NJ Flounder Regulations Approved; Sea Bass Season Delayed

The 2011 summer flounder regulations approved last Thursday by the New Jersey Marine Fisheries Commission increased the bag limit by two fish and lengthened the season to 142 days of fishing. Anglers can now keep eight fish at 18 inches and fish from May 7 to Sept. 25. Last year's regs were six fish at 18 inches with a season that started later, May 29, and ended sooner, Sept. 6.

At the same meeting that approved the fluke rules, it was decided that New Jersey's sea bass season will start start June 4, instead of the expected May 22. The Striped Bass Bonus Program (SBBP) has been an integral part of New Jersey's striped bass management since 1990. It is a popular program with the fishing community and provides valuable data for assessing stock status and fishing trends.

The Division of Fish and Wildlife (Division) initiated the program in 1990 to allow the harvest of an additional striped bass for New Jersey recreational anglers. Although the program has been modified throughout the years, the main goal of the SBBP is to allow anglers to participate in the management process while enjoying their favorite recreational pastime.

 Karl Hess, Jersey Shore Homes

Jersey Shore Beach Ranked Among Best in the World

Cape May has been ranked as the ninth best beach in the world, according to the 2011 TripAdvisor Travelers' Choice Beach awards.

The ranking is based on reviews from users of TripAdvisor, one of the largest travel websites in the world. Award winners were determined based on the most highly rated beach destinations by travelers in TripAdvisor reviews. Unlike any other honors, TripAdvisor Travelers' Choice winners are based on millions of real and unbiased reviews and opinions from travelers around the world.

Top 10 in world

1. Providenciales, Turks and Caicos 2. Boracay, Philippines 3. Palm/Eagle Beach, Aruba 4. Negril, Jamaica 5. Tulum, Mexico 6. Myrtle Beach, South Carolina 7. Seven Mile Beach, Grand Cayman 8. Punta Cana, Dominican Republic 9. Cape May, New Jersey 10. Santa Teresa, Costa Rica

Top 10 in U.S.

1. Myrtle Beach, South Carolina 2. Cape May, New Jersey 3. Panama City Beach, Florida 4. Miami Beach, Florida 5. Sanibel Island, Florida 6. Clearwater, Florida 7. Honolulu, Hawaii 8. Captiva Island, Florida 9. Poipu, Hawaii 10. Siesta Key, Florida

Cape May also recently named one of the Top Ten Small Towns in America.

Ocean County is also home to many popular beaches such as Point Pleasant Beach, Lavallette, Seaside Heights, Seaside Park, Beach Haven, Ship Bottom, Surf City, Harvey Cedars and Barnegat Light.

Ocean County offers forty miles of barrier beaches which form Barnegat Bay and Little Egg Harbor Bay, offering ample watersports. In addition to being the northeast gateway to New Jersey's Pine Barrens, Ocean County is also home to several state parks:

• Barnegat Lighthouse State Park
• Island Beach State Park
• Double Trouble State Park
• Brendan T. Byrne State Forest
• Jackson State Forest
• Forked River State Marina

The Jersey Shore; home to some of the worlds best beaches.

Karl Hess, Ocean County Real Estate, Keller Williams Jersey Shore

OCC Gets New Sailing Center

Mill Creek County Park in Berkely will be the site for the new Ocean County College Sailing Center. 

The college will spend $850,000 on the project; the proposal includes a 1,400-square-foot sailing boat house, a 1,456-square-foot boat storage building, and a floating dock that Wilkins said would allow them to roll the boats right into the water for practice, then roll them back into the storage facility afterward - is a great feeling.

The OCC sailing club is open to all full time OCC students. NO experience is necessary to join! 

Students learn how to sail and then learn how to race.  OCC has an intercollegiate sailing team that sails against the top four-year schools in the nation. The college is committed to providing a first class sailing experience and training ground for our future skippers and crew members in Ocean County.

OCC has acquired 18 new 420s from generous donations from the surrounding community. They have a intercollegiate team that competes in the Middle Atlantic Intercollegiate Sailing Association. They host both a spring and fall regatta in which eighteen schools compete and sail in regattas every weekend in the fall and six weekends in late spring.  

They currently sail three days a week at the Toms River Yacht Club on the Toms River. In April of 2010 the OCC sailing team qualified and sailed in the MAISA Championship regatta and came in first in three regattas.

For more information about the Sailing Program at Ocean County College, contact the Sailing Program Manager, at 732.255.0348.

Karl Hess, Berkeley Twp Real Estate, Keller Williams Jersey Shore

Beach Access Rules for The Jersey Shore

There's been an ongoing point of contention between Jersey Shore beach town homeowners and tourists who come to the The Jersey Shore to enjoy some of America's best beaches. 

For instance, In Mantoloking, beachgoers can only park their cars on public streets for two hours. That's two hours - max - within the entire 24-hour day.

In parts of Long Beach Island like the Loveladies section of Long Beach Township, many streets dead-end into private driveways with signs warning "Private drive. No public beach access."

And in many places, you can't even eat on the beach or find a bathroom within walking distance.

All of this has worked to keep "outsiders" away, because only local residents who live near the beach - and can walk home to eat or answer nature's call - can effectively use that beach.

