The end of a fishing access, Pohatcong, NJ!

[FASTEDDIE29]

Well the town of Pohatcong worked closely with the Railroad company to have one of my favorite spots shut down. I can’t even tell you how angry I am to hear this news. I’ve been fishing the area from the Riegelsville bridge and north for 25 years. The police have been kicking everyone out and there’s a new ordinance stating fishing the riverside of the tracks will be considered trespassing. I’m seriously livid right now. I don’t have all the info on this but looking for more if anyone has a connection out there. 1 group of people ruined it for a lot of anglers. Friggin’ furious right now. It’s like the end of an era. Dammit!!! Does this make Pohatcong a socialist community? WTF? Here’s a few fish memories from the grounds. TIGHT LINEZ!!!:confused:
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[acabtp]

bummer some people ruined it for everyone. what was the new ordinance for? looks like the railroad owns all that property, they probably only had to ask the cops to enforce no trespassing.

[FASTEDDIE29]

I’m not too sure. Still investigating. Gotta have a chat with Vern and Vern Jr. to see what the deal is. The permits they used to give out to fish there at night are now long gone as well. Truly a bummer!

[dakota560]

Eddie that's sad to hear. I actually have night parking permit 0001. The issue initially was the night partying and crap people were leaving behind which was a disgrace. Thought the permit system corrected that. It's the same issue everywhere, the ones who don't care ruin it for the ones who do. The shame is that stretch, in particular where those pics were taken, are not a dime a dozen. They're great spots and becoming harder and harder to come by as far as access rights. It's also a beautiful stretch which too many people unfortunately abused. Homeowners complain and this is what happens. Wish they would fine the crap out of the violators as opposed to ruining it for the people who actually respect the area and clean up after the people who cause the problems. Real shame! Eddie if you hear anything, would appreciate it if you shared it here.

[Pondhopper8]

Sad to hear Eddie. The few ruin for the majority. My brother took me to that spot years ago and I always made a point to stop there. Impressive production from that stretch for sure. Owe my PB musky to that stretch!! Hopefully something can be worked out.
https://i.postimg.cc/4Nk1VJtR/1-E25205-D-3164-4-FCA-9-E9-E-EEC071054099.jpg

[HBird11]

Wow‼️ Now that absolutely sucks‼️ It’s BS that any township would decide that it’s just easier to just shut down a fishing access instead of actually having their police department getting out of the cars and doing their job‼️ It’s pretty damn simple to patrol a area once or twice a night and to write tickets to the ones that are causing the issues. It doesn’t take long to get the word out that you dont want to party there unless you want to meet the cops. That really sucks Eddie I haven’t been down there fishing in quite a few years but I do know the caliber of that spot and it’s not easily replaceable. Man I wish I could be of some help but I don’t know enough people or any people with any pull down there.

[FASTEDDIE29]

Sad to hear Eddie. The few ruin for the majority. My brother took me to that spot years ago and I always made a point to stop there. Impressive production from that stretch for sure. Owe my PB musky to that stretch!! Hopefully something can be worked out.
https://i.postimg.cc/4Nk1VJtR/1-E25205-D-3164-4-FCA-9-E9-E-EEC071054099.jpg

Bro that’s a great fish! I caught and quick released that beauty in September 2019! Gotta love it. Lots of fishing memories come from those grounds for me. I’ll be out there via boat. It’s just hard to navigate through the Boulder field at night. Thise rocks have claimed a lot of boats in the past. Lol!:D

[Hookmanski]

That's a huge bummer man. Typical NJ though, a few ruin it for all. My least favorite aspect of this state. Hope it all works out and the access can be restored!

[Pondhopper8]

Bro that’s a great fish! I caught and quick released that beauty in September 2019! Gotta love it. Lots of fishing memories come from those grounds for me. I’ll be out there via boat. It’s just hard to navigate through the Boulder field at night. Thise rocks have claimed a lot of boats in the past. Lol!:D

She had a little white grub and jig in her mouth when I got her!! Lol Hell yea!!! Those rocks are no joke Lolol 😂I’ll be seeing you out there!!!!!

[thmyorke1]

any chance it can still be accessed via boat/kayak from launching at the park upstream and setting anchor around that spot?

[Andrushkin33]

From the looks of it as long as you dont step on land you should be able to access it.

