2018 Freshwater Fisheries Forums

[Lard Almighty]

I want to contribute some additional info on the regulation changes, particularly the hot button issues of the barb/hook point restrictions and the private trout clubs fishing during the pre-opening day closure. I filed an OPRA request with the DEP and obtained many, if not all, of the public comments submitted to F&W regarding the fish code proposals. After reading through all ~160 comments I was provided, and evaluating which ones were relevant, I found the following:

Barbless Hook/3- Hook Point Restriction on C&R Trout Waters:
Comments In Favor: 71
Comments Opposed: 40

Private Clubs Fishing During Closed Season
Comments In Favor: 81
Comments Opposed: 12

*Note that "in favor" or "opposed" means the comment applied either to the proposed changes as a whole, or specifically to that issue.

[NJSquatch]

Originally Posted by Lard Almighty

I want to contribute some additional info on the regulation changes, particularly the hot button issues of the barb/hook point restrictions and the private trout clubs fishing during the pre-opening day closure. I filed an OPRA request with the DEP and obtained many, if not all, of the public comments submitted to F&W regarding the fish code proposals. After reading through all ~160 comments I was provided, and evaluating which ones were relevant, I found the following:

Barbless Hook/3- Hook Point Restriction on C&R Trout Waters:
Comments In Favor: 71
Comments Opposed: 40

Private Clubs Fishing During Closed Season
Comments In Favor: 81
Comments Opposed: 12

*Note that "in favor" or "opposed" means the comment applied either to the proposed changes as a whole, or specifically to that issue.

Nice job Lard. 160 comments is really really sad considering there are over 120,000 resident fishing licenses and 80,000 trout stamps sold a year.

Lard how many comments were simply "I agree with all the proposed changes"?

[thmyorke1]

Originally Posted by Lard Almighty

Private Clubs Fishing During Closed Season
Comments In Favor: 81
Comments Opposed: 12

81 club-members saying "hey yea I like that"

vs 12 people that took the time to call it out.

Honestly it's a shame more people don't leave comments. If just a fraction of NJ anglers took the time to read the changes and submit comments there wouldn't be a problem.

Clearly the majority of commenters are club-members. And obviously they are a tiny fraction of NJ anglers. Unfortunately whoever adapts the comments and proposals to actual rules doesn't realize that...

Additionally you could just look at this rule with common sense or an average level of comprehension to see that it's just a bunch of club-members getting their way. But people running our fishery seem to be lacking one of the two....

[Dave B.]

'Squatch and Tuna, glad to hear you'll be attending! I'll look forward to getting to meet you both. Hopefully a few more folks from here will make it as well!

As for the comments Lard was able to acquire, I can tell you that I was one of those opposed to the 'barbless' issue. As for the clubs being able to fish their own waters as C&R during the pre-season closure frankly I don't care either way. We are all able to do likewise on all of the TCA's, WTS's and Artificials Only waters. Some may argue that state fish will move into the private waters...ehh, so what? The nice big club fish will likewise move into public waters and be available for all anglers during the regular open season. They're fish, they swim. I've caught PLENTY of privately stocked fish in public stream sections on a lot of NJ waters over the years. Just off the top the Paulinskill, Musky, SBR, Flatbrook and Pohat come to mind.

Anyway I hope to see a bigger turnout at the forum this year. As Andy alluded to, last year was absolutely pitiful. The vast majority of attendees were affiliated with TU or private clubs. Then too there was the usual handful of outdoor writers.

Come out, listen to what our Freshwater Fisheries staff have to say and don't be hesitant to question them. They want to hear our input, ideas and concerns.

[thmyorke1]

Originally Posted by Dave B.

As for the clubs being able to fish their own waters as C&R during the pre-season closure frankly I don't care either way. We are all able to do likewise on all of the TCA's, WTS's and Artificials Only waters. Some may argue that state fish will move into the private waters...ehh, so what? The nice big club fish will likewise move into public waters and be available for all anglers during the regular open season. They're fish, they swim. I've caught PLENTY of privately stocked fish in public stream sections on a lot of NJ waters over the years. Just off the top the Paulinskill, Musky, SBR, Flatbrook and Pohat come to mind.

I simply feel like it's a big exception against the rules that everyone follows just because they have the ability to make those rules.

Surely Im not affected either. I argued in previous threads that they probably already fish their clubs year-round, closure or not, because what game warden is going to stop by a club. Cant say Ive seen one anywhere.

The fact that the rule was passed was a showcase that the rule-making is pretty flawed, biased, giving exceptions to the groups that have a larger voice in the rule making and adapting process.

Surely clubs arent evil or anything, and hey I do agree it's nice that they stock fish themselves. But I dont agree that they should have any exceptions on the code every other NJ angler follows.

