Natural Reproducing Pike

[DanH]

With all the Pike that the State has been stocking in different bodies of water, I was wondering if there has been any reproduction going on ? Years ago it was rumored that Farrington had some but I don't know if it was ever confirmed .

[AndyS]

Mark B. said of all the fish stocked by the state of New Jersey, not one reproduces except Lake Trout. You see them strip the eggs from walleye and muskies every year and bring them back to the hatchery.

[DanH]

Thanks buddy!

[NJSquatch]

I have seen a handful of pictures this year of what look like hybrid pike pickerels. They look really cool. Basically the pike coloration in a chain pattern.

[AndyS]

Although with that being said there is natural reproduction in New Jersey of sunfish, largemouth and smallmouth bass, carp, American shad, Gizzard shad, river herring, lamprey and striped bass just to name a few. (and the state does stock bass and catfish, so go figure)

[DanH]

You would think with all the different type bodies of water that are stocked a few would match the criteria for what they need .
The State must of thought that it was possible when they started , because one of the reasons for the Tiger Musky was that being a hy brid it wasn't going to reproduce and the population could easily be controlled .

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LnVc1MyWqhw

[Chrisper4694]

I'd be very surprised if nature wasn't finding a way, because it always does....I've seen things (like fish much smaller than they stock) that lead me to believe there is some reproduction happening, might not be that successful but i'm sure it's happening...

[JDTuna]

It's my opinion that there is at least some natural reproduction of pike in NJ waters. Judging by where I see juveniles, I believe they are reproducing in the Passaic. In addition, there is a reservoir that has a prohibition on fishing that is full of pike. Unless someone else other than the state stocks them, they have to be reproducing.

[Drossi]

Why would pike (or walleye) be any different than brown trout or rainbows that have established wild populations from prior stockings? Smallmouths aren't native to NJ, they started as stockies at some point too.

Too many variables to say a patent answer of no.

[DanH]

I have to agree guys . Look at the many lakes in Pa., many of which are man made where Pike have been introduced and now have become established. No reason why it shouldn't have happened in NJ.

[saxmatt]

I worked for fish and game up in Connecticut and the pike marshes we had at Bantam lake, Mansfield reservoir and the Connecticut River are similar to areas on the Passaic, Budd, Cranbury, Farrington, Millstone etc. There is natural reproduction for sure in NJ. That being said the pike populations can crash even with good spawning grounds if the conditions aren’t right, so a lot of pike waters need supplemental stocking to maintain a good population of fish.

[dakota560]

Mark B. said of all the fish stocked by the state of New Jersey, not one reproduces except Lake Trout. You see them strip the eggs from walleye and muskies every year and bring them back to the hatchery.

If natural reproduction isn't occurring with walleye, why is 3/1 thru 4/30 catch and release only during their spawn?

[gypsy]

I don't see why pike wouldn't reproduce, pickerel aren't stocked and they are everywhere !!! Walleye reproduce in the Delaware

[Chrisper4694]

I don't see why pike wouldn't reproduce, pickerel aren't stocked and they are everywhere !!! Walleye reproduce in the Delaware

strangely enough though the delaware no closed season on walleye? haha go figure

[Skunk City]

From my understanding, NJ does not offer the water and substrate conditions needed for a successful spawn in most of the species mentioned above. Optimal PH, turbidity and type of substrate/bottom is needed. If "Fish A." needs a clear, moving feeder creek with slate bottom, but only can spawn in a feeder with muddy bottom or lots of particles in the water, the eggs will not stick or will get covered in particles and not hatch.

[Chrisper4694]

From my understanding, NJ does not offer the water and substrate conditions needed for a successful spawn in most of the species mentioned above. Optimal PH, turbidity and type of substrate/bottom is needed. If "Fish A." needs a clear, moving feeder creek with slate bottom, but only can spawn in a feeder with muddy bottom or lots of particles in the water, the eggs will not stick or will get covered in particles and not hatch.

i still think it all comes back to 'nature finds a way' not saying stocking isn't needed or anything like that but just simply reproduction most likely IS happening.

look how long they stocked rvr thinking the lakers couldn't spawn and we all know how that went haha

[catfishonthelake]

From my understanding, NJ does not offer the water and substrate conditions needed for a successful spawn in most of the species mentioned above. Optimal PH, turbidity and type of substrate/bottom is needed. If "Fish A." needs a clear, moving feeder creek with slate bottom, but only can spawn in a feeder with muddy bottom or lots of particles in the water, the eggs will not stick or will get covered in particles and not hatch.

This is exactly right. Pike, muskies and walleye all go through spawning motions, they do everywhere. That's why we see walleye and pike stacked in creeks at the end of March and muskies with spawning scars in April and May. Reason for the closures is so that fish can be netted for milking. I guess rather than just close certain lakes it's easier to make it statewide. The issue isn't with the spawning it's viable eggs. Muskies lay their eggs on sand, rock or pebble rock bottoms in their natural range. Not sure about pike and walleye, they're lame. Lol. New Jersey has virtually all muck bottoms. Unlike bass and sunfish that make beds and panfish who lay eggs on the weeds, muskies lay their eggs right on the bottom. In their naturally range they'd be unmolested, but here in NJ they get covered and smothered. Carp almost always invade the shallow warmer spawning grounds, but it doesn't make too much of a difference, the eggs wouldn't hatch anyway. I'm not a scientist and not sure about nature finding a way, but from what I figure the muskies think they're reproducing, but their eggs just aren't hatching.

[JDTuna]

This is exactly right. Pike, muskies and walleye all go through spawning motions, they do everywhere. That's why we see walleye and pike stacked in creeks at the end of March and muskies with spawning scars in April and May. Reason for the closures is so that fish can be netted for milking. I guess rather than just close certain lakes it's easier to make it statewide. The issue isn't with the spawning it's viable eggs. Muskies lay their eggs on sand, rock or pebble rock bottoms in their natural range. Not sure about pike and walleye, they're lame. Lol. New Jersey has virtually all muck bottoms. Unlike bass and sunfish that make beds and panfish who lay eggs on the weeds, muskies lay their eggs right on the bottom. In their naturally range they'd be unmolested, but here in NJ they get covered and smothered. Carp almost always invade the shallow warmer spawning grounds, but it doesn't make too much of a difference, the eggs wouldn't hatch anyway. I'm not a scientist and not sure about nature finding a way, but from what I figure the muskies think they're reproducing, but their eggs just aren't hatching.

All species go through the spawning motions, even those that can't access the proper habitat for spawning. Just a matter of viability. Pike spawn when the water reaches the 40's, and they spawn in shallow areas of vegetation. Which is common habitat in many NJ waterways. So I'm certainly skeptical when people claim there is no natural reproduction in NJ pike. Especially since pike do spawn in very similar habitats elsewhere. And again, there is reservoir closed to fishing that supports a very healthy population of northern pike. Wouldnt be surprised if there was some successful musky reproduction in the Delaware, though.

Lame, huh? Typical response from an elitist musky fisherman lol.

[thmyorke1]

Why not seek out evidence. There's probably a certain length pike are stocked at, like no less than 4 inches?

How about sone folk with fine mesh cast nets or traps collect samples. During the time any young of the year would be present.

If we find any shorter than the shortest stocked length, thats proof that they successfully spawn right?

[bulletbob]

.
I dunno.. if they aren't spawning, why are there so many odd looking Pike coming from the Passaic, that look as though they have mated with pickerel? I have seen so many clear pics of Pike with Pike spots, and pickerel chains interspersed from the passaic that I believe something is going on.