passaic river baitfish

[tycomps]

checked out a new spot on the river tonight, too hot and water was way too shallow. it was however, filled with small baitfish (about 4-6") flashing their sides. considered throwing out a cast net just to ID them as I believe it's legal in rivers and streams in NJ. any ideas on what they were? shiners?

[AndyS]

Cast net is only illegal in trout stocked waters.

[tycomps]

and freshwater lakes or beyond 8' diameter elsewhere but any ideas what the "shiners" may be?

[acabtp]

probably golden shiners or chubs

[tycomps]

this part of the river is upstream from the area that is posted as trout stocked water, does the no cast net/stocking rule apply to the whole river or just the posted areas?

[Lard Almighty]

this part of the river is upstream from the area that is posted as trout stocked water, does the no cast net/stocking rule apply to the whole river or just the posted areas?Some of the river above the trout-stocked section is designated wild trout stream, which DEFINITELY would not allow a cast net. Check the boundaries in the compendium.

[bronzeback]

yeah i second that.. prob chubs or shiners..

i think chub

[Skunk City]

I know the water has been pretty low and clear lately, but when I was in the kayak on tuesday, I literally saw hundreds of Sunnies of all sizes on spawning beds. Some were just hanging out, some chasing each other, even some chasing my big Pike lures lol. Could be the fish you guys mentioned above, but just something else to consider...

[The Dominator]

When I was out yesterday I saw a ton of sunfish also. But I would have to say they were Chubs. I no someone who catches them with a little piece of worm and then live lines them. Pike love them I am not one to fish with live bait. Artificial all the way!!!!

[mondofish]

I managed to catch a couple of baitfish out of the Passaic last week. I thought they were carp?

[tycomps]

thanks for the info lard, I'll look into it further. yeah, I'm trying hard to avoid live bait but whatever's feeding on those baitfish is getting fat, there were hundreds of them. too thin to be sunnys and snouts didn't look like chubs, maybe I'll toss a small hook out on my ultralight just to ID them.

[slider]

River used to be full of killiefish, bet they still be there in large numbers..

[bronzeback]

gotta lov the passaic.. gotta lov it baby

[danyeo]

I always see small fish at the falls in Chatham and they're usually getting eating by the big Heron who camps out there.