New Jersey is trying a new way to address the problem. Instead of imposing a uniform standard that all shore towns must meet, it is letting individual shore communities decide what level of access is right for them, although those decisions must be approved by the state.

The new rules ask - but don't require - coastal towns to adopt a public access plan spelling out exactly where the public can get to the beach. The new beach access rules will let seaside towns propose their own plans for accommodating the public with parking and restrooms, and state Department of Environmental Protection says the agency is already in discussions with "challenging'' towns where public access has been a problem.

A court decision blocks the DEP from directly withholding beach replenishment funds from problem towns. But the new rules still have three fairly strong sanctions:

--Towns that refuse to comply with access rules would not be allowed to get state Green Acres funds and aid for open space or recreation.

--Access problems will result in towns being ranked lower in eligibility for beach replenishment projects ... a way for the DEP to work around the Avalon ruling's ban on direct withholding.

--The DEP can hold back a town's general permit for beach maintenance. This is probably the biggest stick, Martin said, because towns need those permits for routine beach grooming and sand cleanup.

Hopefully, these new rules will allow more people to enjoy The Jersey Shore beaches, and not just the locals...and I am a "local."

Karl Hess, Keller Williams Realty Jersey Shore

Beach Access Rules for The Jersey Shore

There's been an ongoing point of contention between Jersey Shore beach town homeowners and tourists who come to the The Jersey Shore to enjoy some of America's best beaches. 

For instance, In Mantoloking, beachgoers can only park their cars on public streets for two hours. That's two hours - max - within the entire 24-hour day.

In parts of Long Beach Island like the Loveladies section of Long Beach Township, many streets dead-end into private driveways with signs warning "Private drive. No public beach access."

And in many places, you can't even eat on the beach or find a bathroom within walking distance.

All of this has worked to keep "outsiders" away, because only local residents who live near the beach - and can walk home to eat or answer nature's call - can effectively use that beach.

New Jersey is trying a new way to address the problem. Instead of imposing a uniform standard that all shore towns must meet, it is letting individual shore communities decide what level of access is right for them, although those decisions must be approved by the state.

The new rules ask - but don't require - coastal towns to adopt a public access plan spelling out exactly where the public can get to the beach. The new beach access rules will let seaside towns propose their own plans for accommodating the public with parking and restrooms, and state Department of Environmental Protection says the agency is already in discussions with "challenging'' towns where public access has been a problem.

A court decision blocks the DEP from directly withholding beach replenishment funds from problem towns. But the new rules still have three fairly strong sanctions:

--Towns that refuse to comply with access rules would not be allowed to get state Green Acres funds and aid for open space or recreation.

--Access problems will result in towns being ranked lower in eligibility for beach replenishment projects ... a way for the DEP to work around the Avalon ruling's ban on direct withholding.

--The DEP can hold back a town's general permit for beach maintenance. This is probably the biggest stick, Martin said, because towns need those permits for routine beach grooming and sand cleanup.

Hopefully, these new rules will allow more people to enjoy The Jersey Shore beaches, and not just the locals...and I am a "local."

Karl Hess, Keller Williams Realty Jersey Shore

Turkey Loses at Playing Chicken

Police in Manahawkin shot and killed a wild turkey that authorities say was "wreaking havoc" in traffic.

Stafford Township animal control officers told The Press of Atlantic City the bird has been in the township for months. However, it recently moved from residential areas to busy Route 72.

Efforts to trap it were unsuccessful.

Police told the newspaper the turkey caused a motor vehicle accident when a car jammed on its brakes and was rear ended by another on Wednesday.

So why was the turkey shot? The police suspected it of fowl play...I apologize in advance for the bad joke, I couldn't help myself!

Karl Hess, Stafford Twp Real Estate

Saltwater Fishing Registration Required

Under federal law, most New Jersey saltwater recreational anglers are required to register with the National Saltwater Angler Registry, administered by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), before they go fishing in 2011. The Saltwater Angler Registry is part of an improved data program to help protect the long-term sustainability of recreational fishing.

A $15 fee for the federal registry became effective on January 1, 2011. Anglers who registered in 2010 should check the expiration date on their registration cards - registration is valid for one year from date of issue.

Anyone age 16 and older must have a valid license (there are some exceptions) to fish the fresh waters of New Jersey with handline, rod and line, or longbow and arrow. This includes privately owned lakes and other waters. New Jersey does not require a general saltwater fishing license but there are a limited number of saltwater licenses and permits required.

Things are still up in the air regarding many of the regulations for saltwater fishing in 2011. For the first time, anglers will have to register with the state in order to fish. It still is not known when the state will be ready to start taking registrations.

Fishing licenses may be obtained from license agents or online. Duplicate licenses for the current year are also available. For more information contact the NJ Division of Fish and Wildlife.

When you purchase a fishing license, you're helping to protect, preserve and enhance the sport of fishing for today and for generations to come. License fees help pay for fishery and hatchery management, habitat development and protection, endangered species programs, fishing and conservation education, lake maps and other publications, and many other valuable programs.

Karl Hess, Jersey Shore Realtor