Tiger Musky in the Passaic? I say yup

[flyboy1]

Tossed a line this morning from (6-8am) around 2 bridges area on the pompton river side of Passaic. I caught 2 small pike and what looked to be a 30" tiger musky. The area I was fishing had a very shallow slope into the river and as I was reeling the Tiger in it was shallow enough for it to basically start flopping hard before I got it to shore and it viciously shook the lure out. I could see the fish extremely clearly as it was only 3 feet from and it was in fact a tiger musky. I knew they used to stock Tigers in the passaic/pompton back in the day but stopped at some point.. Evidently they are continually breeding naturally or there is still hold overs swimming about.

Ps. I caught the Pike and Tiger on 7'' 3 part segmented crank (Perch colored).

[Skunk City]

Very cool if you are indeed correct. I've heard the rumors too, but always thought the tigers were stocked in the Dundee Lake section of the river. Would have absolutely LOVED to see a picture. Could have always been a really vividly colored pike. We had one the other day that had the craziest coloring of any Passaic River pike I've seen. This was a couple miles downstream of 2 bridges. I say just catch another and tackle that mofo in the water, Crocodile Hunter style.

[Skunk City]

From my research, the tigers are sterile, so they shouldn't be reproducing.

[catfishonthelake]

Tossed a line this morning from (6-8am) around 2 bridges area on the pompton river side of Passaic. I caught 2 small pike and what looked to be a 30" tiger musky. The area I was fishing had a very shallow slope into the river and as I was reeling the Tiger in it was shallow enough for it to basically start flopping hard before I got it to shore and it viciously shook the lure out. I could see the fish extremely clearly as it was only 3 feet from and it was in fact a tiger musky. I knew they used to stock Tigers in the passaic/pompton back in the day but stopped at some point.. Evidently they are continually breeding naturally or there is still hold overs swimming about.

Ps. I caught the Pike and Tiger on 7'' 3 part segmented crank (Perch colored).

Tiger musky are hybrids of northern pike and true strain muskellunge and since they are hybrids are incapable of reproduction. Tigers musky also grow much faster than true strains and are believed to only have a life span of 10 years. A tiger that was thrown in "back in the day would either be well over 40 inches or dead. Even true strains muskies cannot reproduce in New Jersey as we don't have the type of shoreline habitat for the eggs to hatch. True strain muskies will "pair up" and go through the motions, but there is zero evidence that they have successfully reproduced. I've heard of tigers coming out of the Passaic, but they're either being mis-ID'ed or are coming from another waterbody and are not the result of past or current stockings.

[flyboy1]

Tiger musky are hybrids of northern pike and true strain muskellunge and since they are hybrids are incapable of reproduction. Tigers musky also grow much faster than true strains and are believed to only have a life span of 10 years. A tiger that was thrown in "back in the day would either be well over 40 inches or dead. Even true strains muskies cannot reproduce in New Jersey as we don't have the type of shoreline habitat for the eggs to hatch. True strain muskies will "pair up" and go through the motions, but there is zero evidence that they have successfully reproduced. I've heard of tigers coming out of the Passaic, but they're either being mis-ID'ed or are coming from another waterbody and are not the result of past or current stockings.

I do realize that Tigers a hybrids and with almost all hybrid fish they are hatched sterile. But the keyword is "almost". I have read on a lot of fishing sites and fish/wildlife sites that it is very possible for hybrids to be hatched with full breeding potential. As far as the Passaic goes I read that the last stockings of tigers occurred in 2006 (dont know what areas or how many). Also, I have also read that Pikes are stunted in the Passaic for some reason so they wont grow as big as their true potential in the ideal habitat.

It was a tiger, I have caught a tiger before in Little Swartswood lake.

Im trying to google more info on this....

[Tony Cav]

I do realize that Tigers a hybrids and with almost all hybrid fish they are hatched sterile. But the keyword is "almost". I have read on a lot of fishing sites and fish/wildlife sites that it is very possible for hybrids to be hatched with full breeding potential. As far as the Passaic goes I read that the last stockings of tigers occurred in 2006 (dont know what areas or how many). Also, I have also read that Pikes are stunted in the Passaic for some reason so they wont grow as big as their true potential in the ideal habitat.

It was a tiger, I have caught a tiger before in Little Swartswood lake.

Im trying to google more info on this....


Thanks for the report and info........more research is needed.........but then who need an excuse to go fishing? Good luck in you quest. "The truth is out there"

[RATS]

This conversation sounds like the one in Jurassic Park lol.

