The end of smoke on the water

[briansnat]

I'm not a cigarette smoker, but I enjoy the occasional cigar or my pipe. I probably do 80 percent of my smoking while fishing. I enjoy lighting up a cigar while out in my boat, or my pipe or a stogie when stream fishing. In addition to the enjoyment, the smoke helps keep the bugs out of my face. Particularly useful when fishing streams.

Well it looks as if those days are over for me and those like me in NJ, at least on public lands. See http://www.nj.com/politics/index.ssf/2014/03/nj_assembly_votes_to_ban_smoking_at_all_parks_and_ beaches.html
It hasn't passed the senate or been signed into law, but I see that as a matter of time.

I fail to see how me sparking up in the middle of Round Valley, or along the Big Flat Brook is anybody's business but my own and certainly not that of the state. Statist nannyism run amok. Does anyone else who enjoys the weed while fishing find this to be absurd?

[acabtp]

this would probably not be an issue if a large portion of cigarette smokers didn't litter their butts everywhere for the past 100 years (i know all smokers don't do it).

that's the only problem that i've ever had with smokers while outdoors, but it is a consistent problem... you are guaranteed to see cigarette butts anywhere that there is fishing & a parking lot.

the number of butts that i saw frozen to the ice where they had been tossed next to old holes this year was pretty ridiculous too...

i don't like to see rights taken away, so i would be happy if this ban doesn't pass. but i would also be happy for them to up the fines for littering 10x and really go to town for a few years to get disrespectful smokers to stop leaving their garbage everywhere.

[Gerry Zagorski]

I'm not a cigarette smoker, but I enjoy the occasional cigar or my pipe. I probably do 80 percent of my smoking while fishing. I enjoy lighting up a cigar while out in my boat, or my pipe or a stogie when stream fishing. In addition to the enjoyment, the smoke helps keep the bugs out of my face. Particularly useful when fishing streams.

Well it looks as if those days are over for me and those like me in NJ, at least on public lands. See http://www.nj.com/politics/index.ssf/2014/03/nj_assembly_votes_to_ban_smoking_at_all_parks_and_ beaches.html
It hasn't passed the senate or been signed into law, but I see that as a matter of time.

I fail to see how me sparking up in the middle of Round Valley, or along the Big Flat Brook is anybody's business but my own and certainly not that of the state. Statist nannyism run amok. Does anyone else who enjoys the weed while fishing find this to be absurd?

How crazy is this..... Like the State Government does not have any more pressing issues to resolve like maybe Campaign Reform???

[acabtp]

How crazy is this..... Like the State Government does not have any more pressing issues to resolve like maybe Campaign Reform???
don't be silly, just like the rest of us, politicians don't like to do any actual work! they just want to pass as much little unimportant stuff like this as possible to point to their "track record of success". and then come november, when everyone blindly votes along the lines of their party or for what their union tells them to instead of considering what the candidate has actually done, the cycle continues.

[Bicey]

Guess I gotta get my ......I Fish. I Smoke. I Vote. Bumper sticker.;)

[NorthJerzyG]

Does anyone else who enjoys the weed while fishing find this to be absurd?

Funny thing is, before smoking in public is completely outlawed, "this" will probobly be legalized. :D Just can't see greedy politicians passing up on that much tax money.

Ps Just picked up a sweet Zippo for the smallie contest..............

[Wilson]

Funny thing is, before smoking in public is completely outlawed, "this" will probobly be legalized. :D Just can't see greedy politicians passing up on that much tax money.

Ps Just picked up a sweet Zippo for the smallie contest..............
Tobacco products are taxed through the roof. There just adding another tax on tobacco.

Ranger: Hey you in that boat 300 yards from shore...I saw you smoking, come to shore so I can ticket you...never mind the bucket brigade fishing 10 feet from me, come to shore now:rolleyes:

[bigfishy]

Funny thing is, before smoking in public is completely outlawed, "this" will probobly be legalized. :D Just can't see greedy politicians passing up on that much tax money.

Ps Just picked up a sweet Zippo for the smallie contest..............

Its all about revenue guys....Banning cigg smoking in public parks is nother way for the man to hand out tickets....1st offense of 250 doll hairs because you choose to destroy YOUR lungs.....And legalizing the wacky tobaccy is an enormous source of tax revenue....Every tax goes UP UP UP, never down...So whats the next best way of creating more revenue?? Add laws that (help ppls health and/or the enviroment) while bringing in more money....The reasons for putting these new laws into affect is all an elaborate smoke screen...( no pun intended)

Wow , a zippo? cool....The lighter idea was an inexpensive way to keep ppl honest....But hey , to each his own....Gonna be interesting to see how creative ppl get with their lighters....Good luck to all, wit da smallies and the smoking ban:(

[Moz]

Ps Just picked up a sweet Zippo..

If you found it in Penns Creek that would be mine. :p

[GetANet]

E-cigs LOL!!!!! Probably find some way of ticketing you for them as well!!!!!!

[gnuisance]

I hate to say it but I support this. There is a shameless minority who leaves their butts everywhere and messes things up for the rest of us. I can't tell you how many times I walked up to a hole in the ice this year and found butts all around it. Where do you think those end up?

[briansnat]

I hate to say it but I support this. There is a shameless minority who leaves their butts everywhere and messes things up for the rest of us. I can't tell you how many times I walked up to a hole in the ice this year and found butts all around it. Where do you think those end up?

I think anti littering laws should cover those slobs.

As far as littering goes, fishermen seem to be among the worst violators. Any time I fish from shore I'm appalled by empty bait containers, bottles, balls of fishing line, etc. left behind by my fellow fishermen. Should fishing be banned because a portion of us are slobs?

Besides, this law is being touted as a public health law, not an anti littering law. I really fail to see what ill affect me smoking a cigar in the middle of a lake has on the public health. My own maybe but that's between me and my health insurer.

[bassnbucks]

It is mind boggling to me that someone can roll down their window and throw a cigarette butt out the window.Can someone who does this please explain why you do it ? Why not put it in your ashtray and when it's full throw it in the garbage ? I just don't get it.

[15FOOTER]

We have 3 smokers on our boat most of the time. I have to take a pic when were done with a trip to show u guys (no butts in the water ever and our boat looks like crap after the trip) Id like to take this time to ask you guys to tell bigfishy and his 2 pack habit to pick his damn butts and dutch wrappers outta the transom :D lol As far as this possible new law..my boat my lungs..catch me if u can..ull never take me alive..no pun intended