NJ Rivermonster - NJFishing.com Your Best Online Source for Fishing Information in New Jersey

Esox Luciano · #1 12-27-2014, 04:03 PM

** *Alriiiight, THANKS GUYS!! I'm putting it on! Thanks to the great feedback and visual/oral tailoring, THIS BELT FITS PERFECT!!*
** Great looking pike in the other photos posted but after reviewing them with some of NJ's more elite anglers( you guys), hard and softwater, it's kinda hands down. The fish, as well as I, simply just has more girth. If, I, held his fish in my hands, it'd look smaller because I'm bigger, and strong enough to hold it properly (horizontally). With the weight it had my fish's head woulda peeled off it's body had I misheld it (vertically). Like Gnuisance said,"That fish could grow to 50" now and be caught by another angler. " Envy or curiosity lead someone there since my catch & all they have to show for it is trash left behind.
** I can't stop you from fishing @any of my spots, but take your garbage out when you bring it in, don't be a dirtbag!!!!
** And if you're not, hope to see you out there sometime, at any of my spots. Just don't cross my line, hahaa!! Thanks again for everything, TIGHT LINEZ FELLAZ!!*
** * *& A HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

p.s. I'll be accepting all unofficial contenders via pm... GET@ME!!!

CPR1 · #2 01-08-2015, 11:57 AM

Hey guys. I am new to the board but not new to fishing NJ waters (30+ years). I have visited this board a few times to read reports and felt the time was right to register and start giving back. What pushed me to register was the urge to reply to this thread. To echo all the folks here, this is one hell of a Pike. More impressive, it came from NJ, one step further, it came from the Passaic (did not intend to blow up your location, seems it is pretty clear where you are by the picture and the replies). For a long time, this fishery was considered dead and the high pollution levels in these waters made it laughable to think it would ever come back to produce trophy class fish. Most of you veteran Passaic fisherman already know this. I know a lot of the biologists who manage our NJ waters and have followed their efforts to get the Passaic back on it's feet. These guys did one hell of a job creating an amazing Pike fishery and this recent catch is proof of their successful efforts. Back to Esox Luciano. Bravo, sir! So glad it was you who caught this fish. It is so important to have experienced anglers out there who realize the importance of C&R and to have a high respect for a mature fish that is so important to a fishery. Well done not only on the capture but on the successful release! Regarding the post defending you on sharing your report. Anyone can look at the background of a picture and report chase. You risked exposing your location to share this great report with the board. Cudos again! Anyone can call out a location on a board, have some respect for the angler who shared this great report. As for the numbers, one reply was spot on. It is so hard to tell from a picture. The example of the two shots of the state record is proof of that. The horizontal pic looks like a 40" 20# fish. The vertical hold really shows the fish's true size. Heart breaking that fish was taken but that is a whole other religious debate. Bottom line, not many anglers know just how rare and difficult it is to catch a fish like this in NJ. Congrats! No one can dispute this is a fish of record size. I would urge you to be careful with the self proclaimed anointing, however. That said, I would rather have someone release a fish and assume it is a record, than kill it to prove it is. Again, estimating the weight of an Esox from one picture is extremely difficult. You saw the fish in the flesh and you are entitled to your opinion nonetheless. No one can take away from you the fact that you have accomplished an amazing feat capturing this giant. In the past, I have asked an expert in photo forensics to help me size muskies that were not measured or weighed. Google Larry Ramsell and send your picture to him. He will also tell you that it is extremely difficult to size a fish (especially the weight) from one picture but I don't think there is anyone out there that is better than Larry. I would also suggest sharing this picture with the team at NJDFGW. Pictures of fish like this help them gain continued support and funding for their stocking efforts in an environment of increasing cutbacks and shrinking budgets. One last tidbit to chew on. I have seen a lot of the data from the netting of muskies for brood stock. In order for a musky to reach 30 libs, it typically needs to be 48" and real heavy or longer. I'll stop preaching now and say congratulations on an awesome catch and more importantly, for being a conservationist. Thanks for sharing this awesome experience.

