2019 Freshwater Fisheries Forums

[Dave B.]

While we haven't quite made it past Christmas yet, the 2019 forums are scheduled and the dates begin in just a few short weeks starting with the North Jersey Forum on Jan 19.
The coming year is when the next round of reg changes will be proposed, discussed, and eventually submitted to the F&G Council for approval and inclusion in the 2020 Regulations, so get your ideas and thoughts in order to be able to present them to the Freshwater Bureau staff at the forums for consideration.
I know for example, many folks here are very much in favor of including the upper main stem Raritan in the fall stocking program just for starters, an idea I happen to support. Lock in the date(s), make your notes and make it a point to attend the forum to have your voice heard by those who can make the changes on our behalf.

North Jersey Fisheries Forum
January 19, 2019; 10 a.m., Hackettstown State Fish Hatchery

South Jersey Fisheries Forum
February 23, 2019; 10 a.m.,
Batsto Village Visitor’s Center in Wharton State Forest

Trout Meeting
March 2, 2019; 10 a.m., Pequest Trout Hatchery

[AndyS]

"Councilman Robinson addressed the fall/winter trout stocking in Union County. He would like to see Echo Lake stocked."
THIS will happen WAY before the upper Raritan river gets fall stocked. Looks like "who you know" will get things done quicker than asking for over 6 years now, AND going to Federation meetings AND asking via e mail AND fisheries forums. So we were told "not enough fish" to go around for fall stocking.
How is Councilman Robinson not aware that there just aren't enough trout to go around to add Echo Lake to the fall stocking list ?

[thmyorke1]

"Councilman Robinson addressed the fall/winter trout stocking in Union County. He would like to see Echo Lake stocked."
THIS will happen WAY before the upper Raritan river gets fall stocked. Looks like "who you know" will get things done quicker than asking for over 6 years now, AND going to Federation meetings AND asking via e mail AND fisheries forums. So we were told "not enough fish" to go around for fall stocking.
How is Councilman Robinson not aware that there just aren't enough trout to go around to add Echo Lake to the fall stocking list ?

The only trout union county gets in the fall is that echo park pond, if they're addressing a need for more trout in the county, they're probably looking at their local river, the rahway, which also just got an extension this spring.

I'd be puzzled if they got more fall trout as I was told the same that more trout for fall isnt feasible. I would also think the raritan gets more angling attention than the rahway.

[calapp]

How many trout for the upper main-stem Raritan would make you guys happy? As far as I am concerned you can take them from Lower Echo Lake which has been fall/winter stocked for years. The cormorants eat most of them anyway.

[thmyorke1]

How many trout for the upper main-stem Raritan would make you guys happy? As far as I am concerned you can take them from Lower Echo Lake which has been fall/winter stocked for years. The cormorants eat most of them anyway.

Be cool to put 300 around Duke island park down to nevius Street. Not much, about the same amount ponds get.
Would you be interested in a rahway fall stocking? Not a bad idea imo, but I just wanna see main stem stocked too :p

[AndyS]

I would be more than happy with just 150 trout fall stocked in the Raritan river. Remember we are only talking about a 3 mile section of river.
With that being said we would also like to see a 2 mile extension on spring stocking, I think the Rahway river just got 6 miles added to the spring stocking.
We are not looking for a tremendous amount of fish, it's much like just sitting up and being noticed.

[Capt. Lou]

Raritan deserves more fish , anglers can enjoy catching them throughout the season, it’s decent holding water

[Lard Almighty]

When I go to the Raritan River, it is NOT to catch stocked trout, which I can catch literally anywhere else.

[phil]

Would you be interested in a rahway fall stocking? too :p

hell yes, but only behind Mohawk park, the rest of the river doesn't need any.