FISHING IN NEW JERSEY

FISH UNTIL YOUR HEART IS CONTENT

...where?...the angler opportunities are endless in New Jersey. Striped bass, after living their adult life in saltwater, migrate to estuaries and finally to freshwater to spawn.  The can weight in the 40-50 lb. range and are known for their powerful fighting ability.

When the bass are in the tidal freshwaters, fishing is limited to the springtime and during these spring spawning migrations, striped bass can be caught from shoreline or by boat along tidal freshwater rivers. The Delaware River, Delaware Bay tributaries (Maurice and Cohansey), Lower Delaware River tributaries (Rancocas, Big Timber, Mantua, and Raccoon Creeks), and coastal rivers (Raritan, Manasquan, Great Egg Harbor, and Mullica Rivers) are great places to fish for bass.The presence of river herring may also determine angling productiveness.

Both river herring and striped bass spawning migration times coincide and striped bass prey heavily upon river herring during this period. Heavier fishing tackle is required for striped bass angling. A medium to medium-heavy 6-7 foot rod spooled with 10 to 20 pound test line is a good choice. The reel selected, whether conventional or spinning, must possess a well-designed drag system. Live baits such as bloodworms and river herring, and artificial lures such as minnow plugs, jerk baits and rattletraps that imitate river herring, catch striped bass consistently.You are welcome to fish the nearby waters in federal lands and county & minicipal parks.  Public boat ramps are plentiful and if you need access by wheelchair, many sites have been improved for you.

Don't forget to take your fishing license sealed in a plastic baggie for protection. The following list of license agents is provided for informational purposes only. It is best to contact the agent beforehand to ensure the license(s), stamp(s) and/or permit you want are available

The N.J. Division of Fish & Wildlife would like anglers to help us evaluate our programs by participating in our E- Fishing Log Program. By taking a few minutes to let them know where you've been fishing and what you've been targeting and catching (or not catching!) they can make the best use of your fishing license dollars to stock public waters and to direct their fisheries management efforts.

Can you eat the fish you catch? It is important to check out the Guides to the Consumption of fish.   Take the time to visit several fish advisory sites for consumption of the fish you catch in your state.

Don't forget to take pictures and post them on the forum. It will be to your advantage to check out the tides and weather before you leave home.  As a beginner it wouldn't hurt to have a check list before you start out on your trip.  It would be a shame to arrive without your rig or bait.  Soon it will become as natural as grabing your keys to start your vehicle. Don't forget to take your fishing license sealed in a plastic baggie for protection. 

Please be careful with your hooks Check this out...

If you are interested in weighing your fish there are several places you might find helpful:  a warehouse with a shipping department, concrete, sand and gravel company, junk yard, scrap metal recycler, marinas with party and charter boat fishing, sporting goods store, your local deli, butcher or grocer or possibly a bait and tackle shop.

Fresh Water Fishing: Because the NJ Bureau of Freshwater Fisheries stock trout in the early spring and now in the fall there are

wonderful opportunities that exist for walleyes, trout, hybrid striped bass, and channel catfish.  If you want a trophy size catch, consider fishing for Muskellunge or northern pike . Trout thrive
in cold water. However, before the water becomes too cold and their metabolism slows

down, smallmouth and largemouth bass, walleyes, muskellunge and striped bass are signaled by the chilling water in the fall that it is time to store up reserves for the oncoming winter and they begin to feed heavily.Lake Aerofelx and Lake Wawayanda provide year round trout fishing. Round Valley and Merrill Creek Reservoirs are great fishing spots.  In the fall big rainbows cruise the shallows  and shoreline fishing on Round Valley is popular in the fall. The Sea-Run Brown Trout

begin returning to freshwater in the Manasquan River during the fall and early winter after taking advantage of abundant marine food sources.  These  fish, weighing in between 2-4 lbs., are silver in color masking most of the spots, but numerous small spots remain on the head..  The small colorful trout measuring less than ten inches are in the wild trout streams scattered across north Jersey. 

Be aware that all trout captured from designated Wild Trout Streams from Sept to April must be released.  No bait buckets are allowed in these waters. There is a new program to introduce a Sea-Run Brown Trout into the tidal parts of the river in an attempt to establish a Sea-Run Brown Trout fishery.  If this program is successful and the fish return in several years having grown from 1/2 pound to 4-6 pounds further stocking will be considered by the Fish and Game Council.  If you catch these fish in the Manasquan River or in the area of the Manasquan Inlet, please notify the Dept. of Fish, Game and Wildlife of their length, weight, fin condition, time caught, tidal condition,tackle used and any information you feel is pertinent.The adipose fin (just in front of the tail fin) has been removed for identification. The success  of this program depends on your cooperation.  These fish will become more silvery the longer they are in the river. 

The New Jersey Division of Fish and Wildlife has several programs to help the beginner or parent wishing to teach their children how to fish.  Public and organized group classes at the Pequest Trout Hatchery and Natural Resource Education Center, weekend workshops, fishing derbies and special events are available to introduce and reinforce basic fishing skills to adults and children.  Each spring the Hackettstown State Fish Hatchery gears up fish production as children's fishing derby sponsors statewide make plans for another season of memorable fishing events.

To apply to the Children's Fishing Derby Program, mail a request between January 1st and March 1st to: Rosemarie Greg, Pequest Trout Hatchery, 605 Pequest Rd., Oxford, NJ 07863 or Call:908-637-4173 for additional details.  
Please include:

1) Derby date and time 
2) Location: county and town 
3) Pond or lake name 
4) Organization and  
5) Contact person (daytime phone number, e-mail address)

 

Help make a child happy...Take them fishing..



Jersey Boy fishing Video