Boat Launch Maintenance Permit NJ

[SeaMe]

I had a fabulous day paddling yesterday at Round Valley but I encountered a requirement that's new to me, and I wonder if I just somehow managed to have perfect timing avoiding gatekeepers last year, or if it's new for this year: having either a boat launch maintenance permit or NJ fishing license.

Our usual spot was completely cordoned off and at first we thought that the "PARK FULL" sign applied to more than just the swimming area, but then the very nice guy at the gate said there was plenty of space (to park) but that we needed to have either a Boat Launch Maintenance Permit or NJ State Fishing License to enter. It was news to us, and furthermore, they don't sell them on-site. However, the helpful young man also told us if we had a smartphone we could do it online and they'd grant entry as long as we could show an on-screen confirmation—God bless technology! The Boat Launch Maintenance Permit wasn't expensive (price of all season permit=price of 1-day pass to Sandy Hook)  but is this common/statewide? New for this year?

[feet]

I encountered the same thing last Sunday am. I spent 30 minutes waiting in line to get into the park (I was there at 8:30 and they were obviously unprepared for an early crowd) and when I got there, despite the NJ State Park pass on my windshield, the teenager working the booth told me about the new requirement.  I told her I wasn't going to use the boat ramp, didn't plan on fishing and that it shouldn't apply to me. She said it didnt matter, so I said, I was going to go inside to complain to someone, and then I drove off the the parking lot I originally intended on and paddled as I would have in years past. No one hassled me after that point. 

I don't think it should make a difference if I am hiking, biking or paddling (provided I'm not using a ramp). It's a popular park and this is just another attempt to get more money out of people, many of whom already likely own a state park pass...

OR a bunch of whiny ass hikers complained about not enough parking because of kayakers and paddle boards.   Next time I'll just bring my Uli in the trunk and no one will know what my plans are...

[SeaMe]

I told her I wasn't going to use the boat ramp, didn't plan on fishing and that it shouldn't apply to me.

We tried the same logic, got the same response. Had we not dragged our feet about getting fishing licenses this year it would have been a non-issue, though truth is I'm not sure we would have thought to leave them in the glove compartment (they're usually kept in the tackle box).

I don't think it should make a difference if I am hiking, biking or paddling (provided I'm not using a ramp). It's a popular park and this is just another attempt to get more money out of people, many of whom already likely own a state park pass...

I'm willing to pay for one NJ boat launch permit which applies to everyone and everything you can fit in/on one vehicle. As we discovered on a recent trip to PA, there each vessel needs to have a permit and they start at almost double the price. The permits are good for two years, but it sucks from a financial standpoint since I'll probably spend less than a month's worth of time there over two years, and I won't necessarily want the same board each time.

OR a bunch of whiny ass hikers complained about not enough parking because of kayakers and paddle boards.   Next time I'll just bring my Uli in the trunk and no one will know what my plans are...

If it was their complaints that prompted this I doubt they were happy with the solution. On Saturday, anyone entering for any reason had to show a permit or fishing license. The Mazda full of twenty-somethings in front of us, who didn't even have beach chairs from the looks of it, learned that the hard way.

[feet]

My gripe is that I paid $50 for the state park pass, which would get me into all of the state parks for the year.  I am not using a boat ramp, nor am I fishing, so why should I pay a second fee? 

I'm not being asked to pay this fee at IBSP where I also have the same type of access to the water, it just RV, Assunpink and 2-3 others that have a boat ramp, which I do not utilize. 

Don't even get me started on Pennsylvania...