Best of 2019

[Esox Luciano]

Another year of fishing in the books for good ol' New Jersey waters. It's about that time of year, winding down and getting ready for the new year. Time to recollect, and think about our most memorable moments on the water and best catches of 2019. Be it small or big, I've definitely had some memorable moments for this past year.
From smallmouth and Largemouth, to carp and pike, and everything in between, oh I enjoyed it all! Always a pleasure teaching my friends the ropes & seeing them enjoy the waterworld as well. Here's a few pics of my more memorable moments of the year.
https://i.postimg.cc/rw90kz6z/20191220-180504.jpg (https://postimg.cc/RWNV1SZz)
https://i.postimg.cc/Gp744NmC/20191220-180938.jpg (https://postimg.cc/KKTGV0Tq)
https://i.postimg.cc/LXJnLTJZ/20191220-183459.jpg (https://postimg.cc/fthzhYjw)
https://i.postimg.cc/C19dNq8r/20191220-183944.jpg (https://postimg.cc/5Yqx9jn8)
https://i.postimg.cc/fTnJSYDJ/20191220-185353.jpg (https://postimg.cc/vDhQpg1s)
https://i.postimg.cc/GhF9F9mz/20191220-191610.jpg (https://postimg.cc/TpPRGdmW)
https://i.postimg.cc/Cxw5mYZ0/20191220-193637.jpg (https://postimg.cc/SJtmxB71)
https://i.postimg.cc/YSsSrWd2/20191220-193355.jpg (https://postimg.cc/d7GFnLMg)

[reason162]

Always impressed by you bushwackers...hiking in and catching quality fish from shore. Looks like you had a great year!

[FASTEDDIE29]

Awesome post man! I’m happy you put this thread up. Some absolutely beautiful Jersey fish you have pictured here. Love the colors on the Carp and Pike. And it looks like you have the Bass bite locked in! Let’s keep this thread going!!! 2019 is coming to an end! I can’t believe it! Tight LINEZ to all!!!:D

[RWole]

Some really great pics. I have to say that I personally had a really good 2019 season.I had a really great season catching smallies.
Wish everyone a Happy, Healthy , Safe 2020 season. As always hope for more time on the water. I might have spent a little less time on the water this year , my daughter had a very busy schedule with school and events but it was worth it. She is a senior in high school, recently was inducted into the National Honor Society, and has been accepted to numerous colleges and universities, so even though I was not always fishing , it was for great reason ( i did get plenty of time to fish just always want more)

[AndyS]

Clean ups on the lower South Branch near Neshanic and 2 clean ups on the main stem of the Raritan river, Piscataway and a tidal section near New Brunswick. Also ongoing efforts on the Green Brook from Plainfield to Bound Brook. I know some people who caught fish also.

[dakota560]

Esox love your posts and your passion for the sport. Great stuff, looks like you had a very good 2019. Some very nice pike. Remember that beast you posted I think it was in 2016 maybe. Have shown that picture to at least 100 people with the same reaction from each which is "Can't believe the size and that it was caught in NJ". That was one impressive fish. Keep doing what you love my friend, you know how to follow your passions in life.

Andy your dedication to the environment is inspiring. Thanks for all your hard work and leadership over the years with your conservation efforts and best of luck down south with your family. Give us your mailing address, need to know where to send all the tires. We know your life wouldn't be the same without them so at minimum we owe you that!

Keep the pics coming. I only have one and it actually was caught in 2017 so I decided not to post it!

[Lard Almighty]

I was wondering when this thread was going to show up. :D It was another great year of fishing the waters in an around New Jersey. Of particular note, the big smallies were really on the feed in the Raritan River this summer, and my biggest trout of the year DIDN'T come out of the upper Delaware (but my dad's did). I had the summer flounder dialed in off the local beaches (which are a blast on light tackle), and successfully debuted my homemade ultralight bladed jigheads. As usual, I'm hoping to build on this year's success and have an even better 2020! I hope all my fellow NJFers do as well!

[Jigman13]

I realize my handling of the fish is one of the things I need to work on in 2020 to improve my catch and release fishing skill set.

Lose the gripper. Itll break their jaws.

[oelgnal1]

Congrats on what looks like an impressive mixed bag season and speaking of seasons, Merry Christmas and lots of luck in 2020!

[NJ219bands]

Multiple photos upload didn’t work for me so I’ll try one instead.

[ScowardNJ]

2019 was a solid year.