From my understanding is local residents complaining to the town which in turn putting pressure on the railroad company. I have actually camped out there for 3 days 4 weeks ago and been visited by cops at let 6 times. I think we have met the whole police department while we were there. They were very professional and pleasure to work with since they could actually see that we came with a mindset of leaving the place better than we found it. At least 7 garbage bags of trash were removed that weekend.

Now i dont thing permits were doing anything at all. We own 18,19 and 20 and were really suprised that they cost nothing to obtain when we got them. Most ppl are just to lazy to drag their trash out, why not have pay for the permits and have a dumpster on site. All ppl i know will be more than willing to pay for them.

Now i have friends fishing there on Saturday. I dont know who visited but police officer was extremly aggressive toward everyone who was there. First he actually came down toward the river which in all my years fishing there is the first (never seen police officer cross rail road tracks) and second keeping your weapon unholstered with a hand on a gun is a bit of an overkill for me.

While I understand frustrated residents, some system should be worked out where it will be beneficial for all.

Andre

[FASTEDDIE29]

I’ll be there fishing eventually, via boat. It’s a short ride from the closest boy launch. Easy peasy. :D

[dakota560]

My recollection is the overnight parking permit wasn't to generate revenue, it was to keep the trash from partying at night and not cleaning up after themselves. To do that, at least initially, you needed a current fishing license and fishing pole to get the permit at the Municipal office which was their way of making sure not just anyone walked in off the street to get a permit. The cost was also if you didn't have one and parked at night, you were going to be ticketed and the police officer I spoke with said your car would be towed. So in essence the fee was the cost of a valid fishing license and the risk of being ticked and towed. Not an iron clad system but that was the logic explained to me when I first got my permit.

Pohatcong has slightly over 3,000 residents. Shame 28 miles of prime shoreline are no longer available because of slobs and probably a few residents complaining. I understand the complaints from locals when people crap in their backyard but there's other ways of controlling it without closing down access to the entire river system. Put in a curfew, no activities allowed other than fishing after 8:00 pm or you'll be fined $1,000. No liquor allowed after curfew. Guarantee one ticket and you won't make that mistake a second time. Word will get out and this crap will stop.

Lesson we already know is a few can and will ruin it for all of us. You see not just illegal fishing or littering call F&G or the police. The fact there was a meth lab operating there years ago might have something to do with the police officer having his gun unholstered, just wanted to mention that. Only takes walking into one wrong situation for someone's life to change forever. The amount of trash I've walked out of there with from the rocks and street side on a beautiful stretch of river was unconscionable and complete disregard for nature and everything else.

There's a place I fish which is semi private but the owner allows fishing for a modest fee. People who he allows there have to display the permit he had printed the same as your fishing license. As with everywhere, there's a lot of people who try fishing there illegally and keep every fish they catch. You know the type I'm referring to. It got out of control. And like Pohatcong, they leave all their crap behind.

The people allowed to fish are only approved by the owner and now act as deputies to watch over the place. If anyone sees someone without a permit, you don't confront the person you call the owner and he has an arrangement with the town where police show up every time and people are asked to leave. Warning first offense, second time equipment is confiscated and they get the privilege of meeting the town judge. Area is posted and trespassing and illegal fishing is not an insignificant fine. System works beautifully. No altercations, law enforcement does their jobs with the public's help, county raises revenue for those that don't comply, great relationship developed between private landowners and fishing community, the people who have no regard for the outdoors are penalized, not the ones who act to preserve and enjoy it recreationally. Something Pohatcong might consider adopting as opposed to completely closing access to a large stretch of the river. Turn a negative into a positive instead of penalizing the people who care about the community.

[Andrushkin33]

Tom,

I remember the meth lab so i can see your point. Still i think it was excessive considering that we had interactions a month prior with local police force without any issues.

Ideas you mentioned are excellent and hopefully we all be able to work together in order to maintain that fishery that we have.

Andre

[dakota560]

Tom,

I remember the meth lab so i can see your point. Still i think it was excessive considering that we had interactions a month prior with local police force without any issues.

Ideas you mentioned are excellent and hopefully we all be able to work together in order to maintain that fishery that we have.

