Thoughts of this past year... and plans for the upcoming season???

[Mikey topaz]

Well... another year has past, I hope everyone enjoyed the time with their family and friends and got some real cool new fishing toys. Right now at this time I feel myself like I do every year reflecting on this past season so far... I like to sit and compare how fishing was to previous years and look at some logs I keep...was there something I coulda did better to be more successful on the water? Did I learn anything new about the places I’ve fished.. ? Or the new techniques I used and worked how well did they work compared to the normal way I’ve fished and caught in the past?? And then think what do I wanna do different this year... any new places I wanna try to learn or fish this year or try some new techniques??? And what goals do I want to set for myself for the upcoming season... I don’t know maybe I’m just weird 🤣 I’m always trying new things and trying to find fish by myself in spots and ways most people don’t...right now the mamba is in the barn getting some much needed tlc and upgrades and setting it up a little different for some new ways I wanna fish this year. I’m curious to see what everyone else thinks and has tried anything new and some of their goals for the upcoming new season.

Some new things I’ve tried this year and was successful was fishing with the copper line for lakers at the valley and Merrill mostly. I bought a lot lures and different spoons I tried but nothing new I tried worked.

I learned a lot of new water to me on the south branch close to my new house parts I never fished before and did really well.

Found some new points on hopatcong for hybrids and a few good rock piles for walleye all should be really good spots in the spring as well...

Overall for me fishing was ok but no real killer bites like the years in the past,
Things I wanna do for the upcoming season new is I wanna step up my laker game at the valley and figure out how I can have four bottom bouncer rods going at one time for lakers.

I wanna troll with the planner boards the way I do at the valley with leadcore at hopatcong in the summer months for walleye with stick baits and worms rigs.

I used to fish a lot of spots as a kid and did really well I wanna go back and revisit some of these spot that used to be really good to me.

Let’s hear it ya maniacs what did you learn this year? Anything new? And what’s your goals for the new season?

[Jigman13]

I wanna stop dropping swordfish at the boat lol...land a marker day time deep dropping, put a triple marker in the boat and deck a #200+ bigeye. To 2020!

I explored a lot of back bay this summer and caught more keeper fluke consistently than I have in the past. Also experimented with winter flounder on ultra light and scored consistently in November and december using some new tactics that allowed me to move vs baiting and waiting. Hadn't caught one in nearly 20 years and was catching 2 to 6 per trip on the right tides. Biggest was just shy of 17".

I also beat up the tog in pt pleasant this fall. Not many keepers but great jig action and got my son involved so he could feel the power lol.

Other than that I did well on walleyes and smallies in the raritan. No beasts but some nice fish and quantity.

I def fished more salt than sweet in 2019. But that ain't a bad thing!

[Hookmanski]

I def fished more salt than sweet in 2019. But that ain't a bad thing!

Same here! I focused a lot on the salt this year but had some good sweetwater trips as well.

Finally got on some decent stripers this year, which was awesome. Definitely got the surf fishing bug now, nothing else like it! Night fishing trips will increse next year too.

Caught my PB Bluefish at around 5 pounds, hope to break that in the spring time. Also caught new salt species like bonito, mackerel, and nothern sea robins. Missed a false albacore so going to have to cross that one off next year!

Got on some trout in NJ as well as took a trip to NY to fish the esopus which was awesome. Mostly ignored the largemouth bass this year, but did pretty well on smallmouth in splitrock and a few other places. Also caught my PB Yellow perch!

Also did a lot of new water exploring in NJ this year, but a lot of those trips proved unsuccessful. Wouldn't trade them though, great experiences looking for wild trout in NJ, and i found them, next year i'll just have to catch them!

Almost caught my first freshwater hybrid too, but lost him right at the surface on NJSquatch's boat. Gotta say thanks again to him for taking me out on the cong for my first time!

Next year I really want to get on some fluke action as I only tried once this year and struck out. Gotta get redemption on the albie too! Also hope to finally land a pike as I tried about 7 times this year and just couldn't connect even when people around me were. Want to get on a tautog or two as well so i can finally wear the 300 shirts i won at the christmas party :D more ice fishing too.

