Increased Police patrols on Lake Hopatcong

[Skunk City]

http://www.nj.com/morris/index.ssf/2014/06/wild_boat_parties_in_lake_hopatcong_prompt_increas ed_police_presence_report_says.html#incart_m-rpt-1

HOPATCONG — A series of raucous parties in Lake Hopatcong, some involving more than 400 boats clustered together in a small cove, has led State Police to pledge increased patrols of the area, according to a report on LakeHopatcongNews.com.

During a standing-room-only meeting of the Lake Hopatcong Commission on Monday, residents voiced their concerns about heavy drinking, drug use, loud music, foul language, lewd behavior, trespassing and littering in the lake. It's not just a quality of life issue, they said, it's become a public safety hazard because the weekly gatherings have been getting bigger as the weather warms up.

Beginning this weekend, a State Police boat will monitor Byram Cove and if the parties continue to grow, more troopers will be on the scene, according to the report.

The events are promoted via social media. The Byram Cove Party Twitter account has nearly 1,000 followers.

Hundreds of boats are roped together in Byram Cove to create "tie-up" parties, with revelers visiting different crafts to socialize.

Hopatcong Mayor Sylvia Petillo and State Police officials attended the Monday meeting at the Hopatcong Senior Center, according to the report.

Defenders of the Byram Cove Party also went to the meeting to speak out, declaring that their group includes people in their 30's and 40's who enjoy relaxing on the lake during the weekend. They acknowledged that there have been some "bad apples" but the majority of partygoers are respectful of the homeowners who live around the cove, according to the report.

Although some residents said that the situation warrants a task force, the commission opted not to take that step yet. Members said they hoped things would improve with the State Police watching over the cove.

[jimmythegreek]

Its a zoo out there this year, Ive never seen it like this before. There is also ALOT of drunks running around after hours, its been scary night fishing on the weekends, we all wanna go home safe. I hope they start busting some serious ballz on the lake

[AndyS]

9.9 hp limit if you ask me.

[birddog]

I would be happy with a 22' size limit! and some of the bass boats not thinking it is raceway park!

[Eskimo]

.



I'm sure the lake-house owners don't like it, but that's what happens when your backyard is a public lake. If they don't like it, they can move to one of NJ's many private lakes.



.

[Taxman]

I'm meetin' my buddies out on the lake
We're headed out to a special place we love
That just a few folks know

There's no signin' up, no monthly dues
Take your Johnson, your Mercury
Or your Evinrude an' fire it up
Meet us out at party cove

Come on in the water's fine
Just idle on over an' toss us a line

Bass-trackers, Bayliners and a party barge
Strung together like a floatin' trailer park
Anchored out and gettin' loud all summer long

Side by side, there's five houseboat front porches
Astroturf, lawn chairs and tiki torches
Regular Joes rockin' the boat, that's us
The Redneck Yacht Club

Bermuda's, flip-flops and a tank-top tan
He popped his first top at 10 a.m., that's Bob
He's our president

We're checkin' out the girls on the upper deck
Rubbin' in the 15 SPF, it's hot
Everybody's jumpin' in

Later on when the sun goes down
We'll pull out the jar and that old guitar
An' pass 'em around

Bass-trackers, Bayliners and a party barge
Strung together like a floatin' trailer park
Anchored out and gettin' loud all summer long

Side by side, there's five houseboat front porches
Astroturf, lawn chairs and tiki torches
Regular Joes rockin' the boat, that's us
The Redneck Yacht Club

When the party's over and we're all alone
We'll be makin' waves in a no-wake zone

Bass-trackers, Bayliners and a party barge
Strung together like a floatin' trailer park
Anchored out and gettin' loud all summer long

Side by side, there's five houseboat front porches
Astroturf, lawn chairs and tiki torches
Regular Joes rockin' the boat, that's us
The Redneck Yacht Club

Redneck Yacht Club
Na na, na na, na na, na na, na na, na na
Na na, na na, na na, na na, na na, na na
The Redneck Yacht Club
Na na, na na, na na, na na, na na, na na
Na na, na na, na na, na na, na na, na na
Na na, na na, na na, na na, na na, na na
Read more at http://www.songlyrics.com/craig-morgan/redneck-yacht-club-lyrics/#mQGpPCFhD5P2PJqF.99

[jimmythegreek]

there was talk years ago about a sticker system like they have on lake george and other lakes. No sticker no launch, no boat in the water. You either pay or use another lake elsewhere. It would cut down close to half the boat traffic on weekends. Problem with going elsewhere is you cannot muskie/striper/walleye fish on the same lake, nothing is like LH in NJ, its the best fishery in the state

[bunker dunker]

its been going on for years.its never gonna change

[RWole]

I have been going to Hopatcong fewer times over the
last few years just for the above reasons. I also see
fishing getting tougher and fewer hook ups. I would
fully support a 9.9.limit.

[saxmatt]

Are you guys serious about a 9.9 limit on a lake that big? I really hope you are joking.

[acabtp]

if they included launching rights at the state park and built another state ramp on the north end, i would be fine with a lake george style boat registration

[AndyS]

Round Valley has a 9.9 hp limit and I have seen 4 foot white caps on that lake, LH is all coves, a 9.9 limit would be fine.

