According to a frequent reader of this blog, Brian Falkowski, stand-up paddleboard fishing is recently popular in New York and Pennsylvania, but prohibited in New Jersey Wildlife Management Areas. He told me the U.S. Coast Guard considers a paddleboard a vessel when used outside of a swimming area, thus requiring a pdf, whistle, etc.
Falkowski got legislators to write a bill, now at the Agricultural Committee level, to allow use of paddleboards in WMA's. I've copied and pasted the bill into this post. I'm for the bill passing, because I see no reason to deny this freedom.
Link to list of NJ WMA's: http://www.state.nj.us/dep/fgw/wmaland.htm
ASSEMBLY, No. 3989
STATE OF NEW JERSEY 217th LEGISLATURE
INTRODUCED JUNE 23, 2016
Sponsored by: Assemblyman RONALD S. DANCER District 12 (Burlington, Middlesex, Monmouth and Ocean) Assemblyman DANIEL R. BENSON District 14 (Mercer and Middlesex)
SYNOPSIS Allows use of stand-up paddleboards for fishing on lakes in wildlife management areas.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT As introduced.
A3989 DANCER, BENSON 2
AN ACT concerning use of stand-up paddleboards on lakes in 1
wildlife management areas and supplementing Title 23 of the 2
Revised Statutes. 3
4
BE IT ENACTED by the Senate and General Assembly of the State 5
of New Jersey: 6
7
1. a. Notwithstanding the provisions of any law, rule, or 8
regulation to the contrary, the Division of Fish and Wildlife shall 9
allow a person to use a stand-up paddleboard to fish on any lake 10
located in any wildlife management area, provided the person 11
abides by all other applicable federal and State rules and 12
regulations. 13
b. For the purposes of this section, “stand-up paddleboard” 14
means a board that is thicker and longer than a traditional surfboard, 15
designed to be operated from a standing or kneeling position, and 16
propelled by using a long paddle. 17
18
2. This act shall take effect immediately. 19
20
21
STATEMENT 22
23
This bill would allow a person to use a stand-up paddleboard to 24
fish on any lake located in a wildlife management area, provided 25
the person abides by all other applicable federal and State rules and 26
regulations. This bill defines a stand-up paddleboard as a board that 27
is thicker and longer than a traditional surfboard, designed to be 28
operated from a standing or kneeling position, and propelled by 29
using a long paddle. 30
This bill responds to a circumstance in which a stand-up 31
paddleboarder was stopped on a lake in a wildlife management area 32
by a conservation officer because regulations do not mention a 33
paddleboard as a permissible fishing vessel on such lakes. Kayaks 34
and canoes are permitted, however. But since the use of a stand-up 35
paddleboard has not been clearly defined in regulation, it was not 36
allowed. This bill would correct that oversight. 37
Falkowski got legislators to write a bill, now at the Agricultural Committee level, to allow use of paddleboards in WMA's. I've copied and pasted the bill into this post. I'm for the bill passing, because I see no reason to deny this freedom.
Link to list of NJ WMA's: http://www.state.nj.us/dep/fgw/wmaland.htm
ASSEMBLY, No. 3989
STATE OF NEW JERSEY 217th LEGISLATURE
INTRODUCED JUNE 23, 2016
Sponsored by: Assemblyman RONALD S. DANCER District 12 (Burlington, Middlesex, Monmouth and Ocean) Assemblyman DANIEL R. BENSON District 14 (Mercer and Middlesex)
SYNOPSIS Allows use of stand-up paddleboards for fishing on lakes in wildlife management areas.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT As introduced.
A3989 DANCER, BENSON 2
AN ACT concerning use of stand-up paddleboards on lakes in 1
wildlife management areas and supplementing Title 23 of the 2
Revised Statutes. 3
4
BE IT ENACTED by the Senate and General Assembly of the State 5
of New Jersey: 6
7
1. a. Notwithstanding the provisions of any law, rule, or 8
regulation to the contrary, the Division of Fish and Wildlife shall 9
allow a person to use a stand-up paddleboard to fish on any lake 10
located in any wildlife management area, provided the person 11
abides by all other applicable federal and State rules and 12
regulations. 13
b. For the purposes of this section, “stand-up paddleboard” 14
means a board that is thicker and longer than a traditional surfboard, 15
designed to be operated from a standing or kneeling position, and 16
propelled by using a long paddle. 17
18
2. This act shall take effect immediately. 19
20
21
STATEMENT 22
23
This bill would allow a person to use a stand-up paddleboard to 24
fish on any lake located in a wildlife management area, provided 25
the person abides by all other applicable federal and State rules and 26
regulations. This bill defines a stand-up paddleboard as a board that 27
is thicker and longer than a traditional surfboard, designed to be 28
operated from a standing or kneeling position, and propelled by 29
using a long paddle. 30
This bill responds to a circumstance in which a stand-up 31
paddleboarder was stopped on a lake in a wildlife management area 32
by a conservation officer because regulations do not mention a 33
paddleboard as a permissible fishing vessel on such lakes. Kayaks 34
and canoes are permitted, however. But since the use of a stand-up 35
paddleboard has not been clearly defined in regulation, it was not 36
allowed. This bill would correct that oversight. 37
Thank you Bruce for the exposure. Greatly appreciated. Brian
ReplyDeleteYou're welcome, Brian. Thanks for the information.
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