Same goes for the saltwater guy who knows darn well that artificial reefs are fish magnets; that’s why they were built, or sunk. But he doesn’t fancy losing a bunch of expensive gear fouled on lobster pots or other commercial trap/crap dunked over what is supposed to be, by law, a site for the recreational angler and diver. “Traps off the reefs,” is the popular name for state Senate Bill (S-221), which would prohibit the use of certain commercial gear on New Jersey’s artificial reefs. The hearing on the issue is tomorrow at 10 a.m. in the Trenton State Annex, Room 10. The New Jersey Outdoor Alliance (it has your back) is a solid supporter of the proposed legislation. So is the Recreational Fishing Alliance, even more so because it’s all about fishing, and the NJOA covers both hunting and angling. The RFA says the bill will be heard by the state Senate and Environmental Committee tomorrow, introduced by Sen. Sean T. Kean and co-sponsored by Sen. Jeff Van Drew and Sen. Andrew R. Ciesta. The hope, of course, is that the legislation will be heard during the current legislative session. With a new, supposedly, sportsman friendly governor this will be the case. The original intent of the artificial reef program was to benefit recreational anglers and federal law says so, which means that any violation of such use is subject to re-payment of funds. New Jersey needs more places to spend money, especially long green that is owed for fines. According the RFA, New York, Virginia, South Carolina, Georgia and Florida say traps and pots have no place on their reefs. It’s time New Jersey gets the commercial grabbers off the same type spots. Lord knows draggers and netters have destroyed enough of our natural resources in the name of greed. There are good commercial guys who just want to make a decent living, and hard work it is, but there are also creeps who want to make as much money as they can, and fast as they can. These are the bad guys. ICEY DICEY We just got back from our Pennsy camp, where the recent rainstorm caused havoc with local streams and the Delaware River. Roads were washed out, bridges closed. All waters were high and dirty as of this writing. The Susquehanna is sullen and swollen. I shoveled furniture and mud out of my aunt’s house in 1972. Hurricane Agnes was not a fun lady. But with the recent drop in temps, ice is safe on some upstate lakes. Check with local sports shops first. Don’t go alone. DA BEARS Who knows what the future of bear hunting in New Jersey may bring, but it looks like the glass is half full rather than half empty with the anti-hunt Jon Corzine gone. He was no friend of the sportsman. A bear management policy should be on the agenda for the Feb. 9 meeting of the state Fish and Game Council at Assunpink. The current population of bears is 1,500, thought to be conservative by actual people who go into the woods rather than desk-bound types. Tell the folks who live in Sussex County there are no bear problems. CALL THE COPS I have the utmost respect for my local police officers in Hopewell Township, unless of course they break down my door and haul my sorry tail away for an unpaid traffic ticket. However, if your local police department is rationing handgun permits or stalling on firearms ID cards, contact the Association of New Jersey Rifle and Pistol Clubs at defendfreedom@earthlink.net. You can legally fight back to any stonewall from the local police department regarding your permits or ID card. BIG BUCKS Want to win five thousand bucks? The National Wildlife Federation is running a photo contest, its 40th annual, with a total prize package of $30,000. Two of the grand prizes are $5K apiece. There will be pro, amateur and youth winners. Deadline is June 6, 2010. For details go to www.nwf.org/photocontest. — Rick Methot is the outdoor writer for The Trentonian. Contact him at rikwrite@aol.com.

http://www.trentonian.com/articles/2010/01/31/sports/doc4b64fcc412b33917766731.txt