[saxmatt]

Round Valley has a 9.9 hp limit and I have seen 4 foot white caps on that lake, LH is all coves, a 9.9 limit would be fine.

You obviously haven't thought about or are unaware of the safety hazards and economic impacts.

[briansnat]

You obviously haven't thought about or are unaware of the safety hazards and economic impacts.

Economic impact sure, but safety hazards? It's the guys flying around at 50 MPH in 350 HP Donzis that are the safety hazard.

[saxmatt]

Economic impact sure, but safety hazards? It's the guys flying around at 50 MPH in 350 HP Donzis that are the safety hazard.

They are definitely a safety hazard. A speed limit would be a more reasonable option. I got caught out on an 80 acre lake with only a trolling motor because of a hp limit and almost got struck by lightning when a storm came in. We were in a 16' boat and couldn't fight the wind with the trolling motor and couldn't make it back to the launch. We had to beach the boat and trespass on someone's patio to get out of the storm and hail. Imagine if that happened to a few dozen boats on a big lake a few times a year. We already have enough people gettin hurt or dying on big lakes like Round Valley every year. Plus most boaters on lake H use an engine bigger than 9.9. Limiting the HP would severely hurt the business of Dows, and other local shops that sell gas, food and bait. A HP limit on that lake is just a dumb idea.

[saxmatt]

You also have to think about the people who live on the lake who enjoy water skiing, tubing, jet skiing. I don't like seeing them by me while I'm fishing, but they should be able to enjoy activities on the lake just like we do. Lobbying for HP restrictions would be selfish and dumb.

[Capt. Lou]

The HP restrictions on a lake that big has already gone by the wayside! First off thats not in my years of fishing many lakes considered a big lake maybe for NJ its big but in overall scheme of things mid size lk at best.
Size of boats & HP is gonna be tough to change that should have been considered yrs back.
I fished that Lk 50 + yrs ago often & thru the seventies, recently about four years ago began to fish fall walleye there on an invite from my neighbor who chases walleye all over.We only go late fall so amount of boats fishing/ running not an issue.
Back then u could see botttom in 20+ FT, today it appears that this water is turbid & quality has gone down. Use to be a cold water fishery now not so much now, which is fine.
However the best u can hope for right now might be a police crackdown to prevent serious injury.
Your working with for the large part very limited expierance boaters, this without reasonable restrictions on a crowded lake is the recipe for bad results.
I fished hybrids there last year about now , night fishing, even then we encountered a good number of boats, however all seemed to be operated in a reasonable manner ,which is key.
Deginitely defensive boating territory,not to my liking! :cool:

[bunker dunker]

1ST,the lake has much better fishing now then it did 10 years ago.
2nd,by stopping all the power boats and water crafts you would be putting allot of folks out of business.
3rd,there are law breakers on every lake.
the lake is in better shape now than when I was a kid.the many groups that fight hard everyday to keep the lake in good shape need all the money they can get as most are business owners on or around the lake.its a STATE PARK
and we all have a right to it.just a hint,fish early and late and you don't have to worry.remember there are lots of great fishing spots that the power boats can't get to.

[jrock]

I have to say i disagree with making LH a 9.9 limit. I would like to add before I continue my boat is a 14 foot deep v with a trolling motor and a 9.9 merc. That being said it would be extremely selfish of me to expect them to tone down the motor limit of one of the most used lakes in the state by jetskiers and tubers and other big motor boats just because it will make things more to my liking when fishing their. Remember there is plenty of lakes in the state with good fishing that you can go to that have the 9.9 restriction or even a battery powered motor only restriction. My point you have options. And some of the best fishing on these lakes is spring and fall at which time the boat traffic is way lower than the summer months.

[jimmythegreek]

LH will never be a 9.9 restriction, it would kill the economy, never gonna happen. I am a proud member of the KneeDeepClub and between the club and the Lake Hopatcong orginazation there have been tens of thousands of dollars spent for the better of the lake. Its the fisherman and those that care about the water quality that make the lake the great fishery that it is today, and a great lake as a whole. The real problem is the actual number of boats and the disrespect to others, its gotten out of hand. As many of you know LH is my home waters and I keep my big boat in the water. I fish early and late, mainly weekends, and people still manage to wake me out and come very near me even at 6am. The water skiers and watersports ppl all want glass water, they come out at sunrise, and even tho the lake is big, they stay out of the main lake and use the bigger coves, where most of the fisherman are on the points and coves fishing. The place is a washing machine of wakes on the weekend, its dangerous to say the least, and very rough. During the week u wouldnt know you were on the same lake, its amazing, and the old timers fish their spots and have it all to themselves. It needs to be a Lake George type system w a pay sticker deal to use the lake, this would get rid of half the boats on the water, but the big speed demons have expensive rigs and they would pay the money easily, at least the money could go to enforcement and the quality of the lake, I rly hope to see this happen soon. And as said if you fish spring and fall u dont have too much traffic like summer, but the windows for spring and fall is only a few weeks, not enough for me to get my fix