[Lard Almighty]

Is it possible that pike and true-strain muskies are cross-breeding in the wild? Not on any large scale maybe, but enough to produce a handful of offspring?

[acabtp]

nature finds a way!

[acabtp]

Is it possible that pike and true-strain muskies are cross-breeding in the wild? Not on any large scale maybe, but enough to produce a handful of offspring?
are there any muskies in the passaic river's drainage area?

[Skunk City]

are there any muskies in the passaic river's drainage area?

Greenwood Lake-->Monksville Res.-->Wanaque Res.-->Wanaque River-->Pequannock River-->Pompton River-->Passaic River

Theoretically, yes. Probable? Who knows. I have a friend who has landed a few Walleye in the Passaic River, so I guess anything could make its way down. Kind of like a real life "Finding Nemo". Yes, I have seen the movie lol.

[acabtp]

hmm. they should let us go fish the wanaque reservoir for "research" purposes then. man, what i wouldn't do to get out there...

[bunker dunker]

i think the true stains are spawning here in nj.mother nature always seems to find a way.

[flyboy1]

Greenwood Lake-->Monksville Res.-->Wanaque Res.-->Wanaque River-->Pequannock River-->Pompton River-->Passaic River

Theoretically, yes. Probable? Who knows. I have a friend who has landed a few Walleye in the Passaic River, so I guess anything could make its way down. Kind of like a real life "Finding Nemo". Yes, I have seen the movie lol.

I was just talking with a guy who worked for dept of Fish & Wildlife when I was at Dick's sports this morning. I asked him about the Tiger that I had caught and he said its not a possibility but a fact that anything can be caught in there. He said that the Passaic connects with so many drainage areas, tribs, etc.. that its a guarantee that species of all sorts find its into every possible area you can think of. Ironically he even mentioned that Walleye have been caught in the deeper parts of the Passaic in some areas. He also said there have been a few scattered reports of pure strain Musky's being caught. I think this guy was getting annoyed with me cuz I was talking his ear off with question after question... lol.... but he left me with these parting words.. Dont be suprised at what you might pull out of the Passaic cuz it may be a very good chance its not what your expecting..:eek:

[Jigman13]

You cant fish Wanaque Res. anymore? I used to get daily permits many moons ago. Did they stop that? I've caught some of the biggest smallmouth bass in there that I've ever seen...

[dboyd101]

Closed off... though I'm VERY tempted to stop in the gate house every time I leave my parents condo :)

[NorthJerzyG]

I've also seen walleye caught out of the passaic. Long time ago though........

[Lard Almighty]

i think the true stains are spawning here in nj.mother nature always seems to find a way.I agree. Many years ago I could have sworn I saw a juvenile musky (3-4") in the Raritan River. The Raritan River or its tribs have never been stocked with muskies that I am aware of. I got a good look at that fish and I am 99% sure it was a musky.

[catfishonthelake]

I agree. Many years ago I could have sworn I saw a juvenile musky (3-4") in the Raritan River. The Raritan River or its tribs have never been stocked with muskies that I am aware of. I got a good look at that fish and I am 99% sure it was a musky.

Lard I'm sure it was. Carnegie Lake has been stocked with TONS of muskies over the last 5 or 6 years and Fish and Game thinks a lot of these fish have made it over the dam into the Millstone, which eventually meets up with the Raritan. The D & R Canal has also been stocked going back to the 90's with tigers and true strains and I was talking to someone at F & G on Saturday and they said it seemed like every time they did a stocking the canal would flood into the Millstone. Neither the Millstone nor the Raritan have ever gotten a dose of skis, but I would bet the house there are good numbers in there that have come from the canal and Carnegie.

[Gatto1227]

Lard I'm sure it was. Carnegie Lake has been stocked with TONS of muskies over the last 5 or 6 years and Fish and Game thinks a lot of these fish have made it over the dam into the Millstone, which eventually meets up with the Raritan. The D & R Canal has also been stocked going back to the 90's with tigers and true strains and I was talking to someone at F & G on Saturday and they said it seemed like every time they did a stocking the canal would flood into the Millstone. Neither the Millstone nor the Raritan have ever gotten a dose of skis, but I would bet the house there are good numbers in there that have come from the canal and Carnegie.
Sorry this is kind of late but stumbled upon this on google. A friend of mine and I were fishin the Robert st. Dam( while it was still there) and below the falls in the section that pools off to the side we saw Atleast 2 huge true Strain musky sun bathing in about 1 ft of water. Would not bite a thing but all we really had was plastic worms. Coolest thing I've ever seen on the raritan. The pic below is one another buddy of mine pulled out while fishing the point in manville where the millstone and raritan meet. Bottom line is that they are in there. A river is a river. Maybe not many but it will make the catch that much more sweethttp://i1163.photobucket.com/albums/q544/Gatto1227/2117622A-06FC-4EB6-8EE4-63D1181E2F1D-37048-00002DC504423AA6.jpg

