Jetty fishing is on its way to being banned in NJ...

[ped579]

Hi All, just spotted this on another board and I hear that a number of other towns are considering doing the same.

Long Branch, Avalon, and a few other towns in NJ are at this moment making a concerted push to keep people off the jetties 24/7 as a matter of "Public Health and Safety." There's going to be a meeting this coming Wednesday, July 16, at Lisa Jackson's office. Lisa is the head of the NJ Dept of Environmental Protection (DEP, the people who take the lead in beach access issues in NJ). The meeting is going to be between the lawyers for the towns and the DEP.

According to DEP rules, the public cannot be denied access to the water, including the jetties except when there's an exigent (exceptional) reason. The towns are using "Public Health and Safety," a buzz term in government, claiming that jetty rocks are slippery and sharp as their exigent reason. They are probably going to use as an excuse the cost of defending injury lawsuits even though they are not legally liable.

The way I see it, this smells suspiciously like Long Branch's way of using the back door to legislate us off Elberon's side roads. This is something they are trying to do now with parking regulations. These new parking regulations are probably against the DEP rules, forcing the town to try this angle. I'm not familiar with the other towns' reasons as they are south of LBI and outside of the area with which I'm familiar.

What we have to do is barrage Lisa Jackson's office with calls and e-mails letting her know how important access to the jetties is to us. Please be courteous and keep in mind that Lisa and the DEP are on our side. Lisa's husband surf fishes (though probably not as hardcore as most of us). It's important that the DEP understands how many of us use the jetties and that we are extremely serious about protecting our 24/7 access to them.

For you out-of-state people, please mention the amount of money you spend in NJ on tackle, meals, and lodging and that you will be bringing that money elsewhere if you are denied jetty access.

lisa.jackson@dep.state.nj.us

Lisa.Jackson
Office of the Commissioner
401 E. State St.
7th Floor, East Wing
P.O. Box 402
Trenton, NJ 08625-0402

phone: 609-292-2885
fax: 609-292-7695

[Luna Sea 5]

wow

[IrishAyes]

A classic ploy of the well to do. 'This is my beach and I will think of anything I can to get you poor slobs who need to go fishing off of my beach'.

Let a storm take out their beach or beach home and who do you think they want to help pay for the replenishmentt. Yup, the taxpayer, you and me. 

[seanr8w]

I tried to fish a jetty near the end of Third Ave. in Ocean City a couple of weeks ago during the day, they had two orange flags up and the lifegaurds were in their little wooden rowboat blowing there whistles and chasing anybody who stepped foot on the rocks. There was only one jetty onthe the strech of the beach that people were allowed to fish from, and they were elbow to elbow so I didn't even bother. Are you saying that the law as of the present moment says that they didn't have the right to stop me from fishing there? 

[ped579]

The best thing is to contact the local Police Department and ask if there are any statutes prohibiting you from accessing the jetties.  The lifeguards in most cases have no clue and are being told to do things that are not in fact right.

When in doubt check it out...

[adesai73]

good thing i haven't bought corkers yet.

[ped579]

Again posted on another board, but I am sure it would have gotten here eventually.

To All,

I had a meeting scheduled yesterday on many subjects with Commissioner Jackson. During that meeting I asked about this email and she said protecting fishing access 24/7 was a priority of DEP and the town must assure that access. There is no compromise. The towns might be talking about it but it is not going to happen. Representatives of NJSFSC and NJOA were also present at this meeting when she confirmed what I have included in this email. This has always been true at DEP. What the towns are upset about is that the new DEP Public Access Rules that provides more public access. I hope that clears up your concerns.

Sincerely
Tom Fote
Release for Tomorrow
<@((((((>< <@((((((>< <@((((((><
Legislative Chairman
Jersey Coast Anglers Association
New Jersey State Federation of Sportsman's Clubs
22 Cruiser Court
Toms River NJ 08753
<tfote@JCAA.org>
Phone 732-270-9102
Cell 732-598-7669
Fax 732-506-6409
Email tfote@jcaa.org
WEB PAGE < http://www.jcaa.org>
WEB PAGE <http://www.njsfsc.org/

[gagedylan]

let them have their meetings. they have meetings  just so they can show they have something to do. i just bought new korkers, and i'll use em anywhere. i'm pretty sure it's a FEDERAL law, stating that up to the high tide line, is public access. i wouldnt worry too much. let the little guy mess with FEDERAL (i doubt it)

[wb]

email sent. Those richie richs buying waterfront then complaining about boat noise need to get a clue. They think they're the chosen ones. Let's show them otherwise.

[adesai73]

what a truly marvelous act of self-aggrandizement it is.  to buy a house on the ocean and then try to claim a slice of the sea as your own.  the sea!  i can't even begin to wrap my head around the concept of individual owenership of something so massively huge. 

it belongs to all of us.

[ped579]

Hi Ash,

I agree, how was your honeymoon or haven't you gone3 yet.  I know you were going down to Fla. but I for got when?

Happy Catching

Paul

[adesai73]

Hiya Paul,

Honeymoon was great!  It rained an awful lot, so that was frustrating.

I got out to fish a few times although I seem to have brought my ineptness with me.  Wrong place, wrong time, as usual.

Still, it was nice being out there and shooting the chit with and learning about fishing in a different state.

My first surf fish still awaits, as I wasn't about to dive into the bunker chasing mobs from the spring.  Fighting against other fishermen is not my idea of a relaxing time and sort of flies in the face of why I enjoy this so much to begin with.

[Treebeard]

Pretty crazy IMO.. First the state wants to force private marina's and land owners to provide 24/7 public access, (something that would  cause me to move our boat to Staten Island btw) and then others want to prohibit access to the best fishing structures that have always been and should always be, open to the public.. Talk about mixed signals. It's obvious that fishing is under attack from all angles these days.. We really need to stick together at this time in our history..Supporting local and national fishing orginizations has never been more  critical than it is now.

[PeggyLee]

Treebeard makes an excellant point. WE MUST STICK TOGETHER IN THESE FIGHTS !!
Read about the Recreation Fisherman Alliance on the Yayoo web search.

[Pfishingruven]

Just one more way to keep the public from enjoying what this state has to offer!!  It is amazing all of the Local, County, State and Federal Ordinances and Laws created to limit someone from access to the water.  Maybe another good reason to consider getting out of this state!!

 

[IrishAyes]

Yeah, the state wants the marinas to give public access 24/7 when they CLOSE OUR FREAKING PARKS AT DUSK!!!! Something WE pay for WE can not use 24/7, but they want private marina owners to let John Q Public (including any thief out there) to have full access to the docks. What a freaking crock of...

Another Big Brother telling us that they know what is good for us better than we do.

[Pfishingruven]

OF COURSE!!!    It is always someone elses problem or responsibility.  Never mind the several miles of bay front access in Toms River that is now POSTED No Crabbing Ordinance # Doesn't Make Any Sense, but make private property open to the public.  Anything to take the heat off of the government and put it back on the citizens.  Democracy at its best!!

[fishon42]

good thing i haven't bought corkers yet.

i had to buy them for fishing salmon river