THE FISHERMAN

January 27, 2005

By Jim Hutchinson, Jr.


NEW JERSEY OUTDOOR CONGRESS FORMED

In the first Fisherman of 2005 on January 6, we printed a feature titled “New Jersey Closed to Hunting and Fishing,” which highlights the ongoing problems occurring within the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) and particularly Commissioner Bradley Campbell’s attempt to dismantle the Fish and Game Council.

Campbell cancelled his January 4 public hearing just as we were going to print with Issue #1, but hopefully, Fisherman readers still responded to the letter. While the Commissioner is not currently following through on his attempt to rewrite the state code, the problems occurring within the state of New Jersey under the Campbell administration continue.

Of course, the ongoing attack by animal rights activists within the state of New Jersey and the Commissioner’s stranglehold on the Division of Fish and Wildlife has led to one positive result – the formation of the New Jersey Outdoor Congress (NJOC).

On Sunday, December 5, representatives of New Jersey’s hunting and fishing organizations assembled at the Sportsmen’s Center in Bordentown for an emergency meeting on how to deal with the DEP commissioner and his continued policy making against outdoorsmen in the state. Sitting in that seminar room, I was overwhelmed by the diversity of the representatives in attendance – anglers from the RFA, JCAA, HRFA, Trout Unlimited, Knee Deep Club and North Jersey Bass Busters, sitting alongside of Garden State hunters from NRA, Bergen Bowmen, South Jersey Quail Unlimited and Ted Nugent USA. As of the first of the year, 22 different organizations had signed on.

Never before have these groups gotten together with one unified voice. Many groups who have been at odds in the past on certain key issues, meeting under one umbrella organization, to ensure that all New Jersey hunters and fishermen are adequately represented in Trenton. With the NJOC, these ‘anti’ groups can no longer talk about a handful of fishermen or hunters, as NJOC is now working to represent the more than 2 million sportsmen in the state of New Jersey. In political speak, that’s 2 million votes!

According to group chairman Lou Martinez, NJOC will not be seeking individual memberships nor is it in competition for any other group for members, going on to explain, “Our sole function will be lobbying and legal action taken on your behalf to protect your rights to hunt, fish, trap and otherwise wisely use the natural resources in New Jersey.”

Mr. Campbell may have rescinded part of his attack plans, but the battle lines have already been drawn. To paraphrase Admiral Yamamoto, I think the Commissioner has just awoken a sleeping giant, and filled us with great resolve.

2005 STARTS ON A SOMBER NOTE
We here at The Fisherman received some very sad news to start the New Year, as two very dear friends passed away unexpectedly around the holidays. Nicky “Moe” Mazzilli of Moe’s Bait and Tackle in Jersey City passed away on December 30, while Tom “Buzzy” Rabi of FishBuzz Bait and Tackle in Toms River died of massive heart attack on January 3.

Nicky was a member of the Hudson River Fishing Association and a fixture on the North Jersey fishing scene, and his absence will be sorely felt. Buzz’ opened his shop at about the same time as I started here at The Fisherman and was a frequent stop of mine on the way south from our Point Pleasant office to my home near LBI, and I appreciated our growing friendship.

Our hearts and thoughts are with the Mazzilli and Rabi families at this time, and on behalf of everyone at The Fisherman, your loss will be felt by the many, many friends here.