Overall, a pretty great year of fishing but i think my 2018 season was a bit better, quality and number wise. Next year is going to be an interesting one, might be moving into Brooklyn so my freshwater trips could become limited and i might be fishing Long Island beaches a lot more than anything else. Its all up in the air still though, so we'll see! Tight lines and happy new year to all!!!:D

[bulletbob]

fishing was bad for me up here in the Finger lakes ..
Caught a grand total of 2 keeper walleyes out of the Susquehanna this fall and maybe 5 or 6 shorts, in about a dozen tries.. They just aren't where they used to be.. i can tell its NOT just me, because not only have the walleyes left, so have the fishermen.. NO one fishing the river for them any more.. SMB was ok , but this river is a mud bucket much of the time, up here.. Its mainly mud bottom, not rocky like the Delaware in NJ is, and runs through farmland, and then through cities and suburbs. Very often its unfishable for weeks at a time.

finger lakes are good for downrigger trollers, but I detest deep trolling.. Some years I have done OK with Ll salmon, big Browns, lakers, by jigging and casting, but a lot depends on where the bait is.. When the bait is down 200 feet over 400 feet, thats where the fish are, and I just do not like fishing that deep for a 3 or 4 pound trout, especially when having to reel up a fish that deep from a moving boat.. Like reeling in a waterlogged easy chair.

caught a few nice fish this year, a good LMB, some nice SMB a big pike, an 11 pound channel cat,but even my panfishing was not great this year compared to others,,

Sadly as i get older [ 65 now] my trips to fish the salt water in my native NJ are becoming more problematic.. Too far for a rapidly aging man to drive down, fish all day, and drive back that night , especially with the reduced bag limits, and often tough fishing. Matter of fact, I might be done with it altogether.. We'll see.. Maybe this year will see me with more time and energy. This past year, meh, not one of my better years, but to be fair, in "good years" typically, I have put for more effort than I did this past year. bob

[thmyorke1]

I had a lot of fun this year. I started work this April and saw myself manage my time on the water better.

Looking back I did a lot of different things although I pretty much stayed in the rivers.
The biggest would be the pike adventures with NickM. That's something Im looking forward to this year and will continue using the paddletail swimbaits. Will try the spinnerbaits more too.

Flukes for smallmouth rather than jigs. More topwater too.
Gonna continue fishing the main stem raritan for stripers this spring.

Until then I will be seeking out trout and probably into PA.

Never know what to expect; just looking to have fun again this year, no real goals except to get a PB raritan river striper and explore more water.

[HerringKing]

Way too much work and not enough fishing.

[Mikey topaz]

I wanna stop dropping swordfish at the boat lol...land a marker day time deep dropping, put a triple marker in the boat and deck a #200+ bigeye. To 2020!

I explored a lot of back bay this summer and caught more keeper fluke consistently than I have in the past. Also experimented with winter flounder on ultra light and scored consistently in November and december using some new tactics that allowed me to move vs baiting and waiting. Hadn't caught one in nearly 20 years and was catching 2 to 6 per trip on the right tides. Biggest was just shy of 17".

I also beat up the tog in pt pleasant this fall. Not many keepers but great jig action and got my son involved so he could feel the power lol.

Other than that I did well on walleyes and smallies in the raritan. No beasts but some nice fish and quantity.

I def fished more salt than sweet in 2019. But that ain't a bad thing!
Man!!!! I did just about the complete opposite this year not one bass not one tuna or trip offshore! We stuck a nice thresher inshore though so that was fun. Hope to see ya more on the sweet water next year Jeremy

[Mikey topaz]

Same here! I focused a lot on the salt this year but had some good sweetwater trips as well.

Finally got on some decent stripers this year, which was awesome. Definitely got the surf fishing bug now, nothing else like it! Night fishing trips will increse next year too.

Caught my PB Bluefish at around 5 pounds, hope to break that in the spring time. Also caught new salt species like bonito, mackerel, and nothern sea robins. Missed a false albacore so going to have to cross that one off next year!

Got on some trout in NJ as well as took a trip to NY to fish the esopus which was awesome. Mostly ignored the largemouth bass this year, but did pretty well on smallmouth in splitrock and a few other places. Also caught my PB Yellow perch!

Also did a lot of new water exploring in NJ this year, but a lot of those trips proved unsuccessful. Wouldn't trade them though, great experiences looking for wild trout in NJ, and i found them, next year i'll just have to catch them!

Almost caught my first freshwater hybrid too, but lost him right at the surface on NJSquatch's boat. Gotta say thanks again to him for taking me out on the cong for my first time!

