Trout season opening April 1st

[RichieFer]

Buddy of mine just called me and told me he saw a press co ference on NJ13 news that there going to open the season to.orrow for catch and release only ? Has anyone else seen this ?

[birddog]

It is true. There will be a post on the fish and game web site today. I know the workers there.

[The Hunter]

info posted yesterday in fish and council thread.

[RJHooker]

This is great news, but many of the rivers havent been stocked yet accordning to the update page. If anyone has any info not on the update page on the stocking... much appreciated!

[Mikey topaz]

Murphy was on like ten minutes before encouraging people to get out to fish and opening day would be tomorrow... good luck and stay safe guys,

[The Hunter]

https://www.northjersey.com/story/news/coronavirus/2020/03/31/coronavirus-nj-trout-season-begin-wednesday-amid-crisis/5096582002/

Have at it fellas!!!

[baetis]

Still an 8 a.m start?

[DiPaoro]

This working from home will be on the river tomorrow.

[OMC]

Just remember it is Catch and Release from 4/1 until 4/11.

[Billfish715]

While I am not complaining about opening up the streams to Catch and Release Fishing for the next two weeks, I do have a problem with how we are being notified.

Nothing official is posted yet on the F&G website. The offices are closed so things may be a little slow. The preseason stocking list wasn't posted until after the fact so this may be the same way.

The link to the article is appreciated but the article is weak as a piece of good informative journalism. The State Environmental Director could have and should have issued a comprehensive press statement for immediate release. This article seems to be a snippet of an interview with the Commissioner which leaves out the why's and wherefore's.

In one sentence at the end of the article, it mentions the fact that the fishing is Catch and Release only. It limits the emphasis of the long established traditions of Opening Day. It was a chance to promote trout fishing and the importance it holds for so many people. The Commissioner dropped the ball on this one. She also could have had the statement or comments be directed to the public by a spokesman from the Division of Fish and Wildlife.

For me, the information would have been more effective and meaningful had it come from the Division which is intimately involved with the concerns and interests of the sportsmen and sportswomen of N.J. I also understand that the Division of Fish and Wildlife is a subsidiary of the DEP.

A formal statement has yet to be made and I think we all deserve one. Hearsay and conjecture just does not make it. Whether is was the editor or the reporter, someone did a poor job in getting out the complete information. More than likely though, the blame goes to the Environmental Commissioner's Office.

Just my 2 cents.

[baetis]

The atrocious communication seems purposeful to keep numbers down.

Powerbait and catch and release don’t go together.

On one hand we are fortunate to have a trout season, on the other hand they seem to be flying by the seat of their pants.

[Mark B.]

The atrocious communication seems purposeful to keep numbers down.

Exactly. The, normally, very communicative Division does not want a big Opening Day crowd at popular stocking points. This appears prominently on their website:

https://www.state.nj.us/dep/fgw/images/fishing/social_distance_flyer1_lg.jpg

[Billfish715]

The trout program, which has always been a bit of a political ping pong match, has once again taken a front row seat, as more elected and appointed officials look to get in front of the microphones and cameras. This time it's the DEC commissioner and not Fish and Wildlife making the call, and the DEC did a very bad job.

The announcement came from the DEC. while The Division of F&W is in charge of the implementation of the trout program, they are a subsidiary of The DEC which takes its lead from the governor.

To both the DEC commissioner and Governor Murphy..........I'm going catch and release trout fishing to a stream that is NOT near my home. If you can find your fishing rods and have your licenses, you are welcomed to join me.

[BT67]

These are obviously unprecedented times, that being said the late closure of trout season, guys were out catching newly stocked trout a week ago, and now the opening on the season catch and release? before the actual opener is strange.

I guess this is the only way to keep crowds down and for that I must agree.

[Mark B.]

1 angler this morning on the S. Branch Raritan River, 3 Bridges at 8:30. Hadn't caught anything. A Conservation Officer stopped, briefly, and then drove off.

[TogRipper]

Got my limit in two hours. Three Beasts over 20". All orange power bait. Smoking them tonight. Fished Roackaway.

[thmyorke1]

Got my limit in two hours. Three Beasts over 20". All orange power bait. Smoking them tonight. Fished Roackaway.

:D oh boy! :p

[TogRipper]

:D oh boy! :p

Great fight on the two pound line.

[BT67]

Got my limit in two hours. Three Beasts over 20". All orange power bait. Smoking them tonight. Fished Roackaway.

Thought the initial start was catch and release?

[TogRipper]

Thought the initial start was catch and release?

Not sure, they were gut hooked anyhow.

[thmyorke1]

Not sure, they were gut hooked anyhow.

ah that explains it. Yes it is catch and release until the actual opening day , the 11th. Might as well keep em if gut hooked. :p but watch out some folk are gonna get mad :D

[Mark B.]

ah that explains it. Yes it is catch and release until the actual opening day , the 11th. Might as well keep em if gut hooked. :p but watch out some folk are gonna get mad :D

And, watch out for Conservation Officers (I saw one this AM), as some folk may get fined / lose their fishing license. Possession is still illegal, gut hooked or not.

[BT67]

And, watch out for Conservation Officers (I saw one this AM), as some folk may get fined / lose their fishing license. Possession is still illegal, gut hooked or not.

This is why opening the season early isn't good. As member Baetis said in this thread, power bait and catch and release don't mix :o

[acabtp]

got my limit in two hours. Three beasts over 20". All orange power bait. Smoking them tonight. Fished roackaway.

lol

https://www.njfishing.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=140476&d=1585788362

[NJSquatch]

F&W video

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A7Q-qE_v_NI

[Drossi]

This is why opening the season early isn't good. As member Baetis said in this thread, power bait and catch and release don't mix :o

Opening the season is good except for *******s that think they are above the law. Selfish Mf'ers, wtf are they such children that they can't wait another week to keep fish. Me, me, me, mine, mine, mine.

**** YOU from ME to YOU.

[TogRipper]

Opening the season is good except for *******s that think they are above the law. Selfish Mf'ers, wtf are they such children that they can't wait another week to keep fish. Me, me, me, mine, mine, mine.

**** YOU from ME to YOU.

Got 6 more for the smoker. Never been smoking trout so early

[IrishAngler]

I fish down here in Central NJ...Englishtown and Prospertown(Jackson) and I don't believe they've been stocked at all. Anyone know if there is a resource to check the status of individual lakes ?

[Drossi]

Got 6 more for the smoker. Never been smoking trout so early

Takes a special kind of ******* to boast about breaking the law on a public form. You must be sooooooo prooooouuuuud of your self.

Tell me this what MAKES YOU SOOOOOO SPECIAL that you think the laws don't apply to you??? Huh, come let's hear it, give me a good explanation, maybe I'll buy it. I'm a rational person,

[baetis]

I think togripper is catching more on this board than he is on the stream.

[FASTEDDIE29]

Alright boys! You did t play nice, soooooooo! Please follow all NJ Regulations! This isn’t the Wild West!!! TIGHT LINEZ!!!