Weakfish rebuild?

[kensdock]

A 2010 NJ speckled sea trout. They are going the way of the weakfish, largely due to an under funded New Jersey Bureau of Marine Fisheries.

It was not long ago that true spring arrived for New Jersey saltwater sportsman with the first News of a weakfish being caught at Cape May point, NJ. Today, the weakfish run in the spring is just a memory. What is the best way to rebuild our favorite NJ game fish? The best and quite possibly the only way, is with the use of a saltwater hatchery. Hatcheries were successfully used in rebuilding the depleted 1980 striped bass population. In the year 1977 the Texas speckled sea trout and red fish population resembled New Jersey's weakfish population of today {decimated}. Today, Texas has the best redfish and speckled sea trout fishing on the planet. How did they bring back their favorite game fish?
They invested in their saltwater fishing resource via a saltwater license, private donations and grants. They fully funded and staffed their Fish and game department. They utilized State Universities.
In 1982 they opened the John Wilson hatchery, followed by the Seacenter Texas fish hatchery in about 1983. They also made habitat improvements to their salt marshes.
What they did not do!, is pass a free saltwater fishing bill, like S1122 that just passed the NJ Senate.
The Free Saltwater Fishing registry bill S1122/A823 sounds ok, until you look at what it will cost the residents of NJ and the saltwater fisherman. Matter of fact, if Governor Christie signs, it will become the most expensive free legislation in the history of NJ!
It will cost about $10,000,000 dollars in 2011 alone in Dingell-Johnson sport fishing restoration funds {DJSR}. New Jersey will continue to lose millions of dollars annually of the Dingell- Johnson fund if Bill S1122 is not amended to include a fee. If a fee was included and ONE” dollar went to NJBMF, New Jersey would receive a full share of the Dingell-Johnson sport fishing restoration funds.
We will also continue to lose millions in grant money, like the $150 million dollar federal grant Florida was online to receive last year. Florida planned to build saltwater hatcheries, creating 3,129 immediate construction jobs and 169 permanent green jobs. Can New Jersey afford to let $150,000,000 dollar grant opportunity’s {Jobs} go by?
Can New Jersey afford to leave $10,000,000 dollars of our DJSR money on the table?
The unfunded free fishing bill is the kiss of death to NJ saltwater fishing.
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With a little research, you will find the names and groups that pressured the weakfish council to allow unsustainable harvest of weakfish, to be the same as those that are now pushing the free registry.



I urge all saltwater sportsmen to call Governor Christie and ask that he veto bill S1122/A823.

Those interested in contacting the Governor’s office can do so by calling 1-609-292-6000







Ken McDermott
Vice President
Cape May//Cumberland co.
Saltwater sportsman’s Alliance