Next year I really want to get on some fluke action as I only tried once this year and struck out. Gotta get redemption on the albie too! Also hope to finally land a pike as I tried about 7 times this year and just couldn't connect even when people around me were. Want to get on a tautog or two as well so i can finally wear the 300 shirts i won at the christmas party :D more ice fishing too.

Overall, a pretty great year of fishing but i think my 2018 season was a bit better, quality and number wise. Next year is going to be an interesting one, might be moving into Brooklyn so my freshwater trips could become limited and i might be fishing Long Island beaches a lot more than anything else. Its all up in the air still though, so we'll see! Tight lines and happy new year to all!!!:D

You got your work cut out for ya! I love it! I thought you got a hybrid that day ???? I’ll get you out in the summer and help out with scratching that one off your list,

[Mikey topaz]

I had a lot of fun this year. I started work this April and saw myself manage my time on the water better.

Looking back I did a lot of different things although I pretty much stayed in the rivers.
The biggest would be the pike adventures with NickM. That's something Im looking forward to this year and will continue using the paddletail swimbaits. Will try the spinnerbaits more too.

Flukes for smallmouth rather than jigs. More topwater too.
Gonna continue fishing the main stem raritan for stripers this spring.

Until then I will be seeking out trout and probably into PA.

Never know what to expect; just looking to have fun again this year, no real goals except to get a PB raritan river striper and explore more water.

You did great Luke, I remember you a few years back and now... dude you figured a lot of stuff out very quickly- I LOVE IT!!! Great catching man👊🏻

[Mikey topaz]

fishing was bad for me up here in the Finger lakes ..
Caught a grand total of 2 keeper walleyes out of the Susquehanna this fall and maybe 5 or 6 shorts, in about a dozen tries.. They just aren't where they used to be.. i can tell its NOT just me, because not only have the walleyes left, so have the fishermen.. NO one fishing the river for them any more.. SMB was ok , but this river is a mud bucket much of the time, up here.. Its mainly mud bottom, not rocky like the Delaware in NJ is, and runs through farmland, and then through cities and suburbs. Very often its unfishable for weeks at a time.

finger lakes are good for downrigger trollers, but I detest deep trolling.. Some years I have done OK with Ll salmon, big Browns, lakers, by jigging and casting, but a lot depends on where the bait is.. When the bait is down 200 feet over 400 feet, thats where the fish are, and I just do not like fishing that deep for a 3 or 4 pound trout, especially when having to reel up a fish that deep from a moving boat.. Like reeling in a waterlogged easy chair.

caught a few nice fish this year, a good LMB, some nice SMB a big pike, an 11 pound channel cat,but even my panfishing was not great this year compared to others,,

Sadly as i get older [ 65 now] my trips to fish the salt water in my native NJ are becoming more problematic.. Too far for a rapidly aging man to drive down, fish all day, and drive back that night , especially with the reduced bag limits, and often tough fishing. Matter of fact, I might be done with it altogether.. We'll see.. Maybe this year will see me with more time and energy. This past year, meh, not one of my better years, but to be fair, in "good years" typically, I have put for more effort than I did this past year. bob

Aghhhh the weather this year was really crappy and screwed things up, just when things started to heat up the weather would do something wacky and shut it down.. lotta confused fish I think... and the big rivers are tough to fish with all the runoff and debris floating then waiting for the level to drop to be fishable again. It’s tough but hey 65 years old your out there man and enjoying it that’s awesome, best of luck this year bob

[Jigman13]

We did land this beast end of August. Over 14.5' feet fork length. Hour and change on the rod. Backed down on her 3.5 miles. Wrecked an 80w. Had to get the whole reel rebuilt. Insane experience... prob over #800. Learned a lot... like Pittman leader is indestructible lol.

[thmyorke1]

We need land this beast end of August. Over 14.5' feet fork length. Hour and change on the rod. Backed down on her 3.5 miles. Wrecked an 80w. Had to get the whole reel rebuilt. Insane experience... prob over #800. Learned a lot... like Pittman leader is indestructible lol.

Insane! :eek:

[Hookmanski]

You got your work cut out for ya! I love it! I thought you got a hybrid that day ???? I’ll get you out in the summer and help out with scratching that one off your list,

I hooked him and got him to the boat, but my drag was too tight and the hook popped right as Squatch grabbed the net. A heartbreaker for sure, but lesson learned! Sounds good man, can't wait!

