November F&G Council meeting:

[AndyS]

MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF THE
NJ FISH AND GAME COUNCIL. So I am reading to see what happened in the November meeting. Waiting to see if Brook Trout and Brown Trout will be stocked in NJ waters any time soon.
This was one of the topics at the meeting.......
"S2508 – “Nosey’s Law”; prohibits use of elephants in traveling animal acts. Nosey is an elephant that some animal rights group has been following. They say the elephant has a limp and should not be in a traveling show. This bill would prohibit the use of any elephant in a circus in New Jersey."

[tycomps]

MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF THE
NJ FISH AND GAME COUNCIL. So I am reading to see what happened in the November meeting. Waiting to see if Brook Trout and Brown Trout will be stocked in NJ waters any time soon.
This was one of the topics at the meeting.......
"S2508 – “Nosey’s Law”; prohibits use of elephants in traveling animal acts. Nosey is an elephant that some animal rights group has been following. They say the elephant has a limp and should not be in a traveling show. This bill would prohibit the use of any elephant in a circus in New Jersey."

at least they have their priorities straight!

[Mark B.]

MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF THE
NJ FISH AND GAME COUNCIL. So I am reading to see what happened in the November meeting. Waiting to see if Brook Trout and Brown Trout will be stocked in NJ waters any time soon.


No,.....Brook Trout & Brown Tout will not be stocked any time soon.

[AndyS]

The cost of my fishing license should be cut in half then.

[23cardinal]

No,.....Brook Trout & Brown Tout will not be stocked any time soon.

Did they have another set back with the fungus with the long name?

[Capt. Lou]

Water extremely low this fall , covering miles of streams is a lesson in futility , due to these water conditions .
This fall I barely got out in October this year, due to water conditions November it got better , December soild fishing returned . However water levels are still very low & fish holding areas somewhat limited .
Now water temps are dropping rapidly adding to slower trouting overall & bait fishing getting the nod on most days.
What concerned me was lack of fish in holding water that was receptive to me the last several years , not sure why , maybe less fish stocked this fall in particular waters ?
I'm averaging 4-6 fish a day now but very concentrated fishing , nothing for long spans of the stream that exhibit decent holding water . Nice fish to 20"'s but no big girls !
I haven't landed a fish over 5#'s in over a year first time in 5 years I haven't taken several in one year .
So I'm just concerned about lack of fish being water related from onset so only time will tell if it's me or some other reason.

[Delawareriver]

The cost of my fishing license should be cut in half then.

It can be, don't buy a trout stamp and give up fishing for domesticated fish. Sure trout fishing is a great way to introduce kids to the sport but for any avid hardcore angler I just don't get the appeal of catching a stocked fish that many times eats just about anything if presented the right way. Much rather see the state improving other fisheries than a put and take artificial fishery

[Lard Almighty]

It can be, don't buy a trout stamp and give up fishing for domesticated fish. Sure trout fishing is a great way to introduce kids to the sport but for any avid hardcore angler I just don't get the appeal of catching a stocked fish that many times eats just about anything if presented the right way. Much rather see the state improving other fisheries than a put and take artificial fisheryA lot of people who fish in NJ aren't hardcore. They just want to show up with their bucket and Powerbait and catch something for the freezer. At $10.50 a pop for trout stamps, F&W is more than happy to oblige.

[Mikey topaz]

A lot of people who fish in NJ aren't hardcore. They just want to show up with their bucket and Powerbait and catch something for the freezer. At $10.50 a pop for trout stamps, F&W is more than happy to oblige.

Agreed!!!!!!!!

[Mark B.]

Did they have another set back with the fungus with the long name?

No, just being cautious for the next several years:

The hatchery traditionally raises brook, brown, and rainbow trout. Rainbow trout at the
hatchery demonstrated to be highly resistant to furunculosis. No rainbow trout showed
disease signs during the outbreak and the bacterium was never detectable in the
kidneys of these fish, despite being held downstream of affected fish. For the next
several years the hatchery will produce predominantly rainbow trout to avoid outbreaks
with the disease. This will also help to reduce bacterial numbers and to aid in
elimination of the bacterium. The stocking of predominantly rainbow trout for several
years was viewed as a positive for the fisheries program, because of angler success with
this species. It is important to note that rainbow trout are susceptible to infection, but
resistant to disease therefor they may still be carriers of the bacterium. Reintroduction
of larger numbers of brown trout will occur after a set time and may first start with
introducing brook or brown trout at the end of the system to serve as sentinels for the
bacterium. Monitoring of fish in the hatchery will also include skin and mucus
bacteriological cultures on TSA-CBB agar to determine if the bacterium is present on
asymptomatic fish.

The above from: http://www.state.nj.us/dep/fgw/pdf/fwfisheries/pequest_biosecurity15.pdf

[Dave B.]

