The NJ Division of Fish and Wildlife Public Meeting concerning the Trout Stocking Program in New Jersey was today at the main hall at the Pequest Hatchery.

The meeting started off with remarks concerning hatchery operations, well improvements, building repairs etc by Jeff Mathews the Hatchery Superintendent.
It is amazing how many fish they are able to raise considering the hiring freeze in the State of New Jersey, hats off to Jeff and his crew. He later in the program reviewed the 2008 hatchery production projections that are on a similar track as 2007 including the increased numbers and continuation of larger fish raised for the fall stockings.

Dave Chanda, the director of the division made some follow up opening remarks commending the sporting communities for there involvement in the division as volunteers and as voices in Trenton. He also noted some personal changes in enforcement re: CO’s. The good news is that over the coming years there will be more funds released for some long over due capital improvements to the division. The bad news is that there is still a hiring freeze.

Next Wendell Ozefovich spoke about TU’s, Trout in The Class room program in NJ and went through the presentation he gives to the school aged children involved in the program. The presentation included some of his underwater filing and it is really quite amazing.

Pat Hamilton then reviewed the 2008 Specific Allocation charts and pointed out where there changes regarding discontinuation or addition of stocking areas in Ponds, Lakes, Rivers and Streams. Like the addition of 400 + trout that will be stocked in West Branch of the Rahway River in Essex county , the first time in a very long time any moving water has been stocked in this county!
She then gave a quick update on her involvement with the eastern brook trout joint venture and the State of the Union on wild brook trout in the State of New Jersey.

Lisa Barno wrapped up the meeting with 2008 regulation changes.
Some of the highlights of these changes were:
-The minimum size limit within a legal creel has moved from 7 to 9 inches
-Round Valley Reservoir limits are now 4 fish. Three in the 15-20 slot and One over 24 inch’s.
-Shore anglers are now limited to a 3 ROD per angler limit.
-Schwartzwood lake will no longer be managed as a Holdover Lake
- The Wanaque below the Dam in Wanaque will No longer be stocked and will be managed under Wild Trout Stream regulations.

This year’s Fish and Digest (the free booklet you get at the shops) will not be available till early March. There were some last minute changes to the game code that needed amending and that was a hold up on publicizing the new 2008-2009 regulations.

The meeting was as it always is then followed by public comment.
The general theme on commentary was very “Tame” compared to the past meetings I have attended. But some reoccurring themes were…

People wanted to know how they could get more involved as volunteer’s, and the answer is join the Wildlife Conservation Corps (see F&W website).

There seemed to be a general concern with more and more litter at public access sites.

There was concern over dump stocking.

There was suggestions concerning a more diverse array of Trout in the Toms River stocking, that would not require any code changes and it seemed like from what Pat Hamilton said that they have already re-allocated species to provide anglers with more diversity in this years coming stockings.

There were no objections or flare ups over any of the code/regulation changes.

All and all it was a very informative meeting.

What I can comment on from my knowledge of how the “system” works is that there are several meetings a year concerning warm water and coldwater fisheries management. There are meetings of the fish and game council and they are all open to the public.
Fish and Wildlife is very receptive to all comments on how to improve the fishing experience in New Jersey.

However one must really understand it is a long and process to effect change as most major regulations or stocking changes can only occur as a result of ratified approval of the fish and game council and than the state legislature, in other words Game Code is “Law” and laws don’t change over night.

In addition Game code is now going to be in effect for two years instead of one. However I think this is a good thing as it gives the public more time to impress there input upon the Division and the Game council for consideration allowing for the proper Data and research to be collected and done before and changes are made.

I think we all can be involved. The contacts are all on the website. If you know of a stream with wild reproducing fish, let F&W know. They may be stocking on top of it and want to consider stopping that after evaluating stream. Whatever strikes your nerve as a needed change; if they don’t know about it they cant do anything about it. So I really suggest attending meetings or getting directly in touch with the division with and ideas you may have to make fishing better in New Jersey.

- Ralph -

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-Ralph-
www.troutrage.com