The end of a fishing access, Pohatcong, NJ! - NJFishing.com Your Best Online Source for Fishing Information in New Jersey

Pondhopper8 · #1 05-25-2020, 08:49 PM

Sad to hear Eddie. The few ruin for the majority. My brother took me to that spot years ago and I always made a point to stop there. Impressive production from that stretch for sure. Owe my PB musky to that stretch!! Hopefully something can be worked out.

HBird11 · #2 05-25-2020, 11:17 PM

Wow‼️ Now that absolutely sucks‼️ It’s BS that any township would decide that it’s just easier to just shut down a fishing access instead of actually having their police department getting out of the cars and doing their job‼️ It’s pretty damn simple to patrol a area once or twice a night and to write tickets to the ones that are causing the issues. It doesn’t take long to get the word out that you dont want to party there unless you want to meet the cops. That really sucks Eddie I haven’t been down there fishing in quite a few years but I do know the caliber of that spot and it’s not easily replaceable. Man I wish I could be of some help but I don’t know enough people or any people with any pull down there.

FASTEDDIE29 · #3 05-26-2020, 07:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pondhopper8

Sad to hear Eddie. The few ruin for the majority. My brother took me to that spot years ago and I always made a point to stop there. Impressive production from that stretch for sure. Owe my PB musky to that stretch!! Hopefully something can be worked out.

Bro that’s a great fish! I caught and quick released that beauty in September 2019! Gotta love it. Lots of fishing memories come from those grounds for me. I’ll be out there via boat. It’s just hard to navigate through the Boulder field at night. Thise rocks have claimed a lot of boats in the past. Lol!

Hookmanski · #4 05-26-2020, 08:35 AM

That's a huge bummer man. Typical NJ though, a few ruin it for all. My least favorite aspect of this state. Hope it all works out and the access can be restored!

Pondhopper8 · #5 05-26-2020, 09:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FASTEDDIE29

Bro that’s a great fish! I caught and quick released that beauty in September 2019! Gotta love it. Lots of fishing memories come from those grounds for me. I’ll be out there via boat. It’s just hard to navigate through the Boulder field at night. Thise rocks have claimed a lot of boats in the past. Lol!

She had a little white grub and jig in her mouth when I got her!! Lol Hell yea!!! Those rocks are no joke Lolol 😂I’ll be seeing you out there!!!!!

thmyorke1 · #6 05-26-2020, 09:59 AM

any chance it can still be accessed via boat/kayak from launching at the park upstream and setting anchor around that spot?

Andrushkin33 · #7 05-26-2020, 10:34 AM

From the looks of it as long as you dont step on land you should be able to access it.

From my understanding is local residents complaining to the town which in turn putting pressure on the railroad company. I have actually camped out there for 3 days 4 weeks ago and been visited by cops at let 6 times. I think we have met the whole police department while we were there. They were very professional and pleasure to work with since they could actually see that we came with a mindset of leaving the place better than we found it. At least 7 garbage bags of trash were removed that weekend.

Now i dont thing permits were doing anything at all. We own 18,19 and 20 and were really suprised that they cost nothing to obtain when we got them. Most ppl are just to lazy to drag their trash out, why not have pay for the permits and have a dumpster on site. All ppl i know will be more than willing to pay for them.

Now i have friends fishing there on Saturday. I dont know who visited but police officer was extremly aggressive toward everyone who was there. First he actually came down toward the river which in all my years fishing there is the first (never seen police officer cross rail road tracks) and second keeping your weapon unholstered with a hand on a gun is a bit of an overkill for me.

While I understand frustrated residents, some system should be worked out where it will be beneficial for all.

Andre

FASTEDDIE29 · #8 05-26-2020, 01:38 PM

I’ll be there fishing eventually, via boat. It’s a short ride from the closest boy launch. Easy peasy.

#9 05-26-2020, 02:00 PM

My recollection is the overnight parking permit wasn't to generate revenue, it was to keep the trash from partying at night and not cleaning up after themselves. To do that, at least initially, you needed a current fishing license and fishing pole to get the permit at the Municipal office which was their way of making sure not just anyone walked in off the street to get a permit. The cost was also if you didn't have one and parked at night, you were going to be ticketed and the police officer I spoke with said your car would be towed. So in essence the fee was the cost of a valid fishing license and the risk of being ticked and towed. Not an iron clad system but that was the logic explained to me when I first got my permit.

Pohatcong has slightly over 3,000 residents. Shame 28 miles of prime shoreline are no longer available because of slobs and probably a few residents complaining. I understand the complaints from locals when people crap in their backyard but there's other ways of controlling it without closing down access to the entire river system. Put in a curfew, no activities allowed other than fishing after 8:00 pm or you'll be fined $1,000. No liquor allowed after curfew. Guarantee one ticket and you won't make that mistake a second time. Word will get out and this crap will stop.

Lesson we already know is a few can and will ruin it for all of us. You see not just illegal fishing or littering call F&G or the police. The fact there was a meth lab operating there years ago might have something to do with the police officer having his gun unholstered, just wanted to mention that. Only takes walking into one wrong situation for someone's life to change forever. The amount of trash I've walked out of there with from the rocks and street side on a beautiful stretch of river was unconscionable and complete disregard for nature and everything else.

There's a place I fish which is semi private but the owner allows fishing for a modest fee. People who he allows there have to display the permit he had printed the same as your fishing license. As with everywhere, there's a lot of people who try fishing there illegally and keep every fish they catch. You know the type I'm referring to. It got out of control. And like Pohatcong, they leave all their crap behind.

The people allowed to fish are only approved by the owner and now act as deputies to watch over the place. If anyone sees someone without a permit, you don't confront the person you call the owner and he has an arrangement with the town where police show up every time and people are asked to leave. Warning first offense, second time equipment is confiscated and they get the privilege of meeting the town judge. Area is posted and trespassing and illegal fishing is not an insignificant fine. System works beautifully. No altercations, law enforcement does their jobs with the public's help, county raises revenue for those that don't comply, great relationship developed between private landowners and fishing community, the people who have no regard for the outdoors are penalized, not the ones who act to preserve and enjoy it recreationally. Something Pohatcong might consider adopting as opposed to completely closing access to a large stretch of the river. Turn a negative into a positive instead of penalizing the people who care about the community.

Andrushkin33 · #10 05-26-2020, 02:47 PM

Tom,

I remember the meth lab so i can see your point. Still i think it was excessive considering that we had interactions a month prior with local police force without any issues.

Ideas you mentioned are excellent and hopefully we all be able to work together in order to maintain that fishery that we have.

Andre