Andre

Andre I completely agree with your situation. Problem law enforcement has in the world today is one wrong decision is all it takes. I don't envy anyone wearing a badge in this world. Didn't mean the police officer couldn't have handled your situation more tactfully, meant there are officers who have walked into what looked to be a benign situation and paid a price. That as well as the location which I think we're talking about has a less than stellar reputation.

Wasn't coming at you.

[Andrushkin33]

Andre I completely agree with your situation. Problem law enforcement has in the world today is one wrong decision is all it takes. I don't envy anyone wearing a badge in this world. Didn't mean the police officer couldn't have handled your situation more tactfully, meant there are officers who have walked into what looked to be a benign situation and paid a price. That as well as the location which I think we're talking about has a less than stellar reputation.

Wasn't coming at you.

Tom,

I know you werent so its all good there. And it is the location that you think. I wasnt there personally, had friends that were, just was suprised how it was handled considering to all the other times where we had interactions with local law enforcement. Not being negative about it, just suprised.

Tight lines brother,

Andre

[Esox Luciano]

I agree with both of you. It's definitely bothersome to me to say the least, let alone one of the property owners, to have to A: see trash left by scumbags, B: have to clean it up if you'd like to enjoy the outdoors and NOT sit amongst mounds of trash, and C: have the situation escalate to the authorities shutting it down because others are too dirty or lazy. Props to Dre & Tom, and whomever else keeps clean and does what they could to help. Surprising that this is going on elsewhere and not somewhere here on the Passaic. I can say for this exact reason is why I try to keep my personal fishing spot as clean as possible, as well as the entry/access to it. It's not my property, the more mess that's left behind by others leaves more reason for the owner to eliminate the access to prevent everyone from using it. So I clean up.
I've tried to be kind with others who do leave their trash while on the river. At times it worked. Other times they disregard and continue even after I've gotten verbally firm with them explaining that there'll be repercussions if continued. I.e. One of the spots I fish has homeless that live there. They are slobs and the trash around shows it doesn't bother them. On another board I read fisherman complaining about bums throwing bottles past their head and making it a scary/sketchy place to fish at this same spot. I've 1st hand witnessed this problem & after trying to be nice with these same "scary people", took it further and got a little scary myself. There's now no longer a group, but just one bum that stays there. So long as he remembers the time we spent together and keeps up with what that brought the others, the spot is totally fishable now. Fish on!
This Pohatcong spot is a great stretch of a spot. If they are able to eliminate anyone from being there, they can easily shut down one of your favorite spots as well, be it urban or not, evidently. We need to take this spot as a lesson, and maybe try to help make sure this doesn't happen to one or all of your other spots.

[FASTEDDIE29]

Myself and a local lady broke up a Meth lab a few years ago. It went down in March. The 2 idiots went to jail. Myself and quite a few other anglers from NJF took home mounds of garbage all the time. We did our part and it still wasn’t good enough. Unreal!!! The memories made on the rocks will never be forgotten that’s for sure.

[Detour66]

That really sucks. It seems like a lot of good fishing spots in Hunterdon County are crowded with fisherman and just people in general since the Covid. I know the spot you are talking about but never fished there but I was planning to. I guess now that isnt going to happen. I was told that they are going to fix up the railroad tracks and make it a tourist attraction. That whole area is going to change now. More people from the city. It seems like all of a sudden people are discovering Hunterdon County! It was just a matter of time I guess. Tight Lines

[Hookmanski]

That really sucks. It seems like a lot of good fishing spots in Hunterdon County are crowded with fisherman and just people in general since the Covid. I know the spot you are talking about but never fished there but I was planning to. I guess now that isnt going to happen. I was told that they are going to fix up the railroad tracks and make it a tourist attraction. That whole area is going to change now. More people from the city. It seems like all of a sudden people are discovering Hunterdon County! It was just a matter of time I guess. Tight Lines

I grew up in hunterdon, lived there almost 20 years and you're right, the cats out of the bag! Couldn't believe how many people I saw fishing when I was last out that way.

This whole thing really is a shame.

[Detour66]

I grew up in hunterdon, lived there almost 20 years and you're right, the cats out of the bag! Couldn't believe how many people I saw fishing when I was last out that way.

This whole thing really is a shame. Let's hope when the lockdown ends people will go down the shore again instead of HC!