[jimmythegreek]

Beautiful musky, BTW the tiger musky in that pic is a mounted fish if you look carefully

[The Dominator]

Not that big but it was a nice fish. Caught it on 6lb test no liter about 2 years ago ..:D

[buzzbaiter]

When you have major flooding like we had last august/sept, fish in rivers tend to move upstream - not down. Lakes/ponds with over the top spillways and tribs have fish doing both - going over the dams and moving up tribs. Basically any fish species found in a reservoir along any river will find its way into that river and beyond -especially younger fish. I see tons of baby largemouth bass in almost every river yet adults are rare since its the young ones washing out of ponds and lakes along the rivers course and not the adults. Where adults do show up in good numbers are the slower rivers like the Passaic or the stillwaters behind dams on other rivers like the Raritan.

[jrock]

A lot of people would like to fish wanaque res. Here I see. Here are some pics. Of the res. That I can scrounge up. Let's just say these are from when you were aloud to fish it and not from this past spring wink.... I have caught pike, hybrids, channel cats, pickeral, large and smallmouths, crappie, perch, only thing I have not caught is walleye musky and trout but have heard rumors of them in there. Hands down best bass lake in the state I would say, I have had days of over 40 fish between me and my dad in the 3-5 lbs rang. The biggest was about a 8 lb'r my pops got years ago. But yea no fishing is aloud there now :(

[Skunk City]

A lot of people would like to fish wanaque res. Here I see. Here are some pics. Of the res. That I can scrounge up. Let's just say these are from when you were aloud to fish it and not from this past spring wink.... I have caught pike, hybrids, channel cats, pickeral, large and smallmouths, crappie, perch, only thing I have not caught is walleye musky and trout but have heard rumors of them in there. Hands down best bass lake in the state I would say, I have had days of over 40 fish between me and my dad in the 3-5 lbs rang. The biggest was about a 8 lb'r my pops got years ago. But yea no fishing is aloud there now :(

Hybrid Striper in Wanaque Reservoir??? How the hell did that end up there???

[jrock]

From what info. I have they were stocked many years ago to control the baitfish pop. Because they were clogging the water pipes there. Don't know how true that is but their is not to many left but if you do hook into one its gonna be 12+lbs. I don't know how the pike got in there they are few and far between, I have caught them from 12 inches to one that was about 20 lbs. A monster I can't find that pic. If I do I will post it.

[iceehot6766]

Beautiful musky, BTW the tiger musky in that pic is a mounted fish if you look carefully

I thought the same thing but didn't want to say anything...lol

[Skunk City]

From what info. I have they were stocked many years ago to control the baitfish pop. Because they were clogging the water pipes there. Don't know how true that is but their is not to many left but if you do hook into one its gonna be 12+lbs. I don't know how the pike got in there they are few and far between, I have caught them from 12 inches to one that was about 20 lbs. A monster I can't find that pic. If I do I will post it.

That's just as crazy with the Pike. Monksville Reservoir, which is above it, only has Muskie and Walleye, no Pike or Hybrids. I'd imagine some Muskie and Walleye have gone over the dam into Wanaque Reservoir too. The thought of Hybrid Stripers, Muskie, Pike, Walleye, as well as huge Bass all in one spot is mind boggling lol.

[jrock]

I have fished the area by the main damn,they say the walleye and muskie are in the opposite direction by the monksville damn which would make sense. I have yet to fish that area. I will tell you one thing that place changes everytime you fish it. Fish will be in totally diff. Areas everytime you go there. The water level goes up and down drastically throughout the year and seasons. hands down late fall is the best time of year, with spoons being dropped down into its depths. I also did great with the perch and a few bass ice fishing it one time. Will be posting reports this fall from reservoir x, stay tuned.....

[NJD Bassman]

Was fishing the D&R 2wks ago and while walking back to the car found these guys stocking. Asked what it was and they said it was 3yr old tiger muskies.

[Almaink]

Where on the D&R is that place Bassman? I've caught small pure strain Muskies in the Feeder canal, in fact I caught two this past spring while trout fishing.

[NJD Bassman]

That was the parking lot off of Amwell Road, in East Millstone.

[muskynut]

when I was a kid I went down to the Elmwood Park boat basin and watched the state stock 1,000 tigers so yes, they are definetly in there!:)