My recollection is the overnight parking permit wasn't to generate revenue, it was to keep the trash from partying at night and not cleaning up after themselves. To do that, at least initially, you needed a current fishing license and fishing pole to get the permit at the Municipal office which was their way of making sure not just anyone walked in off the street to get a permit. The cost was also if you didn't have one and parked at night, you were going to be ticketed and the police officer I spoke with said your car would be towed. So in essence the fee was the cost of a valid fishing license and the risk of being ticked and towed. Not an iron clad system but that was the logic explained to me when I first got my permit.

Pohatcong has slightly over 3,000 residents. Shame 28 miles of prime shoreline are no longer available because of slobs and probably a few residents complaining. I understand the complaints from locals when people crap in their backyard but there's other ways of controlling it without closing down access to the entire river system. Put in a curfew, no activities allowed other than fishing after 8:00 pm or you'll be fined $1,000. No liquor allowed after curfew. Guarantee one ticket and you won't make that mistake a second time. Word will get out and this crap will stop.

Lesson we already know is a few can and will ruin it for all of us. You see not just illegal fishing or littering call F&G or the police. The fact there was a meth lab operating there years ago might have something to do with the police officer having his gun unholstered, just wanted to mention that. Only takes walking into one wrong situation for someone's life to change forever. The amount of trash I've walked out of there with from the rocks and street side on a beautiful stretch of river was unconscionable and complete disregard for nature and everything else.

There's a place I fish which is semi private but the owner allows fishing for a modest fee. People who he allows there have to display the permit he had printed the same as your fishing license. As with everywhere, there's a lot of people who try fishing there illegally and keep every fish they catch. You know the type I'm referring to. It got out of control. And like Pohatcong, they leave all their crap behind.

The people allowed to fish are only approved by the owner and now act as deputies to watch over the place. If anyone sees someone without a permit, you don't confront the person you call the owner and he has an arrangement with the town where police show up every time and people are asked to leave. Warning first offense, second time equipment is confiscated and they get the privilege of meeting the town judge. Area is posted and trespassing and illegal fishing is not an insignificant fine. System works beautifully. No altercations, law enforcement does their jobs with the public's help, county raises revenue for those that don't comply, great relationship developed between private landowners and fishing community, the people who have no regard for the outdoors are penalized, not the ones who act to preserve and enjoy it recreationally. Something Pohatcong might consider adopting as opposed to completely closing access to a large stretch of the river. Turn a negative into a positive instead of penalizing the people who care about the community.