[thmyorke1]

You did great Luke, I remember you a few years back and now... dude you figured a lot of stuff out very quickly- I LOVE IT!!! Great catching man👊🏻

Yessir thanks, figuring out the fish is a lot of fun, part of my motivation to keep fishing. The site and guys here helped me out plenty too.

[FASTEDDIE29]

It was a great year and I’m not getting out as much as I used too. I get up and go when I can and when I go I’m lucky enough to catch something.

I don’t do the goal thing. It’s not a thought in my mind. I just fish! LOL! If I had a goal I guess it’s to go on some more out of state trips during the course of the year. Not sure it will happen. I’m pretty content with the variety of fish NJ has to offer. Gotta love our little state. We’ve got it pretty good here despite being an over populated area of the world. TIGHT LINEZ!!!:D

[reason162]

2019 was the year I finally committed to staying in freshwater from prespawn to winter, and stuck with just a few lakes to trace the patterns and only a handful of techniques, really honing them until I understood the details inside and out. My singular focus was to land as many big smallies as possible, and to that end I cannot be more satisfied: over a dozen bronzebacks past the 20" mark, a couple that pushed 22", and countless 3lbers throughout the year.

Prior to 2019 my biggest smallie was maybe 15"? My first 18" fish back in April almost tipped me from the kayak I got so excited.

One lesson I took away from all the finesse fishing this year: 5lb/6lb floro is a different animal from anything I've used in saltwater. If you land a 4lber you better retie that knot. And your gear better be in tiptop shape...when a big smallie sounds one second then torpedoes out of the water the next...that's why people spend $$$ on spinning reels with good drag systems.

Did sneak away for a few fluke trips, but fluking has steadily declined inshore. The patterns from just 3 years ago are no longer holding, but I don't mind bc I've spent enough of my fishing life chasing flatfish lol. The Fall freshwater bite kept me from going togging, and that was a much more difficult decision. Ultimately the bronze won over the black, and I have no regrets!

For 2020 I want to capitalize on more moving/reaction bait bites during prespawn. I had a few good jerkbait days this year but crankbait/spinnerbait/power fishing in general is not very easy to do well from a kayak, esp in the wind (which is when I would be throwing them!)

[Lard Almighty]

2019 was very good to me. I started to get a good handle on catching big smallies out of the Raritan River. Most years catching just one at 18+ inches was a good year. In 2019, I caught four. That may not seem like much, but I only fished the Raritan for smallies about a dozen times this year. I credit my success to figuring out the best way to fish tubes in that river, which is what I did most of my damage on.

I also took advantage of my proximity to the beach to do a lot of summertime saltwater fishing. I still can't catch a striper from the surf to save my life, but I had an absolute blast catching all the summer species right off the bathing beaches in the early morning. Unfortunately the crowds would push me off the beach by 8:00 some mornings, so often I left the fish biting. Catching short fluke and snapper blues on light gear is one of the most fun things I have ever done.

2019 was also the first year I ever fished from a kayak. I only took it out once, and I can certainly see the appeal of it. Unfortunately I don't think the kayak I got is optimized for fishing (even though it was marketed as a fishing kayak), so I may need to upgrade if I really want to get into it.

As for 2020, it will be about one thing: going up to the new place as much as possible.

[Hookmanski]

As for 2020, it will be about one thing: going up to the new place as much as possible.

That's going to be one awesome cabin. Congrats man! Bet you can't wait to spend more time there.

[anthrax2244]

This is a great thread.

My 2020 goals are to:

1). Share and post more on njfishing.com.
2) focus on fishing “new” lakes by boat Merril, aeroflex, wawayanda
3) catch landlocked salmon
4) catch a flathead catfish
5) become more consistent catching trout on artificials
6) get my daughters more into fishing
7) keep taking my son fishing
8). Everett’s goal is to catch a tiger trout - maybe someone has some tips/advice?
I never encounter these guys

2019 recap

1) took my son on several fall shore fishing trips to RVR and he caught (assisted) his 1st rainbow from shore. Biggest went 21”
2) caught my 1st walleye.
3) caught my 1st big walleye - approx 28”
4) caught my 1st striped bass in fw
5) at least half of my trips were with 1 or more of my kids

When I get a chance I’ll post some pics in the other 2019 catch thread

[Mikey topaz]

This is a great thread.