[dakota560]

Not telling anyone what to do but like many, I've had it with the people who lack respect and responsibility and pose real threats to the sport we love and need. The attached pics are from an area I fish from shore where the owners allows people to fish but have concerns about littering and liability. Completely understandable and really the concerns every property owner has. I've spoken to the owners, husband and wife, who are great people. They agreed to keep the area open as long as littering didn't happen and privileges weren't abused.

Wednesday night I heard from people I know that a particular group of locals who fish there left an absolute mess behind. Were drinking, loud, obnoxious at late hours when resident are trying to sleep. Just slobs brought up with no values. I made a promise to the home owner if he allowed fishing, I'd do everything possible along with a few good friends who fish there as well to keep the place clean. I went up last night not to fish but to check the place out and the below pics are what I found. Beers cans, bottles, cigarette butts, pizza boxes, broken glass, food tins all over the place. The owners have a golden retriever who walks the property so just a matter of time before the dog steps on broken glass and we all know the outcome then. Took 15 minutes to clean it up, put it in a trash bag and place it in an area not 20 feet away designated for garbage.

If we have any hopes of protecting future shore access points, we should all have F&G and local police numbers in our phones on speed dial. I'm going to speak with the group next time I see them and essentially tell them if it happens again I'm going to the home owner to have them restricted from using the property. If not, this place will no doubt be the next Pohatcong. It's an absolute disgrace and I hate the saying but caused by local white trash. Not going to lose another spot to idiots. If necessary, I'll video what's happening for proof and turn the video over to the homeowner so he can turn it over to authorities and have the offenders prosecuted.

Trespassing and littering carry significant fines. Get it on video and call the authorities. Until people threatening our sport are held accountable for their actions, their complete disrespect of owners, nature, the fishery and essentially everything in life, the Pohatcong story will repeat itself over and over and there won't be a place to fish from shore in the state.

As pissed off as Eddie was when he posted the story about the Pohatcong closure, it's the same level of pissed off we should all have when we witness this stuff happening. Three kinds of people in life. People who make things happen, people who watch things happen and people who ask what just happened. I choose group 1 over 2 and 3 regardless of consequences. Absolutely sick and tired of people with genetic defects ruining life's pleasures for everyone else. Sorry for the tirade but this shit has got to stop.

[FASTEDDIE29]

Well stated Tom! I can’t believe locals would abuse the advantage they have by destroying that spot. Unreal! The level of stupidity is amazing. Some people have zero common sense. Thank you for posting this. You word things well and pretty much said what I wanted to say but couldn’t get it into words at the time. Let’s make a conscious effort as NJ fishermen to keep our open spaces and fishing spots clean. Don’t let trashy people trash your spots. Period!!!!!:D

[BT67]

Never could understand those who litter, it just doesn't make any sense to me. Who does that or thinks that is acceptable behavior? And another thing, with no offense intended to those who smoke and clean up, when did it become acceptable to flick cigarette butts all over the place, I see them everywhere and it pisses me off:mad:

[NJSquatch]

There must have been 20 of them partying. The cops do nothing. Thanks for cleaning up the mess Tom

[Poncho]

People still there!!!

[dakota560]

There must have been 20 of them partying. The cops do nothing. Thanks for cleaning up the mess Tom

Duane, that group know the cops very well, they turn a blind eye. That's part of the problem. I have nothing against people having a good time but this is well beyond a good time and is going to eventually put that place off limits.

[FASTEDDIE29]

Took a ride to the spot Sunday morning. 6 cars parked on the side of the road with no overnight parking tickets on them. Approximately 20 people camping and having a good ole time. Kids were swimming in the hole. The Railroad company posted a sign on the side of the road. There’s no ordinance number on the sign!?!?!?
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[steve392]

Took a ride to the spot Sunday morning. 6 cars parked on the side of the road with no overnight parking tickets on them. Approximately 20 people camping and having a good ole time. Kids were swimming in the hole. The Railroad company posted a sign on the side of the road. There’s no ordinance number on the sign!?!?!?
https://hosting.photobucket.com/images/t599/fasteddie2927/1981944C_6140_445B_9684_A1B8ABBC7D5C.jpeg?width=19 20&height=1080&fit=bounds

Trespassing on railroad property is defined as defiant trespassing
N.J.S.A. 2C:18-3

Got these kind of signs near me. I'de rather deal with local cops then the gustapo csx police.

