Spike in Traffic and New Regisrants

[Gerry Zagorski]

Not exactly sure why but we experienced a spike in traffic and new registrants here lately... Yes it's the summer and we usually have a spike but this is much more of a spike then we usually have and now it's out pacing our group Facebook page...

So, what do you all attribute this to?
- More people at home with more time on their hands
- People tiring of regular social media sites

I'd be interested in opinions here so what do you all think?

[thmyorke1]

For sure, fishing grew in popularity this year, so it could just be that there's more new anglers, and returning anglers from hiatus, and that these folk are searching up online "NJ fishing" and find this forum.

I know sometimes when you type "ni fishing" + a certain body of water, species, and other topics, on google, these forum posts show up on the first page of results. So they can find it that way too. I think that's how I found this site when I joined a few years ago.

Could just be some people spreading word too.

Gerry, you could possibly add an option on the registration forum to include "How did you find about this site?" that could give some good data if you were curious.

As long as the site can handle the traffic, i welcome more guests :)

Also, I love to see more and more people off Facebook. :D The zuck is stealing your fishing spots! :p

[Poncho]

Maybe Ken Beam's Facebook page is directing them to here also.

[Fred E. Goose]

Maybe Ken Beam's Facebook page is directing them to here also.
HAHA Could be

Plus the state parks have been getting mobbed! I'm sure they see people fishing and it sparks an interest, or their kids see people fishing and give 'em the "Can we do that?" and next thing you know they're online searching...

[Mikey topaz]

For sure, fishing grew in popularity this year, so it could just be that there's more new anglers, and returning anglers from hiatus, and that these folk are searching up online "NJ fishing" and find this forum.

I know sometimes when you type "ni fishing" + a certain body of water, species, and other topics, on google, these forum posts show up on the first page of results. So they can find it that way too. I think that's how I found this site when I joined a few years ago.

Could just be some people spreading word too.

Gerry, you could possibly add an option on the registration forum to include "How did you find about this site?" that could give some good data if you were curious.

As long as the site can handle the traffic, i welcome more guests :)

Also, I love to see more and more people off Facebook. :D The zuck is stealing your fishing spots! :p

I totally agree with Luke, I think that a lot of people are taking up the sport and trying to get outside and learn the sport. The shelves are empty you cannot find a zebco push button!!! As for everything else goes I mean come on let’s face it fresh or salt I’ve met so many great close friends/ anglers through this site and I know evreyone has done the same. It’s just like eddie always says this a like a family! The other things that separates us is the njfishing holiday party,the rfa fuke-athon,meet and greets I mean what other Facebook page or website is doing these kinds of things! I’ve joined a bunch of fishing FB pages and sites but I’m sorry Njf will always be my home!!!!!!!!!��

[Joeblowv1]

One of the new registrants right here.

I think people nailed it. Googling around fishing looking to read about NJ spots, and just what people caught where, good stories from locals, etc. Of course the somewhat solitary nature of fishing combined with the pandemic is probably the leading factor. I booked a trip up to the Great Sacandaga about a month away as the GF and I wanted a safe, serene, socially distant vacation. Wanted to do a little reading and practicing on my fishing.

Long time "on and off" fisherman. Figured I'd sign up just to shoot the breeze now and again with people who can share somewhat similar experiences living in the garden state.

[Hookmanski]

I think what everyone else said is true, and also, lots of people here catch BIG fish! Who wouldn't want to be on this site and get advice from the NJ Pros? :D

[Skunk City]

I personally got sick of being a member of 20 different new jersey fishing facebook groups. Between the drama, the spot burning, blatant misinformation, and plain old idiots, I left a majority of them (sorry Ken Beam, even your group). Other than a small, private fb group me, mikey, eddie, scoward, chrisper, squatch, etc. are on, its here or the njfishing.com Facebook for sharing reports.

[Chrisper4694]

Same reason i saw tons of people trout fishing in the spring in places i’ve never seen a soul before. Same reason walmart fishing aisle was cleaned out 😂

[CMA719]

Another new member here. I lurked on this site for a little while, and saw that it is a knowledgeable group of good people here and I wanted to be a part of it!

Regarding the uptick in new registrants, it probably has a lot to do with the pandemic and the increase in fishing activity across the garden state. As others have said, all of the fishing equipment in many of the chain stores (and even online) is sold out.

Between hiking, fishing, botanizing, bushcraft, etc. we spend a lot of time outdoors as a family, and I've never seen so many people outside (and yes many of them are fishing).

[Gerry Zagorski]

Thanks for all the kind words on the site. We do have a great group of people here and we try to keep it friendly and on topic with the help of all of you.

And yes, the Search Engine Optimization gets us a lot of viewers. In fact, looking at our google analytics our traffic is 48% direct and 47% organic. Direct means people come directly to the site either by typing in the URL or from their book marks and organic means they do a search and we come up and they click through from the search engine.

It does make sense that there are a lot more people fishing and that makes me happy since this great sport of ours has many more benefits then just catching fish.

Thanks to all who contribute here and call it home. Without all of you this site wouldn't be where it is today and the support, experience and encouragement is a big part of that and passing it along to others.

Tip of the cap to you all!

[FASTEDDIE29]

Tons of people out there fishing these days. My son and his baseball team are out half the day before a game looking for fish to catch. They ride there bikes to random lakes in my area looking for something to catch or jump in the local lake or river to cool off. I love it. The kids I’m surrounded by remind me of me and my friends when we were younger. It’s awesome! Kids doing normal stuff without all the social media nonsense a constant thought in there young minds. Get out and play, YESSSSSS!

If you want to read some of the best reports in NJ. NJFishing.com is where it’s at obviously. We’ve had the best of the best post here and they’re still part of the NJF family eventhough life can be busy at times. We are a band of brothers that doesn’t get together often these days but when we do you can be sure a good time is gona be had and some fish will be caught. There’s so many pages out there these days that I can’t stand it. I’m gona just stay here with my brothers because this is where I met my best friends. This site has helped me make many life memories. To me that’s what’s important. There’s always something to learn here and there’s always someone willing to help. Gotta love this site and it’s members. Thank you for keeping the nuthouse going Cap’n Gerry! This site rocks!
:D