IMHO: The reason NJ has a FREE SW Registry is because thats what anglers preferred and the reason for that is there was /is no provisions for SWL fees to go back into NJ SW fishing, added game wardens, launches or public access.
Most would pay a SWL with any comfort level that the funds would end up benefitting the resource but unless someone can tell me different that's not the case.
Take for instance NJ Shellfish Licenses Fees ( Andy I know you asked this before) and I still can not provide accurate details but research and phone calls led to this:
Shellfish Licenses Fees are managed by NJDEP and NJFW then to the Bureau of Marine Habitat & Shellfisheries and Bureau of Marine Fisheries which make up the Marine Resources Administration. Try to follow that money trail LOL. I could NOT
Point being how much of your License Fee do you actually feel goes back to the resource?? And this is a managed License fee. Now imagine the Bureau's that would be created to manage a NJ State SWL
