NJ local?

[cms829]

So far this fall I have done very well on what will remain an un-named creek. Down low I got into two nice holdover rainbows. And I've landed probably 20+ gorgeous native browns. I knew that there had to be some bigger browns since the population seems healthy, but with the low water didn't have very high hopes of finding one. Well that changed yesterday. The first pic is about the average fish I've been catching. The second pic is the mama bear. Question - Am I correct in saying that this is a native brown as well? Or do the native's just not get that big and is this likely a old holdover from when the state used to stock browns? I have no idea if the state ever stocks the river that this feeds with browns, but I guess they could have? Whens the last time the state stocked browns?

Quick note - I handle all of my fish with the utmost respect. This fish was out of the water for no more then 6 seconds. The stone was wet prior to super gently laying her down and right back in the water she went and swam away strongly. I realize it wasn't the optimal situation but I was balanced on a small rock and wanted to release it quickly. This was most definitely the most beautiful healthy looking fish I've ever caught in NJ. So glad to see the population survived the crazy heat and low water this summer. Hopefully we get some rain soon.

 

[flymantis73]

Brown trout would be wild, not native.
Brook trout are the only natives in nj.
and i believe they are actually part of the char family.

 

[Bigfishy]

I hate the wild -native bs....born in the river its native- wild , whatever ya wanna call it....Mantis is it fair to call you wild as in you were actually born but not native cause it was on another planet???

btw nice report....keep that gem of a spot hidden from ALL, they are getting fewer

 

[flymantis73]

Ha ha ha!
If you think that's bad, wait until the lake run vs ocean run steelhead crap starts.

 

[FIN-ITE 34]

No, native is the term used to describe an indigenous fish. Wild is the term used to describe a fish born in a natural waterway, not a hatchery. It ain't so difficult.

 

[WBDluver]

They do not want to be called "native browns" they want to be called Indigenous Browns. Stop being insensitive!

 

[Rusty Spinner]

If I had to guess, and based solely on its complete lack of red coloring along with somewhat small pectoral fins, I would say it is a club stocked brown from the Musky Trout Hatchery. It sure looks like Vern's browns. Our wild browns have more yellow fins while his have more brownish coloration and his lack red spots. It would not be a state stocked holdover brown this many years later at that size. Plenty of hatchery browns still in our rivers, but all are (or should be) from the Musky Trout Hatchery in Asbury/Bloomsbury area on the Musky. Those browns, even though stocked, will head into tribs to attempt to spawn at this time of the fall. So you likely got one of those, but the others are clearly wild.

That is all just an educated guess. Even the fisheries biologists on staff at the Division couldn't tell you with complete accuracy. Either way, a fine day on the water catching "natives"

 

[cms829]

Thanks for clarifying the native vs wild thing. I agree rusty - This fish has much more brown and is much darker then the others, and with more subdued red spots. Would be cool to know exactly where that big one came from. Unsolved mystery. lol

 

[Catskill Mountain Man]

"landed probably 20+ gorgeous native browns."

Browns arent "native" and get the fish off the damn dry rocks.

That fish in the 2nd pic is now dead because you wanted to take a pic on a dry rock

 

[lightenup]

"landed probably 20+ gorgeous native browns."

Browns arent "native" and get the fish off the damn dry rocks.

That fish in the 2nd pic is now dead because you wanted to take a pic on a dry rock

Please ignore this rock head.....he is the "indigenous special person"...

 

[FIN-ITE 34]

Please ignore this rock head.....he is the "indigenous special person"...

Invasive non-native species.