New BRC rule would kill fishing on Lake Hopatcong

[Knee Deep Club]

Good morning all!

The Knee deep Club assures fishermen and women we are doing everything in our power to ensure fishing is exempt from the BRC's proposed regulation prohibiting anchoring within 200 feet of the Lake Hopatcong shoreline between May 15 and Sept. 15.

We are engaging the press, notifying key fishing clubs in the state and asking local legislators for their support.*

We intend to speak at the Jan 11 BRC meeting in Sea Bright at 10 a.m. at the Cecile F. Norton Community Center, 1167 Ocean Avenue.

We are considering further action if necessary.

At the same time, we ask those who fish the lake to also prove comment to the BRC and/or attend the meeting.

To comment, email*LPPMSB@gw.njsp.org.

Thanks!

Pat Robinson
Secretary/Membership Coordinator
Knee Deep Club

[Gerry Zagorski]

Shared this on our group facebook page too.

[FASTEDDIE29]

We definitely can't let this rule go into effect. The lake is all coves! With this rule the entire boating world would be anchored in the middle of the lake! So stupid! I certainly oppose this bundle of BS!!!!:mad:

[AndyS]

Thanx for posting !

[briansnat]

It's probably a reaction to the party boaters who anchor and spend all night drinking. Personally in over 40 years of freshwater fishing I can probaby count the times I anchored to fish on three hands.

Still, the rule is akin to killling a fly with a shotgun.

I remember in my college days learning that all we needed to do on the beach at the Jersey shore to keep the cops off our backs was to throw a surf rod or two in the water. The cops would pass us by and harrass the other teens drinking on the beach We really had no bait on our lines, the rods were for show.

I can see where an angler exception would ultimately allow the party crowd to throw a rod or two in the water and continue with their party.

I think a rule such as this is meant to cut down on the party crowd and isn't directed at serious anglers. I suspect that the cops on Hopatcong will be able to tell the difference between serious anglers and the party crowd and leave us alone.

I don't see it as killing fishing on Hopatcong.

[NJSquatch]

First come No Anchoring Zones next come No Fishing Zones!

If a few home owners can make this happen what will prevent a few others from trying to stop fishing around their docks etc etc.

[Chrisper4694]

This wouldn't personally affect my fishing habits much or at all, but it's more of a point that what will come next...no fishing zones cause people don't want you fishing near their dock?...slippery slope if you ask me...this has to be one of the dumbest laws I've ever seen proposed.

If the cops had the man power to enforce this crap (assuming it was passed) they could use that man power to nab all the people breaking the CURRENT boating rules...drunk boating, speeding after dark, etc.

[acabtp]

If the cops had the man power to enforce this crap (assuming it was passed) they could use that man power to nab all the people breaking the CURRENT boating rules...drunk boating, speeding after dark, etc.

agreed, there are already plenty of laws to enforce. adding more, poorly thought out, laws does not help when they aren't enforcing the ones they already have.

[NJSquatch]

This was posted on fb by the LHF


The foundation was contacted by Sgt. Chris Jones of the NJ State Police who serves as liaison to the Boating Regulation Commission. Sgt. Jones indicated he will be in attendance at the Lake Hopatcong Commission meeting on Monday, January 9th at 7pm Hopatcong State Park and respectfully requests that the public keep its comments on point, short and respectful

https://www.facebook.com/LakeHopatcongFoundation/posts/1426003730751630:0

[Knee Deep Club]

Folks: The latest on story on the BRC proposal.

Also, thanks for your support! Those in the lake area should drop in on the Lake Hopatcong Commission's meeting tomorrow night as well.

http://www.njherald.com/20170108/lake-hopatcong-businesses-worry-about-impact-of-proposed-regulations

[Charlie B]

All I can say is some people bought property in the wrong place. If they want peace and quiet they should have bought on one of the other lakes in the area. It happens all over all the time people buy property then they want to control what goes on past their property line. It sucks...Charlie

[Almaink]

As I understand the F&G regs here in NJ as long as you are legally engaged in fishing or hunting activity, local regulations like this one don't apply and are not enforceable.

[acabtp]

As I understand the F&G regs here in NJ as long as you are legally engaged in fishing or hunting activity, local regulations like this one don't apply and are not enforceable.
Sorry, but first, you are mistaken and second, the BRC isn't a local regulation body either. BRC is a state entity.

You are thinking about how municipalities cannot ban or regulate fishing or hunting, which is correct... they can't directly ban it "de jure". But what they do, legally, is still stop it "de facto" with no discharge laws and no trespassing ordinances.

This definitely would be trouble for us.

[Anthony]

should every fisherman be at the state park tonight?

[NJSquatch]

should every fisherman be at the state part tonight?

I'll be there!

I would imagine the LHC meeting tonight will be well attended being that it is at night and near the lake.

The one that needs a bigger presence is the BRC meeting this Wed 1/11 morning in Sea Bright

http://www.njsp.org/marine-services/meetings.shtml

[dales529]

Don't forget to sign up for the saltwater registry! Sorry I know this is serious but couldn't resist.

