Raritan river 6/28/20:

[AndyS]

Of course all the news feeds come my way. Looks like the North branch and the Raritan river had a big weekend !

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ocs-_zGUhbk

[Jigman13]

That's insane. Gonna start using empanadas and flautas with trebles as top water to catch smallies in the raritan.

So, where are they going to the bathroom? I bet half those people wind up with poison ivy all over their nasty bits come monday morning lol. And the other half test positive for the 'Rona.

That shit gotta get stopped before we end up back where we started in March/April.

[dakota560]

Jigman that's exactly where we're headed. With the summer months upon us, 4th of July around the corner, NYC reopening, I'd give it 4 weeks until we're in lockdown mode again. Unless the virus in every other part of the country is different than the one in Texas, California and Arizona which it's not, every state is going to experience the same. With the contagion rate of this virus and a significantly increased base of infected people precisely because of gatherings and stupidity like the pic Andy posted, the growth rate of cases will be staggering. If 10,000 can grow to 50,000 in 30 days, what will 50,000 grow to by the end of July.

[DanH]

WTF !!!!!!!!! I guess law and order only only applies to us! WTF!!!!!

[Mark B.]

A spot that I wade fish on the Delaware River, has been for years, popular for camping / fishing / swimming. But no where near the that number of people!! The other day, there was a huge steel pot and lid with a cable running through the handle secured with a big combination lock to a tree branch.

My catch of an 18" striper, 4 smaller ones, a 15" smallie, and a fallfish would have made the beginning stock for a tasty fish stew.

[thmyorke1]

A spot that I wade fish on the Delaware River, has been for years, popular for camping / fishing / swimming. But no where near the that number of people!! The other day, there was a huge steel pot and lid with a cable running through the handle secured with a big combination lock to a tree branch.

My catch of an 18" striper, 4 smaller ones, a 15" smallie, and a fallfish would have made the beginning stock for a tasty fish stew.

that Delaware river always producing :D

[DanH]

A spot that I wade fish on the Delaware River, has been for years, popular for camping / fishing / swimming. But no where near the that number of people!! The other day, there was a huge steel pot and lid with a cable running through the handle secured with a big combination lock to a tree branch.

My catch of an 18" striper, 4 smaller ones, a 15" smallie, and a fallfish would have made the beginning stock for a tasty fish stew.

They believe the rules just don't apply to them .

[Christofish1989]

Very concerned regarding the amount of garbage they must be leaving behind

[bigfishy]

Honestly the only problem I have with it is the garbage that's left behind.....other than that , it's a whole bunch of ppl beating the heat and having fun....That access and parking area has been closed with those concrete barriers the last few summers, do to the crowds and garbage....I can understand the town being pissed about the parking in private lots also....that access has a small lot that can fit maybe ten cars.....as the filmmaker mentioned, the garbage is the main problem....my guess is that they'll close that access as they've done in previous summers..

[logs22]

I encountered a similar situation at Buttermilk falls by Washington valley reservoir. I was hiking with my daughter (I was doing the hiking she was strapped in the baby bjorn). Came across a ton of people swimming at the falls. The police made an appearance and cleared everyone out. I give kudos to the Bridgewater police, it was hot day and a long hike for them to kick everyone out but they were the model of civility and diplomacy while at the same time being assertive enough to clear the crowd out. With regard to the North Branch crowds I agree with an earlier post that if people could just be responsible for cleaning up their mess (and adhering to covid social gathering rules) then by all means they have the same right to enjoy the river as anglers, hikers and everyone else.

[AndyS]

Here is the clean up video !

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

[thmyorke1]

Here is the clean up video !

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

!!! good video. Hope they do more about these situations than just close the parking lot.

[DanH]

Anyone who wets a line in nj or anywhere ,should be outraged at this!

[The Hunter]

Disgusting. This guy made it right though.

https://youtu.be/psWqiKSlwKU

[FTownjohnnie]

I don't know where they all come from but this is up and down all the rivers. Sickening! Nothing worse than bushwhacking to a spot only to arrive to a river fiesta.

[Jigman13]

That guy and his volunteers deserve much respect from EVERYONE

[Esox Luciano]

...SMH. They come from home, same as us. Truthfully, I'd rather bushwhack & find a fiesta than follow the sound of Leonard Skynard to a river meth-lab. Or do we want the Raritan areas shut down like the Delaware in Pohatcong. Nothing wrong with some Freebird or some bachata, but the garbage is the main focus here. Right? My bet is if some guys are stuck dormant with their opinions only to type to no avail, it might be beneficial to consider linking up together to have courage enough to say something in person. Or at least make a call, you'd still be behind closed doors, so to speak. We should be taking care & responsibility of all the spots we like to fish, yes, even if we didn't throw it there. If you really are concerned or bothered by the things you see, make something happen, and then post the results to spread motivation. Scared money don't make money!

Big props to Bigfishy for seeing the pollution and not the pigment. Real recognize real.

[DanH]

Andy S.
When I first saw this despicable display I immediately thought of you . I was going to Post it here but you had already beat me to it. You've spent countless hours on this river cleaning and removing trash. Thank You for all that work, it didn't go unnoticed ! If one were to look for a silver lining I guess we could point to there are people that are just slobs and then there are like yourself that care and look for nothing in return. I know this must have really bothered you ! But all your hard work did not go unnoticed . Thank You!

[clevinger]

That's insane. Gonna start using empanadas and flautas with trebles as top water to catch smallies in the raritan.

So, where are they going to the bathroom? I bet half those people wind up with poison ivy all over their nasty bits come monday morning lol. And the other half test positive for the 'Rona.