Had a fun ice season with a few trips up north jigging walleye and perch on Oneida and jigging lakers on Lake George. Got in some local action also.
https://i.imgur.com/itnM24Y.jpg

Spring was good with some crazy surprising action at Monksville. Only got out a couple times for the night bite on Hopatcong which I hope to change in 2020. Found some local stripers way up on the Hackensack River also.
https://i.imgur.com/Ep1CBuJ.jpg?1



Summer was great mixing in the salt and sweet water. Had a day I’ll never forget with Capt. Topaz on the Kathy K battling a thresher with a great crew! Got into some fun inshore/midshore action with bonitos, mahi’s, and Spanish macs a few times as well as the usual inshore species.
https://i.imgur.com/aYR0Zpv.jpg?1https://i.imgur.com/1gKQEHe.jpg?1

Late Summer/Early fall the magic hour walleye action was very consistent putting good numbers of fish in the Mugger. Also got to Merrill jigging up bull dog lakers.

https://i.imgur.com/nCBBR4d.jpg?1


Fall was great with a trip to Salmon country with the boys. Mid October the lake turn over yielded a bunch of quality walleye trips producing way over limits almost every trip. The Hybrid Meet n Greet was great with a flurry of afternoon action. I got to play with the yo-yo reel and hand lined a few Hybrids.
https://i.imgur.com/vp0unzO.jpg?1

This December produced some nice walleyes also. Ended the year on a high note catching my first tiger musky along with quality eyes!
https://i.imgur.com/EMjkxwq.jpg?1


Looking back 2019 produced the most consistent daily/nightly fish counts I ever experienced. Many after work evening runs average 6 eyes and more double digit bags than ever. The Mugger had a total of 75 Walleye caught and released this year! 4 new species added to the list (Mahi, Spanish Mac, Thresher Shark, and Tiger Muskie) No complaints!

[FASTEDDIE29]

Some really awesome pics here! The end is near guys, 4 hours and 40 minutes left til 2020! Let’s see some more pics from your 2019!:D

[oelgnal1]

First comment is "Scott, you had quite a year!"
As for me, 2019 was a tough year compared to past ones, very HOT, windy and it got to cold and windy too fast with our season ended by Thanksgiving instead of by years end. As we get older the trips are more in the 4 to 6 hr. range depending on the season and I'll be adjusting to the three quarter century mark this year. Had less than 30 picture worthy bass this season and hear are some.


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[MudCat08]

Where is JDtuna to put us all to shame with his trophy fish of the planet?
Everyone's catches are so cool.
For me 2019 has also been a banner year, with some of the better catches below.
May 2020 bring even more unforgettable memories for all.

[Chrisper4694]

I don't really know how to make a collage of pics... can only seem to list them. anyway, had a great time fishing as always... i'm not even really sure what people that don't fish even do with their time! Got on as many good bites as i could and accomplished some goals i've been after for a few years. Fished with some awesome crews and great times had by all!

Started 2019 ice fishing, jigging up some nice NJ smallies, ll salmon and crappie and capped the winter off with scotty, fonzie, and tom upstate ny for lakers where i had a very memorable ultra super light gear battle with a 28" lake trout while i was trying to catch perch! Also whacked some beefy salmon with my homemade jawjackers which was pretty cool! feeling pretty depressed about our current weather/ice situation at the moment unfortunately :(

https://s3.amazonaws.com/photos.fishidy.com/5c6b5b136e8bb80444624cdb_800
https://s3.amazonaws.com/photos.fishidy.com/5c7db23d6e8bb80b64e256a2_800
https://s3.amazonaws.com/photos.fishidy.com/5c9905f76e8bb8084070d449_800

Nabbed tons of species and fish during the spring, but one of the trophies had to be the gorgeous super bright colored tiger trout i was able to fool with a wooley bugger... one of the most beautiful fish i've ever seen!

https://s3.amazonaws.com/photos.fishidy.com/5caf59576e8bb80b88c9872b_800

late spring though brought the fish that took the cake for me... I was finally able to break the 31" mark on a NJ lake trout! I'm not sure how many real monster ones are left here, but i'll be on the hunt for a 35"+ for sure this year.

https://s3.amazonaws.com/photos.fishidy.com/5cd3947f6e8bb8077c38808c_800

The night bite with squatch and jdtuna yeilded some nice fish, but not really as good as it's been in the past.... can't beat getting crushed by a fish in the darkness though!

https://s3.amazonaws.com/photos.fishidy.com/5ce472036e8bb80684772e94_800
https://s3.amazonaws.com/photos.fishidy.com/5cfadaf96e8bb80bec407216_800

[Chrisper4694]

Fished with some salty crews for the first time with Gary for bluefins/albies and Mikey, Scoward, and Joey for an epic shark hunt! (missed sleepy head fasteddie on that one :() but great times!

https://s3.amazonaws.com/photos.fishidy.com/5cf70bcf6e8bb80840588cbd_800
https://s3.amazonaws.com/photos.fishidy.com/5d1289c86e8bb806fc37ad2a_800

Had an equally epic battle with a musky and a sail boat rope while Jdtuna wondered if i was going to catch the fish, fall in, or sink the whole damn boat HAHAHA!

