[AndyS]

After looking at the photo of Shucker I got to thinking of the walleye population in the Raritan river. I started to think of how a self-sustaining population in the river works. Looking at the Freshwater Digest I see the imposed limits for walleye are 3 fish @ 18”. These limits I believe we set forth for the waters stocked with walleye, not a naturally reproducing environment. I can see such lakes as Monksville (6,426) and Hopatcong (6,729) carrying these rules because they are stocked annually with walleye. I can see the Delaware river (25,800) carrying these rules because that river is also stocked annually with walleye. But what about the Raritan river. If you can compare naturally reproducing water such as non-stocked trout streams you can clearly see the limits for fish are much lower on those streams as opposed to the waters that are stocked. Non stocked trout waters carry a limit of 2 fish while stocked waters carry a limit of 6 and 4 fish depending on the time of year. I was just wondering how, according to NJ Fish and Game, sustainability is maintained for a population such as the walleye in the Raritan river. The Raritan river for the most part is really not that big and deep like it’s counterpart the Delaware river. The question I want to throw out to you is do you think the current regulations for 3 walleye @ 18” should pertain to naturally reproducing walleye population in the Raritan river. We can sit here and discuss these topics but as you know ultimately any changes would have to go through the Division of NJ Fish and Game. A per capita study may have to be made on walleye and then we would also have to factor in the tug-of-war with returning American Shad populations.

I also wondered if the Raritan river from Landing Lane bridge to its headwaters should be a no kill section for striped bass. I don’t want to sound like the ultimate tree hugger here, just trying to protect future generations of spawning striped bass. I don’t know if imposing a no kill on that section would make a difference since the majority of the fish caught in the river are under the 28” mark. Doing ANYTHING with striped bass can turn into a major headache, but I thought I would just float it out there. So we will stick to the walleye thing for now and PLEASE feel free to chime in. I am no omniscient one so I need to hear as much feedback as possible.

Any or all of this may pertain to the Hackensack as well as the Passaic river in a sense, so feel free to include comparisons if you like, but for now I am just concentrating on the Raritan river.