Raritan river

[Mark B.]

Originally Posted by Jigman13

Why doesn't the raritan get a stocking of walleye and/or smallies? It's a great ecosystem, plenty long and has it's deeper sections and is loaded with bait. Aside from trout stockings it seems like the Raritan is the forgotten step child of NJ rivers. While obviously not as vast as the Delaware it can certainly handle a stocking of fish other than trout.

Quite a few of us on this board frequent the raritan targeting a multitude of species and to also aggressively clean it up (thank you Andy). There are quality fish in the river. We've seen epic shoals of shiners, shad, , suckers, chub, dace, killies, etc. We've witnessed a prolific population of crayfish and eels. Shad are slowly but surely increasing each year.

Maybe I'm missing something bc I'm fishing the river a lot but I think the state should really consider using some of those massive walleye stocking numbers on the big d to establish stronger populations of gamefish in the raritan. I'm sure many of us, members and lurkers alike, would be appreciative of this.

You are not missing something, because you state: “Shad are slowly but surely increasing each year.” = a recovering American shad population.

NJDF&W does want to, directly, stock predators of American shad in to the Raritan River.

[Mark B.]

Originally Posted by Mark B.

You are not missing something, because you state: “Shad are slowly but surely increasing each year.” = a recovering American shad population.

NJDF&W does want to, directly, stock predators of American shad in to the Raritan River.

That's "does not want to, directly, stock predators of American shad in to the Raritan River."

[Jigman13]

Is that the primary reason? The only thing choking back an adult American shad would be a decent striper or musky. Not sure walleye or smallies would be apex towards American shad.

The gizzards on the other hand are candy to all!

[thmyorke1]

I figured the dams were the shad's biggest problems, not predation which is already high in the river with all the smallies etc.

[Mark B.]

Originally Posted by Jigman13

Is that the primary reason? The only thing choking back an adult American shad would be a decent striper or musky. Not sure walleye or smallies would be apex towards American shad.

The gizzards on the other hand are candy to all!

Yes, it is the primary reason.

Don’t forget about all of the young-of-the-year American shadlings now in the river being predated upon.

[Lard Almighty]

Originally Posted by Mark B.

That's "does not want to, directly, stock predators of American shad in to the Raritan River."

Mark, I will defer to your professional expertise as a biologist, but it seems to me that the predatory fish of the Raritan have a plethora of prey species to target aside from juvenile American shad. Emerald shiners, gizzard shad, sunfish, creek chubs, sculpin, crayfish, tadpoles, leeches, hellgramites, and frogs are just the ones I can name off the top of my head. Given the healthy forage base, are you of the opinion that the recovery of shad will be significantly set back should more predatory fish be stocked? Alternatively, would the shad benefit from supplemental stockings of prey species, so the predators target those instead of the shad?

[Riz]

that's a really nice fish. good work

thank you to all the guys that pitch into clean our waterways. we salute you. I took a bag of someone elses fishing line and lure wrappers and such out of green turtle pond last weekend. the line looked like 30-40 lb mono. yikes!!!!

never fished the Raritan but I have done the Passaic since mid 90s. Dundee dam in Garfield basically cuts anything off from getting up. striped bass to the dam. river is running clear these days.

[AndyS]

Nice SMB !! The river fishes good year round, access can be tough but with a little scouting you will find plenty of river to fish.
Love cleaning the river in the "off" season as I like to fish mostly in spring/winter/fall.

[Mark B.]

Originally Posted by Lard Almighty

Mark, I will defer to your professional expertise as a biologist, but it seems to me that the predatory fish of the Raritan have a plethora of prey species to target aside from juvenile American shad. Emerald shiners, gizzard shad, sunfish, creek chubs, sculpin, crayfish, tadpoles, leeches, hellgramites, and frogs are just the ones I can name off the top of my head. Given the healthy forage base, are you of the opinion that the recovery of shad will be significantly set back should more predatory fish be stocked? Alternatively, would the shad benefit from supplemental stockings of prey species, so the predators target those instead of the shad?

NJDF&W wants to give the Raritan River American shad population the best possible chance of recovering. Therefore, no direct stocking of predators.

The young-of-the-year American shadlings now in the river are, no doubt, the predators preferred forage. They are the most attractive: Like herring & menhaden very oily / high fat content & their sheer numbers.

[thmyorke1]

Originally Posted by Mark B.

NJDF&W wants to give the Raritan River American shad population the best possible chance of recovering. Therefore, no direct stocking of predators.

The young-of-the-year American shadlings now in the river are, no doubt, the predators preferred forage. They are the most attractive: Like herring & menhaden very oily / high fat content & their sheer numbers.

Thanks for the info, Mark. How long do the shadlings stay in the river before they become ocean-bound and how fast do they grow?

I would think that the trout stocking that takes place right where and when the shad spawn would be against the principle of recovery.
Could you explain how trout arent a problem? (Dare I even mention not stocking trout in the raritan! Please stock more! )