police Marine site and this issue was addressed.. Yes you must pass a NJ course, OR one from another state which has reciprocity with NJ.. NY does not have this course...We have a mandatory course for personal water craft only for those born before 1996.. I doubt the NJ state police would accept that..

So to get the NJ boating course card, I would have to take the test in NJ.. There is NO provision to take the test online, you must take it in person.. Its not worth it.. I'll launch from Great Kills when fishing Raritan Bay, and start to learn the Connecticut shore of LI Sound.. Both destinations are about the same distance as AH from me.. Some good bottom fishing in Ct at times off of Norwalk.. I have some time to research it . I am retiring in June and was hoping on trailering my own boats to NJ every few weeks, now that time will be less of a factor.. We'll see, .. I have a lot of family still in NJ. and maybe I can get down there this summer for the test.. i will have to see whats involved.. What a pain in the ass.. NJ won't let out of state boaters on their waterways... Whatever,, I'll adjust... bob

[Capt. Debbie]

USCG don't care if you have a Boater Safety Certificate or not. That's strictly the state's stuff.

Originally Posted by bulletbob

Here in NY we have no "safe boaters course" or certificates that go along with the course.. We have it for personal watercraft only here, not motor vessels.
Now, I have rented motor boats in NJ for fluke fishing, and was never asked for any certificates... So if I trailer one of my own boats down this summer, and am stopped by the CG or NJ marine Police, am I in trouble??.. I could I suppose launch out of Great Kills, and avoid this problem, but I prefer launching in Leonardo.. I can't come down to NJ to get some sort of certificate just to take my my little boat out once or twice a year.. To me, it doesn't make sense that I would not be welcome to spend my money on the NJ side of the bay, but its fine on the NY side...

Also, I realize we can not fillet fluke on the water, but does the same apply to unregulated species like sea robins??.. If I want to keep lets say 5 or 6 big sea robins, do they have to stay intact, or can I keep 1 carcass just to show what they are???.. I know these are dumb questions, but I also know that on any given day, hundreds of boats in NJ are boarded, and I just don't need any hassles about keep a sea robin whole or producing a certificate that was never asked for while renting a motorized vessel in NJ.. any pertinent info would be appreciated... bob

[bulletbob]

Originally Posted by Capt. Frank

Bullet,
You know that CT and NJ have NO reciprocity?

Yes.. I might have written my thoughts in a way that was confusing.
I will fish Ct because they have no mandatory card like NJ does.. I do know NJ has reciprocity with several states however.... bob

[bulletbob]

Originally Posted by Capt. Frank

I teach both NY and NJ Boater Safety courses.

Yes NY waters are more lax. You need NYS Boater Safety Course issued by NYS Parks Department for PWC's and if born after 1996. Meaning eventually everyone. NJ Boater Safety Certificate is fine in NYS waters. In NYS with a certificate you can run a PWC at age 14. Even more wild in NY, you can be 10 years old and run ANY sized boat. ANY SIZE.

In NJ water you need a Boater Safety Certificate from any State if your boat has an electric or gas/diesel motor in NJ waters. Min age is 13 for under 10hp, at 16 you can run PWC's and over 10hp boats

NJ Rental places are required by NJ State Police to give you a course if you have no card. Rental Livery must issue a certificate to the renter to take with him/her on the water and keep records of each one of those renter certificates for three years. Same- elector or gas motors.

There is a PWC rental place that requires no Boater Safety Certificate but you can NOT leave their roped off "play" area.

That's the rules. Any questions?

.

Yes I have a question... Are you saying I can get the NYS PWC safety course card, and then use it in NJ waters??... You said ANY state, but NY doesn't have a Boater Safety Course.. Just a PWC course for those under 21... Will NJ accept that??? bob