TRENTON, N.J. – An effort to promote freshwater fishing in the state’s scenic lakes, rivers and streams received a boost Thursday when legislation sponsored by Assemblyman Parker Space to expand the eligibility for discounted fishing licenses passed the Assembly Oversight, Reform and Federal Relations Committee.
“Whether ice fishing in the dead of winter or casting a line on a warm summer day, our lakes and rivers are filled year-round with a variety of fish from trout to bass to pickerel,” said Space (R-Sussex), the Assembly Republican co-chairman of the New Jersey Angling, Hunting, and Conservation Caucus and a lifelong sportsman. “Fishing is a great way to relax, meet new people and enjoy our state’s beautiful parks and reservoirs. This measure will hopefully entice more residents and visitors to enjoy one of New Jersey’s favorite pastimes.”
Under current law, the discounted fishing buddy license is available to persons who have not acquired a fishing license after 2010. Space’s bill (A5227) would expand the scope of the reduced license fee to include returning anglers as well as new anglers, by allowing the fishing buddy license to be acquired by someone who has not acquired a license in the previous five years, on a rolling basis.
“We hope to lure more residents to get hooked on fishing,” Space said. “The original fishing buddy license law I sponsored eight years ago was a huge success, so why not build upon it?”