best fighting fish in NJ fresh water - NJFishing.com Your Best Online Source for Fishing Information in New Jersey

AndyS · #1 10-02-2016, 12:56 PM

Yeah, I'm going to have to disagree with ya on this one.

MudCat08 · #2 10-02-2016, 01:33 PM

Carp are definitely one of the best fighting fish around here!
I have heard of people catching 20 lb ones on 2 lb line. Idk how they did it..

Sounds like i have a new thing to try - hybrid bass with an ultralight rod and a big spool of 2lb line. Hybrids have been renowned for being the best fighters but i still have my doubts. Need to catch more to silence those doubts

Lard Almighty · #3 10-02-2016, 03:28 PM

ANY big fish will give you a great fight on ultra light gear. If you had hooked an 8.5 pound smallie on that rig, it would have eaten your lunch! Still, a nice catch on 2 pound test, so congrats!

Capt. Lou · #4 10-02-2016, 06:06 PM

Lucky red eyes don't grow to larger sizes !! Those fish taken off nest on UL plenty of sport & eat well too !

catfishonthelake · #5 10-02-2016, 06:55 PM

I accidentally ass-hooked a 20+ pound grass carp on musky tackle. Didn't put up much of a fight.

JDTuna · #6 10-02-2016, 08:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by catfishonthelake

I accidentally ass-hooked a 20+ pound grass carp on musky tackle. Didn't put up much of a fight.

Grass carp don't fight much at all. Carp are very good fighters...they fight very much like red drum. Pike and musky are exciting fish with aggressive strikes, but pound for pound they really aren't that strong. My vote would definitely be hybrids. Can't really think of another freshwater fish in NJ that will scream drag for their size like they do. Even carp.

Chrisper4694 · #7 10-02-2016, 10:13 PM

hybrids will snap your line with an explosive run and probably have the edge on drag pulling power, but they can't match the stamina of a carp, plus the lips on a carp are more delicate and so you have to be careful not to put too much pressure to rip the hook out. carp are also usually more 'line shy'so you might have to go lighter gear... one will snap your line and the other will find another way off. It's a tough call if you take everything into consideration.

Delawareriver · #8 10-03-2016, 07:49 AM

Flatheads, snakehead, hybrids, and smallmouth lb for lb I would say fight better but I'll put carp In top 5

tradingfrank27 · #9 10-04-2016, 08:25 PM

nice job, love Carp fishing but still hunting for ones 15lb and over in North Jersey.