Division recommendations for trout regulation changes today at Pequest

[Rusty Spinner]

The NJ Division of F&W held their annual "Trout Meeting" today at the Pequest Hatchery. Amongst things discussed, the Division will recommend to the Fish & Game Council adopting a NO-KILL stretch on the Big Flat Brook River from the rt. 206 bridge downstream 4.2 miles to the Roy Bridge, the length of the current Fly Fish waters. Left to be decided is if it will remain FF only, FF on either the upper or lower stretch of this section, or no bait but spin or fly like current TCA regulations in NJ waters.

Also discussed was the Division's proposal to make the Ken Lockwood Gorge TCA a No-Kill TCA its entire length. There are also considerations being made about reducing creel limits beginning with the fall stocking from 4 fish to 2 fish until Opening Day the next spring of each year. Division surveys have show that the combined group of anglers that practice either 100% C&R or "nearly all C&R" has grown to about 75% of all trout anglers in NJ that buy a license and a trout stamp.

 

[Trouser Trout]

The NJ Division of F&W held their annual "Trout Meeting" today at the Pequest Hatchery. Amongst things discussed, the Division will recommend to the Fish & Game Council adopting a NO-KILL stretch on the Big Flat Brook River from the rt. 206 bridge downstream 4.2 miles to the Roy Bridge, the length of the current Fly Fish waters. Left to be decided is if it will remain FF only, FF on either the upper or lower stretch of this section, or no bait but spin or fly like current TCA regulations in NJ waters.

Also discussed was the Division's proposal to make the Ken Lockwood Gorge TCA a No-Kill TCA its entire length. There are also considerations being made about reducing creel limits beginning with the fall stocking from 4 fish to 2 fish until Opening Day the next spring of each year. Division surveys have show that the combined group of anglers that practice either 100% C&R or "nearly all C&R" has grown to about 75% of all trout anglers in NJ that buy a license and a trout stamp.

I guess this will mean that i can only bowfish from the Roy Bridge if I am aiming downstream. I'm cool with that.

 

[gregschmegg]

Wow... i would call that a Win.

I really love fishing KLG and i hope it happens.

Ill also never pass on a survey from fish and game again. Thanks Rusty!

 

[Oliver10]

This is all great news. I wish they would go a few steps further. They should close Ken Lockwood from July 15th to Sept 1 for thermal stress. No point in catching a releasing fish in 75 degree water. Also was any thought given into making the Clairmont strech C&R?

 

[Rusty Spinner]

This is all great news. I wish they would go a few steps further. They should close Ken Lockwood from July 15th to Sept 1 for thermal stress. No point in catching a releasing fish in 75 degree water. Also was any thought given into making the Clairmont strech C&R?

It's tough to regulate thermal issues. It means closing rivers for parts of the day or for the entire day and making sure you have a system in place to properly alert all anglers. I think education through sites like these, TU and other conservation organizations, etc. will make most aware not to fish and practice C&R when it's too warm to safely release trout.

As for Claremont, there are really no wild fish, or at least very few, that meet the 15" size limit anyway. Our native brookies don't reach that size although a few wild browns will in that area of the SBR. If you catch a big rainbow, it swam down from Angler's Anonymous club waters and you should feel free to kill your limit if you want to eat it. They're just eating the wild brookies and browns anyway.

I think you'll see TU and hear from other individuals in 2 years for the 2016/2017 fisheries code asking for 100% no-kill on all TCAs and maybe all TCAs going to year round (Pequest and Pequannock still seasonal). I don't decide that, just my impression based on conversations I've had with a variety of folks. Let's give the Division the next two years under the new fisheries code they are working on for the '14/'15 season to gain better science via monitoring the new changes. I think they will be well received by the large majority and that will help spread them to other waters in time.

 

[Oliver10]

It's tough to regulate thermal issues. It means closing rivers for parts of the day or for the entire day and making sure you have a system in place to properly alert all anglers. I think education through sites like these, TU and other conservation organizations, etc. will make most aware not to fish and practice C&R when it's too warm to safely release trout.