https://s3.amazonaws.com/photos.fishidy.com/5d03020f6e8bb806b0da9c91_800

Summer was the usual, Pike, crappie, lakers, bass, etc. but some of the more memorable ones included some extra hefty bass and a trip to north carolina where i pretty much just kind of winged it and decided to surf fish for shark. I ended up tussling with a pretty nice sized sand tiger which was pretty rewarding!

https://s3.amazonaws.com/photos.fishidy.com/5d3353776e8bb806fcbfd416_800
https://s3.amazonaws.com/photos.fishidy.com/5d5b40c76e8bb80aa446689c_800
https://s3.amazonaws.com/photos.fishidy.com/5d2518036e8bb806fc2f4d6d_800

Took a long weekend trip to florida to fish with my buddy captain morris knocking out tons of first time species including a few different species of grouper, peacock bass, and knife fish (like fishing for aliens!)

https://s3.amazonaws.com/photos.fishidy.com/5d6db4fa6e8bb80ba828358f_800
https://s3.amazonaws.com/photos.fishidy.com/5d7133f66e8bb80bcc581830_800

[Chrisper4694]

The northern waters, not to be outdone by the warm gulf waters, produced a great bluefin tuna jigging adventure in cape cod for Jdtuna, myself, and his other friend chris...where i proceeded to get my ass kicked by these beasts!

https://s3.amazonaws.com/photos.fishidy.com/5d88e9b26e8bb80bd434f477_800

October in NJ showed me, hands down, the most epic striper fishing i've ever seen fishing with my buddy Brant for the first time....we both had multiple fish over 45" up to 48" and dozens over 38"...crazy!

https://s3.amazonaws.com/photos.fishidy.com/5dae4e906e8bb809d081e621_800

Last but not least, i was able to pop off my other big goal of a few years by cracking my PB tog. boated with a jig on John's Keyport Seahawk.

https://s3.amazonaws.com/photos.fishidy.com/5dca0aee6e8bb8067012de1f_800

It was a hell of a year, it always is! It kind of ended with a fizzle, but looking forward to another year of crazy NJ fishing adventures and beyond!!! happy new year guys!

[bigfishy]

You captured ur yr perfectly!!!! Well done w gr8 pics

[NickM221]

Had an awesome year with many firsts, PBs, and tons of adventures.

Did a lot of exploring new territory this year with Luke, from exploring smaller streams and creeks to floating some new sections of larger rivers. Outside of NJ, I was lucky enough to spend a decent amount of time camping and fishing up in the Adirondacks targeting bass and pike and fishing for trout over in the UK.

In the fall, I brought my muskie curse to Chrisper's tin can (Currently at 23 trips without landing a fish). Headed out with Hookmanski on Squatch's boat for the hybrid meet and greet and had the catch of the day, hauling in a pretty solid spinning combo from the depths of Hopatcong. I went on my first lake trout adventure with Chrisper and got completely hooked on the type of fishing. Luke and I watched Eddie put on a Thanksgiving Trout clinic for us. Luke and I closed out the year exploring some new trout waters.

This year, I also started making my own lures which went from looking like square blocks to actually looking fish-like.

Some firsts for this year include first tiger trout, brook trout, trout slam (Got all four in one session) walleye, laker, and my first surf striper in NJ.

Some PBs include LMB, smallie, rainbow, brown, pickerel, a 13" perch, and an 11" bluegill.

Overall a solid year, and looking forward to seeing what next year has in store! I'm hoping to finally cross the muskie off my list, to actually target walleye, and to break the 24" mark for a brown trout.

Special thanks to Chrisper and NJSquatch for taking me out on your boats and to Eddie, JD, and Sako1 for your help/info over the course of the year. Happy New Year All!

https://i.imgur.com/SxWtB4F.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/D011DTs.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/Nf7lFXh.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/6Xm0kER.jpg

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https://i.imgur.com/6mrSLu7.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/oA2rCae.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/10xctm1.jpg

[NickM221]

https://i.imgur.com/Ke1i3p2.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/OItZT1q.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/um6VzXD.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/VpWR8lF.jpg

[FASTEDDIE29]

Some really good stuff here. Awesome pics and catches fellas! I’m going to leave this post as a sticky til the end of the month. Thanks for contributing! Let’s catch em’ up this year! #thisis2020 TIGHT LINEZ!!!:D

[reason162]

https://i.imgur.com/Ke1i3p2.jpg


That looks amazing!

[reason162]

I made a little highlight reel for 2019...I need to figure out a camera mount on the kayak, jealous of everyone's great photos!

https://youtu.be/EJNk98MZNHg

[FASTEDDIE29]

Awesome 2019 highlight reel man! Some beautiful fish and meals!!! Yummmmmmy!!!:D