[dakota560]

Print out the attached emblem and place it on the windshield of your car. If anyone from the RR stops you at zero dark thirty, tell them you're part of the newly organized NJ F&G Special Forces Unit recently formed to save the Delaware from the encroachment of the highly invasive Flathead. Unit is "STFU" or Stop The Flathead Unit. Tell them operation is sanctioned by Murphy, highly classified and any attempts to impede your efforts will result in double secret probation.

Refer them to N.J.S.A. 2C:18-4 which supersedes all conditions concerning N.J.S.A. 2C:18-3. That should resolve any problems accessing that stretch.

Hahaha! This is awesome! Thanks Tom! I will definitely give this a shot!!!

[dakota560]

Eddie PLEASE tell me you have special permission and somehow edited my post without actually replying to it. Don't want the board thinking I developed split personality disorder and having conversations with myself. If that wasn't you, I need to up my meds immediately.

[FASTEDDIE29]

Sorry Tom! Yes it was me. Haha! Meant to reply, duhhhhhh on my part.

[Andrushkin33]

Tom,

I gots to try that for sure. Great stuff.

Eddie,

Quick update on time you showed up there and saw ppl after signs were posted. Well toward late afternoon that crowd swelled to about 40ppl. Had friends passing by the area. And what do you know. Same person who kept on calling cops on me last 2 times i was there, was there with his family unloading fishing and bbq gear from his truck. Amazing how it works. Now for the kicker. As soon as he saw my friends he realized that we perfectly know who he is, so he quickly loaded up his family back in a truck and high tailed out of there. Low and behold, 20 minutes later cops show up and everyone gets kicked out. They literally sat there for 45 minutes waiting for everyone to clear out.

So questions is, is it really towns doing or just one individual

Andre

[dakota560]

Tom,

I gots to try that for sure. Great stuff.

Eddie,

Quick update on time you showed up there and saw ppl after signs were posted. Well toward late afternoon that crowd swelled to about 40ppl. Had friends passing by the area. And what do you know. Same person who kept on calling cops on me last 2 times i was there, was there with his family unloading fishing and bbq gear from his truck. Amazing how it works. Now for the kicker. As soon as he saw my friends he realized that we perfectly know who he is, so he quickly loaded up his family back in a truck and high tailed out of there. Low and behold, 20 minutes later cops show up and everyone gets kicked out. They literally sat there for 45 minutes waiting for everyone to clear out.

So questions is, is it really towns doing or just one individual

Andre

Andre......my bet would be a combination of all three. Pretty brazen the person calling the police is actually still accessing the area the complaint covers. My guess would be he wanted exclusive access so complained to the town. I assume this is town or county property and there has to be a legal document (lease, easement, access rights etc.) between parties so the town contractually probably needs to bring the RR into it. The sign posted by the RR seems to coincide with the timing of all this but might be a product of what was started by the resident as opposed to the RR being the driving force. The picture of the sign posted by the RR I would imagine is pretty standard practice in that industry to avoid liability if someone is hurt or worse on their property. Might have been a contractual obligation in the provisions of the contract to post signage which the town made the RR comply with based on the malcontents complaint.

That would also give the town the ability to blame the change on the RR when in fact it could very well be driven by one disgruntled resident who wants exclusive access rights for himself.

FWIW, its my understanding there are areas on the Delaware River not accessible to the general public but accessible to town residents. Not sure if that's the case here, if so I doubt the person you observed would have reloaded the truck and high tailed it out or he's not a resident. If it's no trespassing by order of the RR, my guess would be residential status wouldn't even matter.

Question, are those railroad tracks still functional? I'm not from that area but the times I've fished the area I've never seen one train.

[FASTEDDIE29]

They run the steam train out of P’burg a couple months out of the year. The access area is one of the places the train stops to do whatever, take pictures of the river I guess.

[dakota560]

New sign has been officially posted which is a lot less onerous than the initial sign. Access shouldn't be a problem anymore:)! Just take a picture and keep it in your wallet as part of your credentials working for "STFU"!;)

[FASTEDDIE29]

Hahaha this is great! I’ll be out there soon enough! Well played Tom! :D