[baetis]

Originally Posted by thmyorke1

The fact that the rule was passed was a showcase that the rule-making is pretty flawed, biased, giving exceptions to the groups that have a larger voice in the rule making and adapting process.

.

Private clubs and fly fisherman are a minority and do not have a larger voice. The problem is that people are lazy and/or ambivalent about the rules.

I say congratulations to them for stepping up. There will often be 40+ posts on this board congratulating someone for catching a nice fish, not including lurkers and people who don't post and yet only 12 people will take the time to write to F&G about a proposal that may affect them or they disagree with.

The way I see it, if you can get a core of 100 njfishing members together, you could have a good chance at changing/amending policy.

[thmyorke1]

Originally Posted by baetis

Private clubs and fly fisherman are a minority and do not have a larger voice. The problem is that people are lazy and/or ambivalent about the rules.

I say congratulations to them for stepping up. There will often be 40+ posts on this board congratulating someone for catching a nice fish, not including lurkers and people who don't post and yet only 12 people will take the time to write to F&G about a proposal that may affect them or they disagree with.

The way I see it, if you can get a core of 100 njfishing members together, you could have a good chance at changing/amending policy.

100% agree

[Dave B.]

Originally Posted by baetis

Private clubs and fly fisherman are a minority and do not have a larger voice. The problem is that people are lazy and/or ambivalent about the rules.

I say congratulations to them for stepping up. There will often be 40+ posts on this board congratulating someone for catching a nice fish, not including lurkers and people who don't post and yet only 12 people will take the time to write to F&G about a proposal that may affect them or they disagree with.

The way I see it, if you can get a core of 100 njfishing members together, you could have a good chance at changing/amending policy.

Well said Baetis. Trying to get more folks from here to become involved in the process is a big factor in my original posting of this thread.

Bear in mind gents, since we are on a 2 year regs cycle right now is the time to begin working on any potential changes for the next cycle. The process is long and involved, and both the legal requirements the Div personal must follow as well as the internal review processes by both Freshwater Fisheries staff and in many cases the DEP legal team, not to mention the field work that must very often be done to support or refute any proposed changes, all of these things take a great deal of time. This long process was a driving force behind the Div going to the 2 year reg cycle in the first place.

Getting your/our views, ideas and opinions heard now provides the best chance for seeing results in the 2020 regs, but there has to be follow-through, not just a one-time meeting attendance.

One thing I would personally like to see happen is an issue someone posted in an earlier thread, that being the Council meetings being held on an evening or weekend to allow for more sportsmen/women to attend. The current practice of midday, mid-week meetings is certainly not conducive to allowing most of the angling and hunting public to participate in the process.

One other item, anyone who belongs to the NJ Federated Sportsmen whether through a club or as an individual, attending your county's monthly meetings can go far toward helping you stay informed of the goings on at F&W.

[NJSquatch]

Official Email Blast from F&W


Results of Round Valley Reservoir Fisheries Inventory and Hackettstown Hatchery Fish Production Top Agenda

Future of Skillful Angler Program To Be Discussed


The first of two freshwater fisheries forums in 2018 will be held Saturday, January 20, at the Hackettstown State Fish Hatchery. The forum begins at 10 a.m. and is the perfect opportunity to learn about current programs and to share views and recommendations.

There will be ample time for discussion with staff to answer questions or address concerns during the question and answer period. There is also time for one-on-one discussions with fisheries biologists following the meeting.

Pre-register (not required but appreciated) by calling 908-236-2118 or by e-mailing njfwfish@dep.nj.gov. Be sure to include name, address, phone number and the number of people attending.

Directions

[Paul N Skill]

Originally Posted by Dave B.

One thing I would personally like to see happen is an issue someone posted in an earlier thread, that being the Council meetings being held on an evening or weekend to allow for more sportsmen/women to attend. The current practice of midday, mid-week meetings is certainly not conducive to allowing most of the angling and hunting public to participate in the process.

One other item, anyone who belongs to the NJ Federated Sportsmen whether through a club or as an individual, attending your county's monthly meetings can go far toward helping you stay informed of the goings on at F&W.

Let me say up front that I supported the barbless hook rules

Changing the day and time of Council Meetings would not make a difference. Most of us just like to bitch but don't want to be involved in making our voices heard. I attended this morning's 2018 Freshwaters Fisheries Forum. All the folks from F&W involved with drafting the new regs were on site. Attendance was pitiful. Only one individual spoke out against the new barbless lure regs. Where were all the other sportsman/women that are opposed to the new regs. Why wasn't the place packed with those who oppose this. What's their excuse for not being able to attend a meeting on a Saturday morning.