Esox Luciano · #3 01-09-2015, 12:24 AM

Thank you for your feedback CPR1 & welcome to the board. Though it took me only 3 years since starting fishing to catch this fish, I would imagine tryin for 30+ years would def motivate me as well after seeing such a thing. I'm flattered it was my catch that brought you here. The fine anglers on this forum now, and before me, are the exact reason why I'm here. So, thanks again fellaz, because you guys made me hungrier!!
That being said. I know 1st hand that it wouldn't feel soo good at the top, if it didn't feel soo crappie at the bottom!
THAT being said, I'd like to give a shout out to LENNYSKY!! Another freshwater MONSTER FISHERMAN, who stirred the pot!
I'm deeeply humble, to my river, for this fish.
The title WILL REMAIN, until I see bigger.
The offer still stands as well: I WILL BE ACCEPTING ALL CONTENDERS VIA PM....GET@ME!!! http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=PmFJtt67C1Y#

AndyS · #4 01-09-2015, 01:19 AM

I haven't even fished for Pike in the Passaic, but I'm not giving up on going after this................I'm a letter writing campaign

lennysky · #5 01-09-2015, 01:48 AM

Thanks! We are in the same boat. Lol. 2 huge NJ fish that stirred people's imagination. I used to fish that area of the river years back but never landed a pike. Hooked a giant but lost it. I see that our stories bring more and more fisherman to this forum and I love it. One day I hope to meet you in person and shake your hand. Quite a feat to land such a nice fish from the shore. You are a better COnservationist than I am though since you released yours and I decided to keep mine

Quote:

Originally Posted by Esox Luciano

Thank you for your feedback CPR1 & welcome to the board. Though it took me only 3 years since starting fishing to catch this fish, I would imagine tryin for 30+ years would def motivate me as well after seeing such a thing. I'm flattered it was my catch that brought you here. The fine anglers on this forum now, and before me, are the exact reason why I'm here. So, thanks again fellaz, because you guys made me hungrier!!
That being said. I know 1st hand that it wouldn't feel soo good at the top, if it didn't feel soo crappie at the bottom!
THAT being said, I'd like to give a shout out to LENNYSKY!! Another freshwater MONSTER FISHERMAN, who stirred the pot!
I'm deeeply humble, to my river, for this fish.
The title WILL REMAIN, until I see bigger.
The offer still stands as well: I WILL BE ACCEPTING ALL CONTENDERS VIA PM....GET@ME!!! http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=PmFJtt67C1Y#

bunker dunker · #6 01-09-2015, 08:25 AM

cograts!!!!! people fish a life time for a monster like that.you got your day in the sun,enjoy it.congrats again on a great catch.

15FOOTER · #7 01-09-2015, 04:44 PM

Crazy nice fish...even better release...you stroke that ego with your "self-proclaimed unofficial title" lol wear that belt...weeear iitt

CPR1 · #8 01-16-2015, 11:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lennysky

You are a better COnservationist than I am though since you released yours and I decided to keep mine

Just curious, are you getting a skin mount for that musky you caught? I would love to see a picture of it if you do.

lennysky · #9 01-16-2015, 03:27 PM

CPR1 was this a question for me on my musky? Then yes.

Esox Luciano · #10 01-13-2015, 08:28 PM

Hey fellaz. Not tryin to keep this thread going for the hell of it but it has one more breath left.

Quote:

Originally Posted by CPR1

... In the past, I have asked an expert in photo forensics to help me size muskies that were not measured or weighed. Google Larry Ramsell and send your picture to him. He will also tell you that it is extremely difficult to size a fish (especially the weight) from one picture but I don't think there is anyone out there that is better than Larry.

I got a response back from Mr. Ramsell today and glad that he concurred with the obvious. His response was " Wow, what a pig of a pike!! Unusually fat. My best guess for weight would be between 30 and 35 pounds...Larry".
So yea, it still feels great to feel great!! For what it's worth, thanks for the bonus braggin' rights. PEACE!!!

...YOU KNOW...GET@ME!