[Jigman13]

They do enforce the laws. Sometimes they need our help b/c there are so few conservation officers. Whenever I'm approached by one and after he or she reviews my documentation, I ask him/her for their contact info and for the areas they cover throughout NJ. I've used the contact info several times in the last 2-3 years with success. I also use the Game Thief hotline on the NJ Fish & Wildlife website--I keep all of the #s saved to my mobile phone.

Just yesterday, while back bay fluking from shore in a spot I frequent all season long, I saw a group of 5 males--late teens to early 20s--sliding way short fluke into a garbage bag, hooting and hollering they didnt care to measure, etc. One guy walked up to them and told them they needed to be 18" but they brushed him off and kept putting back Coronas.

I dialed up Game Thief, provided them with descriptions and who the anglers were I saw catching and putting the fish in the garbage bag. Ten mins later I received a call from the CO. A very thankful, cordial guy asking for a bit more info. And fortunately, he was one town over and had been glassing the group of poachers from another shoreline area after my call went in.

About 10 more minutes later wouldnt ya know... over the dune and reeds comes the CO. He walked up to the group, looked through their stuff, ID'ed them all, pulled out their fish, measured them, confiscated the catch and escorted them out of the area--probably back to his truck to write them tickets.

I play by the rules, I follow them. Conservation officers simply need our help b/c their bandwidth is stretched so thin.