Toms River

[flyman23]

Fished the TCA area of Toms River on Saturday for the first time. Not a bad little stream, very tight, spent some time in the trees. Caught 7 trout, 6 brookies and 1 little brown. The brownie and 1 of the brook trout had long perfectly formed pectoral fins. This usually indicates a wild fish. I was wondering if anyone knows if there are wild fish in this river?

 

[flyin]

in short, yes there are some wild fish, but mostly you will find very healthy holdovers. to my knowledge there are no wild browns in the river... but a very few wild brookies.

 

[JW1970]

To the best of my knowledge, pectoral fins regenerate and can "clean up" well. I've been told by biologists that they aren't a good indication of "wild" vs. holdover. Only a well-clipped fin (done by the hatchery) can be a reliable visual indicator when it comes to fin observations. Even with clipping, regeneration can occur if it isn't done deep enough (and do the clipping too deep and you harm the fish).

 

[flyman23]

Thanks for the info. I didn't know that the fins can regenerate. I really didn't think they could be wild fish. Although the brown I caught was only about 8" so I don't think he was in the river that long. The brook trout was about 12"

 

[AKSkim]

Ex parte

FM23, sounds like you had yourself a day out there Lad.