RVR/SR Night fishing??

[Hookmanski]

Are you allowed to fish from shore at night at either of these reservoirs? Both are super close to my house and I'm thinking of bundling up and going on a nighttime fishin mission! Ideally I'd like to build a small campfire on the shore at RVR and soak some bait and relax, but I woudn't want to get in trouble over something like that. Any information is greatly appreciated, tight lines!:D

[Wilson]

Yes

[Castaway]

I thought the gate to the right of the boat launch has a sign that says you aren’t allowed in after 4pm?

[Eskimo]

Yes, of course you can.

As far as I know, the only reservoir with a curfew is Merrill Creek Reservoir. That place, I can tell you from experience the employees will give you hell if your car is still in the parking lot past closing time. You can probably be charged criminally with trespassing at MCR if you're there past closing time.

If you fish Round Valley at night, you probably want to park in the angler's parking lot by the boat ramp and not the main parking lot.

NJF used to have a regular poster who did most of his fishing at night from the shoreline of reservoirs, but he hasn't posted in a while.

I don't like fishing at night. Eighteen years ago I had a scary run-in with a bear at the Delaware Water Gap that was pulling garbage out of a trash can and got aggressive with me when when I tried to walk past it. I've also encountered some weirdos at the boat ramp at night where I was in more fear for my safety than encountering the bear!

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[Hookmanski]

Yes, of course you can.

As far as I know, the only reservoir with a curfew is Merrill Creek Reservoir. That place, I can tell you from experience the employees will give you hell if your car is still in the parking lot past closing time. You can probably be charged criminally with trespassing at MCR if you're there past closing time.

If you fish Round Valley at night, you probably want to park in the angler's parking lot by the boat ramp and not the main parking lot.

NJF used to have a regular poster who did most of his fishing at night from the shoreline of reservoirs, but he hasn't posted in a while.

I don't like fishing at night. Eighteen years ago I had a scary run-in with a bear at the Delaware Water Gap that was pulling garbage out of a trash can and got aggressive with me when when I tried to walk past it. I've also encountered some weirdos at the boat ramp at night where I was in more fear for my safety than encountering the bear!

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Thanks for the info! Honestly night fishing definitely isn't my first choice, but with the hours I work I almost never have time to fish during the day. I'll have to carry my trusty knife!

[acabtp]

I thought the gate to the right of the boat launch has a sign that says you aren’t allowed in after 4pm?

the state park entrance and swimming/picnic/bbq area close at 4.

the angler access area and reservoir are open 24/7. there are campsites too that you can reserve. pretty sure campfires on the shore are prohibited unless you have a campsite and use the fire pit.

[Castaway]

the state park entrance and swimming/picnic/bbq area close at 4.

the angler access area and reservoir are open 24/7. there are campsites too that you can reserve. pretty sure campfires on the shore are prohibited unless you have a campsite and use the fire pit.

Is the angler access area the walk path that separates the main reservoir from the swimming area? I think it has two gates you have to go through to get to the main reservoir?

[tycomps]

I'll have to carry my trusty knife!

bear spray (probably works on knuckleheads too : - )

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B002BMOJXE/ref=sspa_dk_detail_0?psc=1&pd_rd_i=B002BMOJXE&pd_rd_wg=ei0JX&pd_rd_r=EEJVFF0PXAYJHZ00DM7Z&pd_rd_w=bK1KY

[acabtp]

Is the angler access area the walk path that separates the main reservoir from the swimming area? I think it has two gates you have to go through to get to the main reservoir?
no, the access area has it's own entrance, different driveway around the corner from the park entrance

bear spray (probably works on knuckleheads too : - )

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B002BMOJXE/ref=sspa_dk_detail_0?psc=1&pd_rd_i=B002BMOJXE&pd_rd_wg=ei0JX&pd_rd_r=EEJVFF0PXAYJHZ00DM7Z&pd_rd_w=bK1KY
that is illegal in new jersey. only the tiny pocket sized ones, that would be useless on a bear, are legal here. and you can only carry one. DEP CO or local cops find you w/ bear spray you'll get a nice ticket.

Any non-felon 18 or over may possess for your protection
“one pocket-sized device which contains and releases not more than three-quarters of an ounce of
chemical substance not capable of lethal use or of inflicting serious bodily injury, but rather is intended
to produce temporary physical discomfort or disability through being vaporized or otherwise dispensed
in the air”.

[tycomps]

if I'm fishing bear turf at night I'll take the ticket.

[logs22]

if I'm fishing bear turf at night I'll take the ticket.

My thoughts exactly!

[Jigman13]

I've logged 100s of hours the last 4-5 yrs nite fishing the shores of SRR. I've encountered many types of animals--both fur-bearing and human. Never once have I seen a bear nor have I ever come across scat, tracks or any signs of a bear's presence. Perhaps its more likely or possible in the back but around the launch and access points on Van Syckle, never have I seen signs.

I'm sure they're around, though.

[Eskimo]

I've logged 100s of hours the last 4-5 yrs nite fishing the shores of SRR. I've encountered many types of animals--both fur-bearing and human. Never once have I seen a bear nor have I ever come across scat, tracks or any signs of a bear's presence. Perhaps its more likely or possible in the back but around the launch and access points on Van Syckle, never have I seen signs.

I'm sure they're around, though.

I haven't seen any bears there either, but the groundskeepers have.
A couple of years ago a hunter in a tree stand down the road in Clinton WMA shot a bear that climbed up the tree he was in.
Link: http://www.nj.com/hunterdon-county-democrat/index.ssf/2015/01/deer_hunter_kills_bear_climbin.html

My favorite animals there were a pair of friendly foxes that would panhandle for food by the ramp. One day they both disappeared. I don't want to know what happened to them. :(


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[Jigman13]

Those foxes left after their kits got big enough. They used to creep up behind me scavenging the shoreline for dead fish and frogs etc.

[Andrushkin33]

Ahh....

Well rest easy my friends both foxes moved in to SR and happily thriving. Well actually there are 3 of them there as of late and they still would like to get all the fish you catch.

Too lazy to upload pictures.

On a side note, still alive, just had a lot of bs to go through.

Andre

[Sleeper-6]

Hey look, Andre is still alive. :D