Monmouth County Trout

[Good Times]

Hello and thanks in advance for your input.

I was wondering if anyone knew a good spot to start trout fishing in Monmouth County? I'm not looking for exact coordinates to your favorite honey hole, just a name of a brook or river worth fishing. I usually drive west to trout fish, but since I live in Monmouth I wouldn't mind finding a place worth fishing after work.

I did my research on NJ.gov but I figured I get as much input before I start wasting gas driving around the county.

Thanks again.

[Lard Almighty]

Your options are sadly limited. You can either join the Bucket Brigade at the numerous ponds, or slip and slide on the muddy banks of the Manasquan River. If you have the time to drive north for trout fishing, I suggest you do so. Good luck either way.

[Good Times]

L.A, thanks for your input, unfortunately I did a little scouting yesterday after work and you're 100% correct. Looks like west it is.

Thanks again.

[Cuz]

If you start trout fishing in Monmouth County you will soon give up the sport! The closest place for you to fish productively for trout is the north branch of the Raritan River. Get on Rte. 287 north, get on Rte. 22 west, then Rte 202 south. The river is just past Milltown Rd. Bridgewater. They stock a lot of fish off the bridge. Good luck. It's rocky bottom not mud. Then you can drive south on Rte. 202 (toward Flemington) and fish at Three Bridges which is the south branch of the Raritan River. It's a very scenic place.

[dfish28]

Well I moved to Woodbridge from Neptune and still take a ride down to the manasquan from time to time I hit around the west farms area used to wade it but it's still so washed out from Irene you can sit on a tree overhanging the bank , I had limit in 20 minutes,keeping only two, 1 fat 17" bow and another 1 right behind it. All alone with my two buds in one stretch with everyone else cuddled up under the bridge, not my style. You can even have some fun at the shark river at the legion or remsen mills. Spring lake is nice to toss some spinners or rapalas now that its calmed down, or lake takanassee in long branch, if you got a yak try shadow lake in red bank... There are options out there- but then again... The raritan is awesome, good luck!!!

[Almaink]

I grew up in Monmouth county and used to like fishing Hockhocksen Brook behind the Old Mill in Shrewsbury. Plenty of other places as well check out Fish & Games web page for a full listings. http://www.state.nj.us/dep/fgw/trtinfo.htm

[Doug Vitale]

I recommend reading Mark B.'s comments on the Manasquan in a previous thread:

http://www.njfishing.com/forums/showthread.php?p=212478

I'm pretty sure that the Manasquan gets too low and hot during the summer, so there are no holdover trout from one year to the next. Even though it's a poor habitat for trout, apparent some sea run brown trout swim up it to spawn.

http://www.njfishandwildlife.com/crunbrn.htm

http://www.state.nj.us/dep/fgw/news/2002/crunman02.htm

[Moz]

if you got a yak try shadow lake in red bank...

Are there trout in Shadow Lake now? I cut my teeth in starting freshwater fishing on that lake, I only caught perch and dink LMB there but saw some big catfish taken out of there. I thought a good portion of it washed away during the tropical storm this past year. With the dredging on/off again I would not have thought it would have been a stocking location but since the state is all about moving the fishing licenses who knows.

I heard once the falls behind the Grist Mill in Tinton Falls holds fish but I'm a bit wary of the accuracy of the source.

[Almaink]

They still stock Shadow Lake and yes there are some huge Channel Cats swimming in there. Stream behind the Grist Mill is Hockhocksen Brook and it's stocked as well.

[Moz]

Stream behind the Grist Mill is Hockhocksen Brook and it's stocked as well.

LOL, I never should have doubted my source although Lou Reed once sang "You can't always trust your mother". :p

[surfrod]

The Grist Mill is now called The Falls, I believe

The only thing about the Hock is that they only stock Brook trout, the Muddy squan gets brooks, bows and some browns.

If you're going to fish Monmouth county for trout, do it now during stocking season, but the advice to go up to the Raritan or to other "real" trout waters is sound... it'll just be more enjoyable to start out with.

[tautog]

Shadow Lake used to have some holdovers. Remember when I was a kid I had a 6lb brown in a killie way up in the back in the pads in mid July. Also remember one time that it was privately stocked and we were taking 3-7lbers on spinners up the dam. Only stream I ever liked fishing down this was was Pine Brook but that hasn't been stocked in a while.

[JerseyCoast]

I fish the Toms, Manasquan and Metediconck myself, but its nothing like the northern waters! Dont get me wrong, I have had several fish 19" -22" from these waters, but you will not see the quantity!

All 3 of the places above do have hold overs. ( depending on the temps, storms, it will vary each year).

[Good Times]

Sorry for the late reply, I didn't see all the replies till now. I have to figure out how to setup njfishing.com to email me with updates.

I'll defiantly try some of the spots, especially the one Cuz mentioned and let you guys know how I do.

I appreciated all your help. So far this year I've been going up North and having a blast with the trout, but I think this weekend I'm going to launch the boat a little early and try to get into this hot Striper action.