With children out of school for the summer, let us remember that they are the future of recreational fishing and stewardship of our waterways. Whenever possible, take them fishing, share your knowledge, and create lasting memories. One day, they may become members of your fishing clubs and get involved with JCAA. JCAA wishes you and your family an outstanding summer filled with memorable moments together.
Although summer is here, fisheries management meetings continue throughout the season. We encourage everyone who is truly dedicated to recreational fishing to get involved, or at least stay informed, by participating in these webinar-based meetings. The websites linked below provide valuable information that all anglers should review. The Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC) holds the most meetings during the summer. In July, ASMFC will address Atlantic menhaden, spiny dogfish, Atlantic striped bass, summer flounder, scup, black sea bass, and bluefish. In August, ASMFC will hold its 2026 Summer Meeting from August 4th to 6th, followed by the ASMFC/Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council meeting from August 10th to 13th, covering Atlantic striped bass stock assessment and sector separation. The New Jersey Marine Fisheries Council has a meeting in early July and another in September. The Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council (MAFMC) is scheduled to meet on August 10th.
If you have not noticed, the fishery management process is highly complex and time consuming. It is unrealistic for a small group or any individual to manage it effectively on their own. For this reason, I am asking each club to become more actively involved and to encourage member participation. As you will see from the list of meetings I listed above, there are numerous types of meetings where representation from the recreational community is essential. Even simply attending, gathering information, and sharing it back is valuable. Active participation is critical if we want to ensure a strong and sustainable future for our sport. I am looking forward to building each of the JCAA Species Committees with dedicated individuals that I know will do an excellent job for this organization and our sport. If you have names or if you are one of them, please contact me (mtsport64@aol.com), so I can achieve this goal.
The JCAA Annual High Roller Raffle drawing will be held at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, July 9, 2026, at the Toms River Knights of Columbus Council #4969, 113 Tennyson Ave., Toms River, the same evening as our Board Meeting. I will personally call each winner to arrange delivery of their prize as quickly as possible. Winners will also be posted on our Facebook page and website within a few days of the drawing, with a follow-up article in the next JCAA newspaper. Thank you to everyone who purchased tickets and continues to support the Jersey Coast Anglers Association. Your support allows us to keep fighting for the rights of the recreational fishing community.
If you have not already done so, there is still time to participate in the JCAA Annual Fluke Tournament. This year’s tournament promises to be an event you will not want to miss, so be sure to save the dates: July 30th through August 2nd. Participants may choose one of the four tournament days to fish, selecting the day that best fits their schedule, and all tournament rules are followed. For complete details, visit the JCAA website, where everything you need to know is available. Chairperson Frank Macalik has done an outstanding job coordinating this tournament. We encourage everyone, including friends, to participate, follow the rules, and help make the event run smoothly and become an enormous success.
The 2026 Annual Sportsperson of the Year Dinner will be held on November 14th, but that date will arrive quickly. Because some clubs do not meet during the summer as well as JCAA membership, clubs planning to nominate someone should submit their nominee and 500-word summary as soon as possible to Tom Fote (tfote@jcaa.org), Vice President Steve Machalaba (smachalaba@aol.com), John Toth (tothjohn@verizon.net) and me (mtsport64@aol.com). Once received, the summaries will be sent to all JCAA club representatives so they can vote at the September 29th General Membership Meeting. If submitted on time, the summaries will also be printed in the next newspaper. This year’s dinner will be held at Spring Lake Manor, a beautiful Victorian mansion in Spring Lake Heights, NJ, which provides an ideal setting for the occasion. Clubs are encouraged to reserve a table or gather friends to attend together. Anyone planning to attend should contact John Toth (tothjohn@verizon.net) as soon as possible so he can coordinate the many behind-the-scenes details required for this event. Clubs or individuals planning to donate gifts for dinner should also contact John and me so we can organize the tricky tray and silent auction items. I hope to see everyone there.
Every angler should make it a priority to visit the NJDEP – NJ Fish & Wildlife website, which offers a wealth of up-to-date information essential for saltwater fishing in New Jersey. Be sure to thoroughly review all resources available on saltwater fishing and complete your annual registration or renewal for the 2026 NJ Saltwater Recreational Registry at this link. Registration is free and must be completed each year. By participating, anglers help ensure that saltwater fishing activity is accurately tracked in New Jersey. This data is vital for determining federal funding eligibility and allocation, which supports ongoing fisheries research and management efforts.
Staying informed and actively involved is essential for all anglers. By engaging in fisheries issues and following important developments, our recreational community can strengthen its voice in decision-making and help shape a positive future for our sport.
Upcoming JCAA Meetings
The Jersey Coast Anglers Association (JCAA) has several important meetings scheduled for the coming months. These sessions provide opportunities for members and recreational anglers to stay informed, participate in discussions, and help guide the future of the organization.
Your participation in these meetings is encouraged. Whether attending in person or via Zoom, members and anglers alike can stay connected, contribute to important discussions, and help shape the direction of JCAA. Please remember to add these dates to your calendar and join us for meaningful engagement.