Hooked on Fishing-Not on Drugs Podcast with Liz Jackson (DEP Website)

New Jersey’s Hooked on Fishing-Not on Drugs Program provides a great opportunity to get kids involved in positive recreational activities. Growing up in a big city, my parents saw value in having me spend my summers outdoors enjoying nature. These experiences afforded me the chance to discover that there is more to the world and my role in it than what the concrete jungle has to offer. Likewise, the goal of this program is to introduce youth to the fun and excitement of fishing, and to engage them in meaningful life skills, so that they also can imagine unlimited possibilities for themselves.
– Liz Jackson, HOFNOD Coordinator

HOFNOD FAQs

Fishing is an activity that can be started at any age by any person regardless of gender, physical size or athletic ability. Fishing can also be enjoyed individually or with family and friends. A great way to introduce youth to fishing is through the “Hooked on Fishing – Not on Drugs” (HOFNOD) Program.

“Hooked on Fishing – Not on Drugs” is a unique, nationally recognized program created by the Future Fisherman Foundation. In 2012, former Governor Christie signed legislation establishing the statewide implementation of the HOFNOD program. The legislation provided initial funding through an appropriation of $200,000 from the state’s Drug Enforcement and Demand Reduction Fund. (See below for the identical State Assembly and Senate bills.)

The goal of New Jersey’s program is to encourage school-aged children to avoid tobacco, drug and alcohol usage by providing alternative activities that involve learning to fish, appreciating aquatic and environmental resources, and developing positive life skills. The program will provide students with access to extracurricular outlets that utilize New Jersey’s incredible outdoor recreational assets.

The NJDEP Fish & Wildlife wants to partner with schools, community- and faith-based youth organizations willing to provide on-going and sustained engagement in HOFNOD activities throughout the year. The “Hooked on Fishing – Not on Drugs” program is flexible enough to be offered in different ways, such as:

• a weekly enrichment activity in summer youth programs
• an on-going educational physical education activity in after school settings
• integrated into grades 4-12 school curricula
• as a year-round supplemental activity of community-based youth organizations (e.g. Youth Corps, Boys/Girls Clubs and faith-based entities)

HOFNOD is an excellent way for young people to participate in constructive recreation and to develop a positive sense of self-worth. The program helps:

• nurture self-esteem and confidence
• develop higher order critical thinking and problem-solving skills
• reveal alternate activities for young people instead of the pitfalls of drug and alcohol use
• foster opportunities and build skills to explore freshwater & marine careers

During the program, students learn:

• freshwater and marine ecosystems
• proper outdoor ethics and being a good steward of their local environment
• respect for themselves, others and the world around them
• how, when and where to fish
• life skills like preparing and cooking their catch

Atlantic

Creek Anglers: CCHS Fishing Club
Cedar Creek High School
1701 New York Ave.
Egg Harbor City, NJ 08215
Erin Sharpe – esharpe@gehrhsd.net

HOFNOD Community Fishing Students 
Pleasantville, NJ
Marlene Crump – CommunityFishingStudents@gmail.com

Camden

Barrington HOF
Barrington Firehouse and 1 School Lane Barrington NJ 08007 (Woodland School)
Ken Lampe – Lampeken@yahoo.com
856-287-5028

Fishing P.A.C.
Mount Calvary Missionary Baptist Church
1196 Penn Street
Camden, NJ 08102
Karl W. Medley Sr. – kmedleymcdc@gmail.com

Hooked on Nature
1301 Park Blvd
Cherry Hill, NJ 08003
Phuong Nguyen – phuong.nguyen@camdencounty.com

Cape May

Tightlines 4H Fishing Club
Lockwood Youth Center, 4H Fairgrounds
355 Dennisville Road
Cape May Courthouse, NJ 08210
Ruth Thraen – rathraen@comcast.net
609-861-2450

Essex

Franklin Fishers
Benjamin Franklin School
42 Park Avenue
Newark, NJ 07104
Jessica Allen – J1Allen@NPS.K12.NJ.US
973-268-5250
www.nps.k12.nj.us/FRA/

Monmouth

Middletown High School North Fishing Club
63 Tindall Rd
Middletown Township, NJ 07748
Eric Hoblitzell – HoblitzellE@middletownk12.org
732-706-6061 ext 1281

Passaic

Passaic Fishing Club
City of Passaic – Department of Recreation and Cultural Affairs
330 Passaic Street
Passaic, NJ 07055
Mariana V. Fera mfera@cityofpassaicnj.gov
973-859-1344

Ocean

Brick School District HOFNOD
Brick Memorial High School
2001 Lanes Mill Rd.
Brick, NJ 08724
Tim Brennan – tbrennan@brickschools.org
www.facebook.com/Brick-Schools-Hooked-on-Fishing-Not-on-Drugs-259088461566403/

Sussex

Montague Bait Buddies
Montague Township School
475 Route 206 North
Montague, NJ 07827
Carl Ferriere— cferriere@montagueschool.org

Union

Team Linden
City of Linden Recreation Department
Linden, NJ
Team Leaders: Sandra Jackson, Michael Jackson, Jay Sibilski
Linden Department of Recreation – 908-474-8600
www.facebook.com/Lindenhofnod

Warren

Keeping It Reel
Community Center at Belvidere
301 Second St.
Belvidere, NJ 07823
Tammy Koop – tammykoop69@gmail.com