A lot of people who fish in NJ aren't hardcore. They just want to show up with their bucket and Powerbait and catch something for the freezer. At $10.50 a pop for trout stamps, F&W is more than happy to oblige.

At that price the 'catch-&-keep' crew get their trout stamp moneys worth within their first limit. Raising fish is a bit costly, even in the bulk the Div. does.

[23cardinal]

From what I remember cali did a study and stocked fish don't do well regardless. Something like greater than 97% of genes passed down were not from wild fish. All the dams and reservoirs kinda ruin a lot of our chances for better water.
I'm sure the state can do better...but they do try. We have a huge population- they do a decent job trying to please everyone(imo- like the trophy lakes for bass etc etc)

[Skunk City]

Just keep in mind, if it wasn't for F&W's stocking efforts, our only gamefish would be Pickerel and Bullhead Catfish :).

[Delawareriver]

At that price the 'catch-&-keep' crew get their trout stamp moneys worth within their first limit. Raising fish is a bit costly, even in the bulk the Div. does.

Don't forget 90% of those guys you see opening morning of trout you won't see again till next year. Basically yes the trout stamp but the state also got the money for there general license as well that they wouldn't buy if they couldnt fish for trout.

Either way I would love to see less money invested in the trout and a little more money spent on our other fisheries. Really could use some better boat ramps, underwater structure, access points, more studies to provide better management strategies etc. With more and better fishing opportunities we could reverse the downward Trent of license sales.

[23cardinal]

Either way I would love to see less money invested in the trout and a little more money spent on our other fisheries. Really could use some better boat ramps, underwater structure, access points, more studies to provide better management strategies etc. With more and better fishing opportunities we could reverse the downward Trent of license sales.

That part I do agree with- the ramps up here look like moonscapes- and yea I d say more than 90% of ppl I know go one or two days for trout- that's it

[Dave B.]

Don't forget 90% of those guys you see opening morning of trout you won't see again till next year. Basically yes the trout stamp but the state also got the money for there general license as well that they wouldn't buy if they couldnt fish for trout.

Either way I would love to see less money invested in the trout and a little more money spent on our other fisheries. Really could use some better boat ramps, underwater structure, access points, more studies to provide better management strategies etc. With more and better fishing opportunities we could reverse the downward Trent of license sales.

Very true regarding those 'Opening Day trouters', especially in central/south Jersey, except that they generally tend to make it out the first 2-3 Saturdays before calling it quits. Only from my observations I'd say it's more like 65-70%. As for north Jersey the number of Opening Day only guys is far lower. A much higher percentage fish well into the stocking season. As for their general license fees most of these folks turn to other freshwater species when they quit chasing trout so their license money is spoken for in the management of those other freshwater species and the monitoring, maintaining and in some cases improvement of those habitats as well as creating and maintaining accesses. All else aside, as Skunk City mentioned, if it wasn't for the work of F&W all we would have to fish for would be pickerel and bullheads. Despite being a small state we still only have about 8 or so freshwater fisheries biologists to monitor a LOT of water.

[Jigman13]

Considering the budgetary constraints I think fish and game does a great job in nj. Small state, incredible pop density, high level of industrialism. Taking lemons and making trout, muskie, pike, hybrid, walleye, etc lemonade.

The 30 something $ a yr ain't shit. The fish I caught the last 3 yrs alone have created memories worth more than gold. Shit, I'd pay $50-75 a yr if it made things better...enhanced research, more diverse stocking, catch and release bodies of water etc. I understand I'm in the minority but supporting what I love to do in our great lil state is the least I think we can do as amateur to avid anglers.

Like walleye in spruce. Cmon mark... put like 1000 in and see what happens :D

[Wilson]

The cost of the license to fish is a drop in the bucket.
Side scan sonar, glitter bass boats, gps enabled trolling motors, $10.00 lures, $300.00 waders, megabuck rods and reels, a couple dozen Helgramites add up faster than any license fees.
Better allocation of the money collected is what is needed.
Also a more progressive and realistic management plan from fish and game in tune with the conditions in the 21st century!
NJ license fees are no different than most other states by and large; just not spent as efficiently...in my opinion.

[Skunk City]

like walleye in spruce. Cmon mark... Put like 1000 in and see what happens :d

:)

[Delawareriver]

Wanna clear up I do believe the commission does a great job, we have some great fisheries that other local states don't have or even come close. Pike muskie hybrids lake trout landlocked Salmon walleye to name a few. The best of 2016 thread really show cases how good we have it. With that said theres still always room for improvement.

[Dave B.]

Wanna clear up I do believe the commission does a great job, we have some great fisheries that other local states don't have or even come close. Pike muskie hybrids lake trout landlocked Salmon walleye to name a few. The best of 2016 thread really show cases how good we have it. With that said theres still always room for improvement.

Agreed on all points!