Manasquan Sea Runs

[15FOOTER]

Thinking about doing a trip to the Manasquan for some sea run brown fishing sometime after November 8th when I get back from Pulaski. I have a secret weapon to get them lol. Anyone down for trying to coordinate a trip? I know a lot about sea runs but not a lot about the river its self.

[cmoran719]

I may be interested... if I can make the time

[kmaty]

Id be in i chase those buggers through the winter ive never landed one hooked up 2times on 2lb tests with a size ten and 12 however the hook dosnt mater so much in why i lost the fish as to more the line that river is loaded with trees and snags keep in touch will be more than happy to put something together

[GetANet]

Used to fish there all the time when i was young and handsome but i'd be interested in a possible trip back down there as well.

[tautog]

Just make sure you go within 3 days after a decent rain or you are probably wasting your time.

[acabtp]

my bounty offer still stands:
$10 for any regular NJF member who legally catches a sea run brown, reports the catch to NJ DFW and posts a picture on here with where and how

[tautog]

Do past reports and pictures count? I have quite a few and have exchanged a number of e-mails with Mark B about sea runs. I haven't tried for them in at least 7 years. But Paul Ripperger and I used to do quite well after a rain at times. I always tell people to fish after the rain. They get there, decide it is too muddy and high, then wait four days for it to get lower and clear and catch nothing.:eek:

[acabtp]

gotta post it up day of or day after to be fair i think

[acabtp]

got any pics still though?

[Lard Almighty]

Those silvery bastards always make me go crying home with my tail between my legs. They are a tough fish to catch, and the Manasquan is a tough river to fish. If you try to get one, good luck. If you succeed, you have my respect.

[tautog]

I never bring a camera for any type of fishing, but I know Paul had some with me in them. Does he still have them? No clue. They are there and they are tough to catch. They move up river with the rising water after rain events. You will mostly get snagged and muddy. Most of the fish you catch will be fall stockies, but there used to be browns and rainbow searuns. Rainbows tended to be smaller, never saw one over 5lbs. I had a giant sea run in the upper estuary once, well over 10lbs, but most browns are 2-3lbs and bows 1 1/2- 2 1/2lbs. Saw just as many fish prior to special stocking as after and much less fishing pressure before the state stocking.

Too much work for me anymore. Now I sit on the back of a tied up boat and chum clams to catch 18"-26" stripers on 4lb test. I have a bathroom, a microwave and a place to get out of the rain.:D I could even have a pizza delivered there.

[NJ Dave]

So do these fish live in the ocean or river and where are they when the water is low, in the ocean?

[tautog]

Ocean and river depending on temps and forage. They wait in the estuary in fall and winter for shots of freshwater.

[Mark B.]

my bounty offer still stands:
$10 for any regular NJF member who legally catches a sea run brown, reports the catch to NJ DFW and posts a picture on here with where and how

And, this NJ State Record category is awaiting an entry:

Trout, brown sea run Vacant (Minimum Weight 5 Lbs.)


A couple of Paul Ripp’s fish:
http://www.njfishandwildlife.com/crunimag.htm
He was never interested submitting any for a State Record.

[Doug Vitale]

Any chance that this guy I caught in Allaire State Park is a sea run brown? I can't tell. As you can see, the scales on his back look silvery.

http://imageshack.us/a/img580/7038/m6uh.jpg (http://imageshack.us/a/img4/6628/k4a5.jpg)

http://njfishandwildlife.com/crunpics.htm

[Mark B.]

Any chance that this guy I caught in Allaire State Park is a sea run brown? I can't tell. As you can see, the scales on his back look silvery.

http://imageshack.us/a/img580/7038/m6uh.jpg (http://imageshack.us/a/img4/6628/k4a5.jpg)

http://njfishandwildlife.com/crunpics.htm


We stock* 8 inch sea run “trainees” @ our WMA off of Ramshorn Rd. @ the end of October.

It seems that some of them move back & forth from freshwater to brackish water, frequently.

And, similarly, they fairly rapidly change colors back & forth, from resident freshwater brown trout color to the silvery sea run color.

Looks like your fish spent some time in the salt.


* Unfortunately, due to furunculosis there will be no sea runs stocked this year. They have been destroyed as they were infected.

[Mark B.]

This rain, as you know, is the first in a very long time.

Any sea runs out there should definitely be drawn into the river.

[AndyS]

I will be trying for sea runs this week ;)

[Mark B.]

I will be trying for sea runs this week ;)

Oh, yeah,.............they're stacked up there like cord wood!!:rolleyes:

[Lard Almighty]

Oh, yeah,.............they're stacked up there like cord wood!!:rolleyes:To be fair, he said "sea runs," not "sea run trout." I bet there's a striper or two hanging out there. ;)

[15FOOTER]

I ditched the sea run idea. But I did find brown trout paradise (spawning out of lake) in NJ. Trying to edit the background of the pic now but its still kinda obvious! So probably not going to post it. 2 browns 4+lbs one on an egg sac and one on a magic black pipecleaner fly swung into the corner of the mouth lol. Mark B. you have to know about this place or at least have an idea about it.

[AndyS]

Considering the fact there have been more UFO sightings in the past 5 years than sea run brown trout caught on the Manasquan, I'll take my chances on the Raritan.
I thought being a F&G guy you would be enthusiastic to see people trying new things, I guess status quo works for you then, less work you have to do.

"However, continuation of the program relies on anglers submitting reports of their catches." ZERO fish reported in what, 5 years now, doesn't stop you from wasting 15,000 annually does it. Maybe you should spend less time on the banks of Round Valley fishing and go try to catch a sea run out of the Manasquan.

I'm just trying to figure out where all these trout are coming from on the lower Raritan river, excuse me. Wasting my time, thats my problem.http://i1333.photobucket.com/albums/w626/AStill/trout1_zps18b68707.png (http://s1333.photobucket.com/user/AStill/media/trout1_zps18b68707.png.html)[/IMG]

[bubbasdad]

think about it, Andy...how sweet would it be for you if managed to nab a state record 5+ lb sea run brownie from a river they say can't sustain that fishery? :D

[Sea Run Hunter]

Did you ever get to the Squan? I am very curious as to anyone fishing in the Manasquan this winter. I live on the river and have fished it over 30 trips this winter. I caught one chub. I am going to start a thread, but was curious with your post. I fished from West Farms all the way to Ramshorn Dr. boat launch in the brackish water. Day, night, snow, sun, rain, worms, powerbait, mealworms, rapalla's, spinners, NOTHING. I caught 6 fish in 2 hours with my 8yr old nephew the weekend before the stocking. Did the stocking effect the fish in the river??? Did the work on the Parkway affect the fish??? Can't see it as the cold. The river didn't even freeze over like in 2010. See my photos.

BTW: I am always available to fish the Squan.

[15FOOTER]

Hey man I abandoned the Squan trip this year as I had open heart surgery and stuck to some browns closer to home. I live up in central/north jersey and I have some great ideas for going after them this year but I need some eyes and ears on the river to figure out the right time. If youre interested PM me and I would love to get down there this year and hunt those bad boys down w you.

[acaravaglia]

Anyone know if you can catch them from shore?