My 2020 goals are to:

1). Share and post more on njfishing.com.
2) focus on fishing “new” lakes by boat Merril, aeroflex, wawayanda
3) catch landlocked salmon
4) catch a flathead catfish
5) become more consistent catching trout on artificials
6) get my daughters more into fishing
7) keep taking my son fishing
8). Everett’s goal is to catch a tiger trout - maybe someone has some tips/advice?
I never encounter these guys

2019 recap

1) took my son on several fall shore fishing trips to RVR and he caught (assisted) his 1st rainbow from shore. Biggest went 21”
2) caught my 1st walleye.
3) caught my 1st big walleye - approx 28”
4) caught my 1st striped bass in fw
5) at least half of my trips were with 1 or more of my kids

When I get a chance I’ll post some pics in the other 2019 catch thread
Great stuff!!! That’s a beautiful first big walleye man, your don’t see to many of these kids intrested in wanting anything to do with outdoors anymore far and few in between!!! Kudos to you keeping the kids involved any info you need to keep these kids on the meat you let me know I’ll help you as much as I can... and you want a tiger there’s plenty in the valley from we stocked with the club back in April, good luck

[Capt. Lou]

One real goal that I would like to complete this season , is reaching my goal of 50 trout from local public water over 5#’s! but couldn’t fish much this spring until May . This fall I opted to go offshore a lot , so missed much of that . Even at that late start I managed 2 trout from local PA and NJ waters over 5#’s . I’m stuck looking for # 47 , nowI’m back in the game , wanted to do this in 6 seasons but I’m in 7 now ! I’ve learned so much on locating big fish hangouts, so I cover that water primarily , all public no clubs !
See what happens , if ain’t easy ����

[Chrisper4694]

Had some great traveling fishing trips with bluefin, ice fishing salmon and lakers, and multi species in florida. Locally i had 2 main goals, to crack a 31" lake trout and a 22"+ tautog. I accomplished both!

I never made it down south to fish for NJ bowfin and snakeheads, so that will just have to carry into 2020 goals along with pulling a NJ walleye through the ice...if we even get any!

[Godrew1972]

Past year, enjoyed reading the posts and learning about different spots n techniques. Upcoming year like to drive more north occasionally if time is there. Echo, Clinton lakes. I’m told they are great, is it worth it? It’s a solid 1:15 or 1.5 from home with boat. Thanks

[MudCat08]

Love reading all the goals and successes of everyone above.

2019 I set my expectations higher than all previous years - to cross more species off the list in NJ and to catch something giant like a 9ft shark or huge stingray.
I achieved these goals by adding several new species including Spanish macks, weakfish, hickory shad, saltwater catfishes, lake trout, butterfly ray and roughtail stingrays to the list and by catching many sharks including several over 8ft and 200lbs.

In 2020 I will be searching for Snakeheads, Bowfin, white crappie, and Muskellunge.
Good luck with your new years goals everyone.

[anthrax2244]

Thanks Mikey. You definitely have RV dialed in.

Chrisper - that’s an epic laker! Anything over 24” in the valley is pretty hard to come by. At least for me. Lol.

Good luck to all in 2020 getting these goals accomplished!

[bunker dunker]

was a great year for fishing that's for sure.here is wishing all of you the best
and safe fishing in 2020.like every year i just want to fish more and b@tch less.

[Chrisper4694]

Past year, enjoyed reading the posts and learning about different spots n techniques. Upcoming year like to drive more north occasionally if time is there. Echo, Clinton lakes. I’m told they are great, is it worth it? It’s a solid 1:15 or 1.5 from home with boat. Thanks

might be better options closer to you depending on what species you want to target. where are you coming from and what species are you looking to target?

[Godrew1972]

Traveling from Brunswick’s area rte 1 and 130. Looking for mostly bass both LM and SM. Not to many smallies in middlesex county.

[reason162]

Traveling from Brunswick’s area rte 1 and 130. Looking for mostly bass both LM and SM. Not to many smallies in middlesex county.

Both LM and SM swim in Mannasquan res, should be a lot closer to you than the watershed reservoirs.

[Godrew1972]

manasquann is on the list, hit it a few times last year. Not many fish in the boat, but i will keep trying.