sunfish

[zhitoman]

hello everybody. i am a sunfish fanatic and looking for new places to catch them. I am very interested in red breasted sunfish. I used to fish for them in Ramapo river, but not lately. Also interested in big bluegills. I catch and release so no worries. I just love catching those beautiful slabs on light spinning outfit. I am even willing to trade information about trout places in exchange for sunfish.)))

[kcritch]

Sorry I don't have any info for you but now that you mention Sunfish I have not seen any to mention in any of the places I fish all year. In fact the last couple of years I really haven't been seeing them. Real tiny ones yes but nothing that you could actually catch. Used to see them all the time and catch them with the kids all over...... Spruce Run, Merrill Creek, Round Valley, and especially Lake Musconetcong.

Anyone else notice the lack of sunfish or am I just in the wrong places?

[baetis]

Scarlet Oak Pond.

Find any small pond on a map on county or state property.

[ScowardNJ]

You said you used to fish the Ramapo, why did you stop?
http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/539181_4087244332310_1357401349_n.jpg

[Eskimo]

Sunfish are pretty much everywhere. Finding ones big enough to make it worth your while is the challenge. The best time to look for them is in the spring.

Any eutrophic body of water should contain plenty of good-sized Bluegills. What part of New Jersey were you looking to fish?

When I have the time to fillet them, I enjoy frying up a plate of sunfish fillets. They have a delicate flavor, somewhat like cod.


http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn38/Full_Stringer/OfftopicPics/Bluegill_fillet.jpg

[NJ219bands]

Delaware River is the best redbreasted sunfish spot in NJ. I discovered their spawning area and catch and release more than a hundred in a few hours in the spring. I never saw another fisherman there yet. I noticed that some of the sunfish have bulging eyes and took pics. I got different theories from biologists. One said the oxygen content of the water causes the problem. Another said that it is caused by a parasite. Anybody else ever catch fish with bulging eyes?

[zhitoman]

You said you used to fish the Ramapo, why did you stop?

the reason i stopped fishing Ramapo is because i catch more trout then sunfish.:eek:

[Eskimo]

the reason i stopped fishing Ramapo is because i catch more trout then sunfish.:eek:
Wow - you are serious about sunfish.

NJ219bands - that condition is called "pop-eye". In aquarium fish, it is usually caused by some kind of an infection, although toxic chemicals can also have that effect. I have no idea what the hell could be going on in the Delaware.

[Lard Almighty]

The Raritan River is infested with redbreasted sunfish. Just look for slack water, especially with weed beds, and it's pretty much impossible to not catch a few.

Sometimes you need to get past all those pesky smallmouths, walleye, trout, and shad, but that's just the price you have to pay for great sunfish action. (I tease :p )

http://www.njfishing.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=49185&d=1339358845

[tycomps]

stony brook off of watchung lake, had a blast this year with my ultra light outfit catching sunfish of every shape, size, and color. one day my son and I caught and released about a hundred before calling it a day, all on little white plastic grubs.

[lunkertaker]

Sunfish...Oh Yeah, the go-to fish that is always biting

I catch 99.95% of all mine on a 2 wt fly rod with a self tied insect i call the "Bluegill Killer". Looks kinda like a bumble bee with legs and is a sure thing for the sunnies. Really does not matter the body of water, they are in all of them and usually very hungry

I usually target larger species, but when the going gets tough, the tough go sunny fishing.:rolleyes:

[crustyangler17]

D&R canal. tons of redbreasts in the shallows in the summer. you can catch them non stop on tiny inline spinners or trout magnets. Also the south branch raritan river

[zhitoman]

The first time you catch a nice 7-8 inch bluegill on ultra light outfit you'll be hooked for life. I fished for numerous freshwater and saltwater species, including huge bluefish, carp, catfish, but nothing is more relaxing than fishing for sunfish on some tiny pond or stream. For me fishing is about relaxation and having fun and sunfish are the perfect species.:p

[dboyd101]

fly rod + sunfish = awesome...

but then again, i wouldn't know what fly rod + trout is like. haha