A fish story,.....but I believed it.

[Mark B.]

Originally Posted by AndyS

I just thought adding 15,000 additional "surplus" trout annually to an already existing sea run program would be like adding lake trout into a lake that already has a spawning population. I don’t understand why half or some of these “surplus” trout couldn’t be put into the Raritan. If in fact these are “surplus” fish what is there to lose?
I catch trout year round in the Raritan. I don’t understand the “all my eggs in one basket theory.” I need definition of “Trout Maintenance” waters if you would be so kind Mark.

The Manasquan River's sea run brown are not reproducing, ……………I don’t think that anyone is afraid of them over populating the Manasquan River. They sea are the complete opposite of the very prolific lakers.

TP - Trout production Waters designated [at N.J.A.C. 7:9B-1.15(b)
through (g)] for use by trout for spawning or
nursery purposes during their first summer.
Young-of-the-year trout must be documented within the
sampled stream segment. Young-of-the-year (y-o-y) trout can be visually
distinguished from older trout in the field, based upon their size (typically less than
100 mm in length.

TM - Trout maintenance Waters designated [at N.J.A.C. 7:9B-1.15(b)
through (g)] for the support of trout throughout
the year. Incidence of Occurrence of trout and/or trout associated
species > 20 %

NT - Nontrout Freshwaters that have not been designated [in
N.J.A.C. 7:9B-1.15(b) through (h)] as trout
production or trout maintenance. These waters
are generally not suitable for trout because of
their physical, chemical, or biological
characteristics, but are suitable for a wide variety
of other fish species. Incidence of Occurrence of trout and/or trout associated species < 20%.

http://www.state.nj.us/dep/fgw/pdf/cwfmp/33-52.pdf

TM water on the N. Branch ends @ the Rt. 512 near Far Hills. TM water on the S. Branch ends @ just above the RT. 31 Bridge, Flemington. From those points, downstream to the freshwater license line @ Landing Lane Bridge, New Brunswick the water is NT.

Trout, of course, are often caught in NT waters in the colder months. And, I don’t doubt that trout are, occasionally, caught in NT waters in the summer. Where, they have sought out & are basically trapped, @ a coldwater spring / seep,……………….but they are few & far between.

The sea runs best chance for growth & survival is in the Manasquan Rivers’ TM water from Route 9 all the way down to the freshwater license line @ Bennetts Bridge in our WMA.