Why is the "big" meeting in Sea Bright?? Never mind had to go to Galloway Twsp for the Fluke meeting so I get it

Also sorry you guys are going through the same crap we do. I live across from some great sweet water but spend my time driving 1 1/2 hrs to the salt when I could walk to many fresh water spots nearby.

Hope the meetings are well attended.

Maybe I should get back into sweet water and Ice fishing

[NJSquatch]

Thanks to KDC efforts the BRC has tabled this ridiculous proposal!!!!

http://newjersey.news12.com/news/state-boat-commission-tables-proposed-rule-changes-for-lake-hopatcong-1.12936954

[acabtp]

Thanks to KDC efforts the BRC has tabled this ridiculous proposal!!!!

http://newjersey.news12.com/news/state-boat-commission-tables-proposed-rule-changes-for-lake-hopatcong-1.12936954

sounds good!
link doesn't work if you don't have a cable account though

[ScowardNJ]

Copy + Paste of the whole article. Nice work fellas!

Updated January 11, 2017 3:35 PM
SEA BRIGHT - The New Jersey Boat Regulation Commission has tabled proposed boating changes for Lake Hopatcong after a public comment hearing held Wednesday in Sea Bright.

The changes were aimed to address issues in the Byram Cove section of the lake, after residents complained about the party boat hotspot. The proposal would have prohibited boats from anchoring within 200 feet of the lake's shoreline, prohibited more than 10 vessels from anchoring together and banned tethering more than 20 feet from an anchored boat.

People who live on Byram Cove say they just want to see problems like noise, navigational issues and littering addressed.

But fishermen who frequent the lake say that the rules would greatly impact their ability to fish there. Fishermen say freshwater fish like the weedy, shallower areas near the shoreline, and the rules would not allow them to anchor their boats in this area.

The commission says that it will take the comments made in the public meeting into consideration and may make changes to the proposal.

[Charlie B]

Just goes to show how fortunate we are to have the Knee Deep Club. I am sure they had some influence on this matter...Charlie

[NJSquatch]

Just goes to show how fortunate we are to have the Knee Deep Club. I am sure they had some influence on this matter...Charlie

Consider joining if you are not a member.

The small annual membership fee helps to fight these type of things in addition to fish stocking , habitat improvement and other activities.

Your membership includes

Newsletters
Members Only Contest Eligibility
Educational Seminars
Discounts at local businesses, (Dows, Lakes End, Ramsey Outdoor, Boat US, and Jefferson House). I know easily recoup my membership fee between Dows and Ramsey.


Monthly Membership Meetings every 2nd Friday from March thru October at 8pm
at the Hopatcong Civic Center, Lakeside Blvd., Hopatcong,N.J.

Website
http://www.kneedeepclub.org/

Membership Information
http://www.kneedeepclub.org/membership.pdf

[Charlie B]

Yes the club does a lot of good for the lake. And the big benefits to you are the discounts and the info you can get at the meetings that the general public does not get...Charlie

[NJSquatch]

This article sheds some light on the story behind the story....

A handful of the 1%, in the name of "safety", lobbied (read made campaign contributions) officials to essentially make a portion of a publicly owned asset their own. Rather than engage all stakeholders the BRC worked exclusively with the small group of elite and tried to sneak this through over the winter while many businesses and property owners are away from the area.

http://www.dailyrecord.com/story/news/local/morris-county/2017/01/08/lake-hopatcong-rule-safety-state-says/96200120/

The 200' No Anchoring Zone represents an area of 864 acres or 1/3 of the lake!!!

While many of us do not anchor this regulation will create a major safety issue for all fisherman. With anchored boats being 200' off the shoreline and clogging up the middle of the lake boats under power will be running in the no anchor zone where we will likely be fishing. With boats being allowed to be at at full speed 100' from the shoreline this area will be very unsafe.

Here are some maps that depict the congestion this will create.

No Anchoring Zone Map (https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B2HL85Nw3CZTTGgtU2RRTHpLd1E) PDF (4 mb)

Google Map (https://www.google.com/maps/d/viewer?mid=10vBS-eInkIgwCAk19ZF5Nk0P1QU&ll=40.94679494733876%2C-74.63227&z=12)

If you haven't already please consider writing the BRC. They are still taking comments until February 3, 2017. Just because they tabled it at the last meeting doesn't mean it is dead.

Please direct all comments to:

Edward Harrison, Jr., Boating Regulation Commission
Division of State Police
c/o Marine Services Bureau
PO Box 7068
West Trenton, New Jersey 08628-0068

LPPMSB@gw.njsp.org

[Anthony]

Folks: The latest on story on the BRC proposal.

Also, thanks for your support! Those in the lake area should drop in on the Lake Hopatcong Commission's meeting tomorrow night as well.

http://www.njherald.com/20170108/lake-hopatcong-businesses-worry-about-impact-of-proposed-regulations

http://newjersey.news12.com/news/state-boat-commission-tables-proposed-rule-changes-for-lake-hopatcong-1.12936954?pts=608325