That shit gotta get stopped before we end up back where we started in March/April.

This comment about "empanadas and flautas" is racist and completely inappropriate. There should be no room for such comments on this forum.

[Blackfishhead]

Thanks for posting Andy.
Hats off to all the volunteers!

[AndyS]

TenEyck Park North Branch from June 28th. The park is now closed and the water being tested for fecal matter.

[thmyorke1]

TenEyck Park North Branch from June 28th. The park is now closed and the water being tested for fecal matter.

it's clear they're trying (a bit) to clean up after themselves, with pics of those trash cans overflowing. They should think about taking their trash home to their own garbage cans however in this scenario.

Maybe the County parks can place more cans and maybe even dumpsters? Seems like easy solutions here; give park attendees opportunities to dispose of their trash, and monitor for any that are being negligent. Such as a park ranger. The park rangers in Somerset county are pretty good. I saw one patrolling via golf cart on the peters brook greenway. I was taking a tire out of the river and they hauled it out for me.

I know they got the motivation, maybe they need more resources to monitor these spots properly.

[Mark B.]

Too many people/inadequate recreation areas = problems.

Maybe as part of the discussion of diverting funds for military gear for the police to other priorities, recreation opportunities near to where people live could be explored.

Also, outdoor ethics (leave it better than you found it, etc.) need to be taught in grade school. When we were reckless youths we kept our semi-illegal camping/drinking/swimming holes clean and undercover, so as not to draw attention to the spot by the county mounties or local yokels and other hordes of youths that would ruin it.

[Jigman13]

This comment about "empanadas and flautas" is racist and completely inappropriate. There should be no room for such comments on this forum.

I've got Spanish blood bud. And Asian blood. So, yea...

And it's not racist. With all the garbage left behind it's not outside the realm of possibility the foods I mentioned were very possibly ethnic in nature. And they're f'n delicious by the way.

[AndyS]

Nothing like being a taxpayer but feeling like a door mat.

[Hookmanski]

really a shame. My parents used to own the North Branch General store right down the road, and my grandfather's farm is just upstream of this access point. I used to fish here often after bailing hay. It's gotten completely out of hand and, as always in this state, one group of people ruined it for everyone. Hopefully they open that access back up so I can hit it next time im up that way!

[bigfishy85]

Let's hope CHANGE will happen and the river will get the RESPECT it deserves!! Adding garbage cans, dumpster, parking spots is great idea. Maybe a bathroom too and we can call it a PARK! Fkn brilliant! We have em, multiple ones, less then 5 miles away. Parks have RULES like no drinking and littering. No fishing W/O a license, No Swimming , fires, chitin n pissing everywhere. SANITARY and DISEASE issues are the major Problem! U see.. Sad to say even innocence of swimming leads to unsafe levels look at are state parks shut down annually. Park rangers have no authority, cops hit em with a parking ticket (WEAK). Still cheaper then water park. Thats just the weekend, they have fish poach party's too! Lots of them! Digging out steep banks (stairs) 5/0 gami 1million lb Set lines, party don't stop with set lines!! I take a bike ride daily along the raritain, if I don't see a license I take a pic and demand to see a license and tell them I'm calling the warden. What right do I have? NONE!! Hah. Park rangers WILL NOT ask to see they have no authority! So they don't even fkn bother them and ask or try to educate nothing!!!!!! Wtf!!! So you call the GW obviously. But daily for a few group of 2-3?? Like the geese man I swear. I yell at em give em the books with the regs and say cops or warden are on there way. N I get a written warning from BRIDGEWATER police for fishing half hr after dark cuz I was battling a big ol flathead. Hahahha not Kidding. He saw fish too. I want the 90s round valley crew back! They here a bobber splash or soda can click 3 miles away wind in face. When I grew up there was a respect for the sport and nature and the avg. person wouldn't dare pull this chit for fear of warden or his fellow fisherman.

[bigfishy85]

A spot that I wade fish on the Delaware River, has been for years, popular for camping / fishing / swimming. But no where near the that number of people!! The other day, there was a huge steel pot and lid with a cable running through the handle secured with a big combination lock to a tree branch.

My catch of an 18" striper, 4 smaller ones, a 15" smallie, and a fallfish would have made the beginning stock for a tasty fish stew.

Ummm, Especially given ur catch. Can't something be done about the pot?? I'm hearing these poachers are so brasin they have a pot to catch n cook set up at all times!! Grinders work well. Just screams out illegal fishing to me. Just a lil

[logs22]

This comment about "empanadas and flautas" is racist and completely inappropriate. There should be no room for such comments on this forum.

Says a political correctness troll with 1 post to his name.....

[Jigman13]

Says a political correctness troll with 1 post to his name.....

lol...

[AndyS]

The first video got 18,000 views in 3 days so that's a good thing I guess. Yeah Dan H, glad to see people getting involved. The sad part is loss of access for many of us, heard Blackpoint Rd access on the South Branch is now closed also.

[bunker dunker]

the problem is all the laws being broken and no one being held responsible.lets face it,there is a right way to do things and a wrong way.i am all for everyone having a good time but lets stay within the law and lets please clean up after ourselves.

[HBird11]

There is absolutely no reason the park system should have to put more garbage cans or dumpsters out at these spots!!! If you can carry it in there’s no reason you can’t carry it back out!

[icebadger]

there is absolutely no reason the park system should have to put more garbage cans or dumpsters out at these spots!!! If you can carry it in there’s no reason you can’t carry it back out!

well said....