That is why I am say just make a closed summer season on a few of these rivers. Even if there a few days where the water is cool enough to fish that gets closed and a few days where the water is too warm that fall outside of my proposed closed summer season it would do a world of good for holdover fish and growing a great C&R fishery. Education is great but I never think it goes far enough. I see people fishing in there in the middle of the summer.

 

[Thursthouse]

I see people fishing in there in the middle of the summer.

You see them while you're fishing?

 

[Oliver10]

You see them while you're fishing?

Exactly! I walk the dogs through there often.

 

[Rusty Spinner]

That is why I am say just make a closed summer season on a few of these rivers. Even if there a few days where the water is cool enough to fish that gets closed and a few days where the water is too warm that fall outside of my proposed closed summer season it would do a world of good for holdover fish and growing a great C&R fishery. Education is great but I never think it goes far enough. I see people fishing in there in the middle of the summer.

Unless I'm mistaken, Montana is the only state that has closed in-season timing due to thermal issues on trout waters(?). It is not a coincidence that, since 1973, Montana is also the only state that does not stock trout in wild trout streams. I don't think we're within 25 years of getting states like NJ to that level. It doesn't hurt to try, but my recommendation is to focus on things that the Division would support. NJ remains like nearly every other state which is one where its division of fisheries is very proud of their stocking program and where wild trout take a far back seat to stocked fish. I can't say this enough, read An Entirely Synthetic Fish by Anders Halverson to learn more about the history of how we got to where we are today when it comes to stocked trout.

 

[Johnny Utah]

Trout arent the only fish species that inhabit those few streams. It would be totally bogus to close good smallmouth water for trout. Most anglers, the catch and keep crowd anyways, stop fishing once stocking is over and they also dont believe there are still trout around to be caught. Also, a lot people wont fish cause its to hot for themselves not just the fish. I dont think the number of anglers during this time would justify doing something about it.

 

[Oliver10]

Trout arent the only fish species that inhabit those few streams. It would be totally bogus to close good smallmouth water for trout. Most anglers, the catch and keep crowd anyways, stop fishing once stocking is over and they also dont believe there are still trout around to be caught. Also, a lot people wont fish cause its to hot for themselves not just the fish. I dont think the number of anglers during this time would justify doing something about it.

I didn't think about other species. That is a good point.

 

[Oliver10]

An Entirely Synthetic Fish by Anders Halverson. I will try and find time to read this. What if there was an addendum to the actual stocking signs that go up. A reminder about thermal issues.

 

[Rusty Spinner]

What if there was an addendum to the actual stocking signs that go up. A reminder about thermal issues.

I think that is an excellent idea. And I think organizations like TU would be best to do that. Perhaps in conjunction and certainly with the blessing of the Division. When I last fished Vermont, I noticed signs all over the public access sites warning about Didymo/rock snot present in those waters. They were placed there by TU chapters with the backing of Vermont's fisheries department. I'll take it up with the state council and the Division and be sure to give you credit

Where should these be placed? TCAs would be one good start along with the FF only stretch of the Flat Brook. Others?

 

[Johnny Utah]

What if there was an addendum to the actual stocking signs that go up. A reminder about thermal issues.

But then you'd be cluing the meat hunters in on the fact that there still are trout to be caught.

 

[Oliver10]

But then you'd be cluing the meat hunters in on the fact that there still are trout to be caught.

That is a good point too! You can never win.

 

[Oliver10]

Where should these be placed? TCAs would be one good start along with the FF only stretch of the Flat Brook. Others?

Anywhere that is stocked where there is also a holdover population or an overlapping wild population. Places like the upper Whippany come to mind

 

[Rusty Spinner]

But then you'd be cluing the meat hunters in on the fact that there still are trout to be caught.

If you keep it to TCAs, then it would work. And if/when the BFB no-kill goes into effect, same for that water.