President's Report

(from Jersey Coast Anglers Association February 2010 Newsletter)

As always, everyone must keep updated on the issues because there are news releases from ASMFC that they have been sending out. These releases are issues that are for public comment and review. It is very important that everybody participates in this process. You and your clubs need to attend and submit written comments on all issues whether it is for or against. If you don’t, then we as a recreational community have no voice in the matters at hand. So get more involved so the recreational community has an even stronger voice. It is very important that each club keeps up to date with all the issues that are affecting us. There are so many issues that are happening right now so continue to check out our website. Club Presidents should make sure that their representatives attend every JCAA General Meeting to bring this information back to your individual clubs for discussion.

There is a Fishermen to March rally in Washington on February 24th. The rally is to demonstrate against the unintended negative impacts of the Magnuson Stevens Conservation and Management Act (MSA) and to get congressional support for Congressman Frank Pallone, Jr.’s (D-NJ) Flexibility in Rebuilding American Fisheries Act (The Flexibility Bill) amending the Magnuson Stevens Conservation and Management Act (MSA). The Magnuson Stevens Conservation and Management Act (MSA) was made law in January of 2007. There are buses available for the ride down to Washington. To find out more information about the buses, check out some of the organizers of the rally’s web sites: Save the Summer Flounder www.ssfff.net, RFA, CCGF, United Boatmen of New York, United Boatmen of New Jersey, New York Sportfishing Federation, Maryland Saltwater Sportfishermen’s Association and the Fishing Rights Alliance. Jersey Coast Anglers Association does support Congressman Pallone’s Flexibility Bill.

A new federal law that is affecting all New Jersey saltwater recreational fishermen started January 1, 2010 - a National Saltwater Angler Registry. The National Saltwater Angler Registry is free in 2010. To register, anglers can visit http://www.countmyfish.noaa.gov and click on the Angler Registry link, or call the toll-free registration line at 1-888-MRIP411 (1-888-674-7411) from 4:00 am to 12 midnight EST daily. Anglers will need to provide their name, date of birth, address and telephone number, and will receive a registration number that will allow them to begin fishing immediately. Anglers will receive a registration card in the mail in about 30 days.

At our December 29th General Meeting we did not have a quorum so elections were not held. Election of JCAA officers will be held at the January 26th General Meeting. If you are interested in becoming a JCAA officer, you need to contact Don Marantz at 609-259-6368 or the JCAA office. We are looking for dedicated individuals to get more involved. Each member club should have their delegates present at the January Meeting to be involved in the process of electing the new officers for 2010.

The High Roller Raffle is in full swing. As usual, the items that are in the raffle are of great quality. Raffle tickets are be being sold at each of the shows where JCAA has a booth. So come see us at one of the shows or call the office to get your tickets.

With the show season now in progress, JCAA is still looking for volunteers to staff a booth. With Garden State Outdoor Sportsmen’s & Adventure Show (Raritan Show) Jan. 14th-17th completed, I would like to thank those that volunteered their time. There are three shows and one seminar that we will be attending the rest of the show season. There is the Atlantic City International Power Boat Show Feb. 3rd-7th, Saltwater Sportsman National Seminar Feb. 27th, The Saltwater Fishing Show Mar. 19th-21st and The NJ Wild Outdoor Expo Sept. 25th-26th. Mark these dates on your calendar and plan to attend. If anyone is interested right now in volunteering, please contact me at mtsport64@aol.com. This is where we interact with people who do not belong to any clubs and are misinformed on issues. It is a great experience to meet many different people who enjoy something you love to do.

For those of you who took advantage of giving a contribution to non-profit or charitable organizations that support fishing or anglers, I thank you. Your contribution will be utilized to support and protect the rights of all anglers who fish in New Jersey.

Important information is that the Coast Guard will be terminating its transmission of LORAN-C. The Coast Guard published a Federal Register notice on Jan. 7, 2010 regarding its intention to terminate the transmission of the LORAN-C signal Feb. 8, 2010. A LORAN Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement Record of Decision stating that the environmentally preferred alternative is to decommission the LORAN-C Program and terminate the North American LORAN-C signal was published in the Federal Register on Jan. 7, 2010.

As I mentioned in past newsletters, the Newspaper Committee is looking for clubs to send in a 500-word description about your club including who you are and what you do. Send it in by e-mail to jcaa@jcaa.org with the stipulation that we will be using these highlights in the order that they are received and they will be published in the JCAA newsletter. So send in a description and promote your club and possibly get new members who live or fish in your area.

As a reminder, the JCAA has an Operations Manager, Sharon McKenna, in the office to answer your questions. Sharon will either give you an answer to your question or direct your call to the proper person. Give the office a call. She would like to hear from you.

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