The New York Marine Resources Advisory Council (MRAC) met 'unofficially' yesterday at the Bureau of Marine Resources headquarters in East Setauket, Long Island. While not enough councilors were actually present to hold an 'official' quorum, New York anglers should take note that important considerations impacting the community were still in fact discussed and initiated.

Effective immediately, all saltwater anglers 16 years and older need to register with the New York Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) if fishing in the state marine and coastal district, including all the waters of the Atlantic within 3 nautical miles from the coast and all other tidal waters within the state, including the Hudson River up to the Governor Malcolm Wilson Tappan Zee Bridge.  Anglers who plan to fish for "migratory fish from the sea" such as striped bass, hickory shad, blueback herring and alewife in the Hudson River, Delaware River, or Mohawk River and their tributaries, or when taking any marine baitfish, must also be registered.

On March 31, 2011, the New York State Legislature established a no-fee recreational marine fishing registry to take the place of the marine fishing license which was originally established in October 2009.  As per the MRAC meeting this week, the new registry is now in place throughout the marine district, and those saltwater anglers who have not yet purchased a 2011 marine license can now get their free registry through the DEC's automated licensing system (DECALS).

"We're calling it a no fee registration," said Bureau of Marine Resources Chief Jim Gilmore, adding that the new mandatory registration is now officially in effect.  "If you want to go fishing you need to go get your little piece of paper," Gilmore said. 

Anglers who need to register can learn more information at www.dec.ny.gov/permits/54950.htmlor by calling 1-86-NY-DECALS (1-866-933-2257.)  

According to the DEC, the new no-fee registry legislation was signed with a "sunset clause," which is set to expire on December 31, 2013.  Essentially, in 2 years the recreational fishing license will take effect again beginning in 2014, unless the legislature reacts beforehand to permanently suspend any angler user fee.  Anglers who have already purchased a 2011 resident or non-resident 1-day, 7-day or an annual recreational marine fishing license, or a lifetime recreational marine fishing license, do not need to re-register at this time. 

All saltwater anglers in New York must re-register every calendar year.  Gilmore said Tuesday that the DEC is currently working with Connecticut and Rhode Island to ensure whether the New York recreational marine fishing registry will act as an equivalent to the recreational marine fishing license. If in agreement, New York State registered anglers (both resident and non-resident) will be able to fish in bordering waters without having to purchase a Connecticut or Rhode Island marine fishing license. In the mean time, please check with those states prior to fishing.  Those New York saltwater anglers who plan to fish in New Jersey waters must register in that state separately by visiting www.saltwaterregistry.nj.gov.

The DEC also reported that fines for failure to register with the New York DECALS system may face fines of $250, even as first-time offense.  That's fairly similar to New Jersey's recent announcement of fines of $300 to $3,000 for anglers who fail to register to fish coastal waters there.  

According to the DEC website, those fishing aboard appropriately licensed party or charter boats in the marine and coastal district do not have to be registered when those captains purchase the $250 party or charter boat license and enroll for a recreational marine fishing registration (free) can ensure their fishermen are exempt.  Based on a cooperative agreement between states and NOAA Fisheries, all anglers who have a current and valid recreational saltwater license/registry from New York are automatically entered into the national registry which means there's no need to pay for the $15 federal fee.

Gilmore also noted this week that approximately 9,000 lifetime license holders will be receiving full refunds over the summer, and he added that the DEC s still awaiting word from the governor's office about the fate of the 199 party and charter boats in the New York marine district who'd paid the $400 blanket license fee prior to the suspension of the fishing license at the end of March.  He stressed that all refund decisions were coming from the governor's office in Albany.

Whatever your home port, the Recreational Fishing Alliance (RFA) is urging saltwater anglers to know the rules before heading out on the water.  If you plan to fish in New York you should get over to the DEC website (www.dec.ny.gov) to learn about registering - you want to fish in New Jersey you need to make sure you register there too (www.saltwaterregistry.nj.gov). 

"We're thankful to our New York and New Jersey legislators who fought hard to ensure free access to our public resources," said RFA Executive Director Jim Donofrio.  "RFA cannot support a user fee to fish simply because a state is having fiscal problems and needs additional revenue.  Another unjust tax is just another unjust tax, whether it's a fee to fish or another payroll deduction," Donofrio added.

New York Black Sea Bass Season Tentatively Set.  While MRAC was unable to vote officially on rules or regulations at this week's meeting, the Councilors with input from the public attendees have tentatively set the 2011 black sea bass season in New York as opening on June 13 and running until October 1, with a one month closure before reopening again in November and December.  The bag limit is going to be lowered for 2011 to just 10 fish, while an increased size limit of 13 inches is slated to go into effect. 

"Because of the fatally flawed data being used by NOAA Fisheries restrict our annual limits, New York is faced with a ridiculous situation where both our sea bass and fluke season will come to a close simultaneously at the end of September," said Jim Hutchinson, Jr., managing director of the RFA and president of the New York Sportfishing Federation.  Hutchinson said that New York anglers are getting some regulatory relief for fluke this summer with a May 1 to September 30 season, a three-fish bag and a 20-1/2-inch size limit.

"We're urging RFA members to enjoy the summer season of fluke and sea bass, and come fall let's hope we have a tremendous run of striped bass and blackfish to keep our inshore anglers active," he added.