Interested in starting a community-based youth fishing team?

Sign up here to participate in the HOFNOD Team Leader Training set for April 21-23, 2023 in Waretown, New Jersey.

2023 Youth Fishing Challenge

HOFNOD Coordinator Honored With Award

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