Open water fishing today

[Cshadis92]

On my commute home, I saw 5 cars between seelys pond down to the quarry and people fishing, is this a coincidence since opening day of trout is quite soon? Haven't seen a single soul on the res in months since trout stockings ceased in the area...

[Jigman13]

Yea, sounds like the illegals trying to poach away at seelys as per usual. Call the 5-0 (f&g). See if it does anything... That place gets pillaged before expending day...

[Eskimo]

On my commute home, I saw 5 cars between seelys pond down to the quarry and people fishing, is this a coincidence since opening day of trout is quite soon? Haven't seen a single soul on the res in months since trout stockings ceased in the area...

Yup. I fished Seeley's Pond on opening day last year and the pond was poached EMPTY!
Just a pond ringed by anglers staring at their lines wondering where all the fish went.

I give up. Let the poachers have all the damn trout. New Jersey is just a ghetto shithole. You couldn't organize an opening day of trout season without all the fish being poached in Mexico and you can't do it in Watchung, NJ. End of story.


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[Cshadis92]

F&w told me fishin is ok as long as the trout are "released immediately unharmed" ...tough for me not to be cynical here... Meh... Just figured I'd post to get everyone's opinion. I haven't lived in the res long... That's why I was curious. (By long I mean through a lot of "spring" trout stockings) ... Thnx guys.. I don't fish in the res anyways. Looks like people beat us to it!

[Chrisper4694]

Yeah they're releasing them...haha, I'd say take some video of the illegal keeping of the trout there now but I don't want you to get gang beaten. Stay safe, how good are you at tree climbing?

[Cshadis92]

Yeah they're releasing them...haha, I'd say take some video of the illegal keeping of the trout there now but I don't want you to get gang beaten. Stay safe, how good are you at tree climbing?

If a pissed off bear/ex girlfriend/her dad the state trooper is at my ankles = professional tree climber:D

[jimcnj]

F&w told me fishin is ok as long as the trout are "released immediately unharmed" ...tough for me not to be cynical here... Meh... Just figured I'd post to get everyone's opinion. I haven't lived in the res long... That's why I was curious. (By long I mean through a lot of "spring" trout stockings) ... Thnx guys.. I don't fish in the res anyways. Looks like people beat us to it!

I thought all fishing was prohibited in stocked streams and lakes 3 weeks prior to opening day (exceptions excepted). Did I read something wrong?

I understand how pissed Eskimo is - I remember him saying same last year.

Are we just schmucks for following rules?

[Dave B.]

F&w told me fishin is ok as long as the trout are "released immediately unharmed" ...tough for me not to be cynical here... Meh... Just figured I'd post to get everyone's opinion. I haven't lived in the res long... That's why I was curious. (By long I mean through a lot of "spring" trout stockings) ... Thnx guys.. I don't fish in the res anyways. Looks like people beat us to it!

Unfortunately whoever you spoke to at F&W was wrong. Seeleys is closed to all angling until 8:00AM on opening day. No C&R, simply no fishing period.

If you called the Trenton number, I hate to say it but alot of the folks there are just office staff who don't really know the regs and as such should not be dispensing info that could potentially get someone ticketed.

If you don't have a local CO's number your next best option is to call the Operation Game Thief number which is 855-648-8477.

[Wilson]

Unfortunately whoever you spoke to at F&W was wrong. Seeleys is closed to all angling until 8:00AM on opening day. No C&R, simply no fishing period.

If you called the Trenton number, I hate to say it but alot of the folks there are just office staff who don't really know the regs and as such should not be dispensing info that could potentially get someone ticketed.

If you don't have a local CO's number your next best option is to call the Operation Game Thief number which is 855-648-8477.
If you see something and decide to call the number, take note of
car makes, color and license plates if you can. Also a description of the poachers is helpful.;)

[Dave B.]

If you see something and decide to call the number, take note of
car makes, color and license plates if you can. Also a description of the poachers is helpful.;)

Excellent advice Wilson! Thanks for posting it! I'm so used to doing so it never occurred to me to share those tips.

[CMJeepster]

I thought all fishing was prohibited in stocked streams and lakes 3 weeks prior to opening day (exceptions excepted). Did I read something wrong?

I understand how pissed Eskimo is - I remember him saying same last year.

Are we just schmucks for following rules?

http://www.njfishandwildlife.com/pdf/2015/trtregs15.pdf

[Eskimo]

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http://www.njfishandwildlife.com/pdf/2015/trtregs15.pdf


Thank you for that link.
It says this:

During the three weeks prior to opening day, all ponds, lakes or sections of streams are stocked
with trout, except Trophy Trout Lakes. These waters are closed to fishing for all species from March 16 to April 4 at 8 a.m.


I went to Seeley's Pond last night with a bat to teach some people about the law but there was nobody there.


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[justin1982]

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I went to Seeley's Pond last night with a bat to teach some people about the law but there was nobody there.

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It's a sad state of our society that this is probably the most effective way to teach people of all races, colors, and creeds the rules...