Intro & Beginner Advice Needed!

[nyrsimon]

Howdy all,

Wanted to take a second to introduce myself - new member to the forum.

I used to fish about 25 years ago in England and have just dipped my toe back into the world of fishing and am totally hooked!

So all the gear, names and a lot of the fish are VERY different from what I grew up with - theres a lot to learn.

I'm in Marlboro in Monmouth County. So far my expeditions have only been to Holmdel Park. Caught a few sunfish, a couple of Catfish and got snapped up on what looked like a bass. All of those were caught on Slim Jims

So I am looking for some advice on any good water locally - I don't have a boat and normally take my 12 yr old son with me. Manasquan Reservoir seems to get good reviews - but any specific fishing tactics for local water would be MUCH appreciated..From where I am, Marlu lake in Thompson Park is reasonably close as are the lakes/ponds in Colts Neck but no idea if I am wasting my time there

I am also looking for some advice on tackle. We both have a couple of cheap starter rod/reel combo's. All of our cathes have been on a bobber with a popeye jig/hook and, as I said, a bit of slim jim on the hook! Don't ask how I came up with that!!! I have purchased a bunch of stuff to get going so have a bunch of 'plastics' (no freakin idea what to really do with them), spinners and assorted items.

I think for now (and to keep my son interested) I am looking for quantity over quality, but after hooking that bass I really want to land another one or two in the near future!!

Anyway - if anybody can offer an advice it is much appreciated!
Thanks
Simon

[Chrisper4694]

I'm up north nj so can't give any specifics for down there but you can't go wrong with a pflueger triton combo, like 40 bucks I think. Small lures or bait in small ponds can always get plenty of sunfish and always a chance for a bass or pickerel. Pickerel have sharp teeth though watch out bring pliers.

[justin1982]

I'm up north so no water advice but I bought a Shakespeare gx2 ugly stick combo for $40-$50 dollars. Also if you have plastics and are looking for bass, Google Texas rigs, Carolina rigs and wacky rigs. Those usually work for me. The only thing you'll need is some 3/0-5/0 hooks. Good luck, hope to see some fish porn!

[AndyS]

Do your homework and use Google Earth and this

http://www.nj.gov/dep/fgw/fishplc.htm

Daiwa reels and any half way decent rod. 6 lb Trilene XL can catch just about anything that swims in NJ waters.

Welcome to the site

[CabesaRoja]

Welcome! I'm also in northern NJ but from the looks of it you're only a small drive away from Farrington Lake, which I've heard has good fishing, although I've never been there myself. For tackle, I HIGHLY recommend buying a few inline spinners, specifically Mepps Aglias in size 2. That's been my go to lure for many years now and can catch anything from small sunfish to giant bass or pickerel. They're also very easy to fish, its just a simple cast and retrieve. If you're more into bait fishing, then instead of using Slim Jims maybe try putting a baby night crawler or any type of worm on your hook.

[Jhunter1]

For shore fishing and to keep it simple. You will always catch fish on a plain mepps or a green pumpkin senko wacky rigged. I've caught more bass and pickerel this way than all others combined. Spend sometime searching Google and you will learn a lot. I know I have over the years.

[nyrsimon]

Thanks for the comments - some nice links and advice!

Appreciate it.

Simon

[gary305]

I'm in Monmouth county also I have fished marlu and its decent if you have boat but shore access is next to nothing and wouldn't waste time there If you go to turkey swamp park in freehold you would be much better off Plenty of shore access also have small boat rentals rowboats paddleboats canoe price not to bad Largemouth bass crappie and some catfish Manasquan reservoir is ok but somewhat limited with shore access Have fished there for bass and crappie have done ok its Monmouth county park If you have any other questions you can you could send private msg not that far from Marlboro
good luck

[goodfishin]

This may be all over the place but a few thoughts from someone who was in a similar position a couple years ago (hadn't fished in years, young son, no clue how to best fish for the most typical local fish).

1) Quantity is easy if you're okay with sunfish, crappie - all you need is a bobber, small hook and bait. Best success will come from butter worms and earthworms (which you can get at tackle shops, Dick's Sporting Goods, some Walmarts, etc.). You'll find sunfish in almost any still body of water and most streams and rivers.
2) Try every puddle - there are plenty of fish - and plenty of big ones - in the tiniest little overlooked spots. Town ponds, ornamental corporate ponds, you name it. Don't be afraid to try a tiny little puddle right in plain sight. I've caught a 30" catfish and 24" 6+ pound bass in town ponds - and, rather bizarrely, even caught a 24" pike in a decorative puddle in front of an office building. People overlook small water... and that's what makes them great.
3) For bass, learn how to "Texas Rig" a plastic worm and try a green or black Senko everywhere - pick up a couple packages of 4" Senko's in only those two colors or versions thereof and cast them everywhere a bass could hide. Around fallen trees, under lily pads, along weedbeds. You'll find them. The Texas Rig will keep you from getting snagged over and over and while other rigs might work better in some circumstances, that one will let you do more fishing and less tying on new hooks. Google Texas rigs and you'll find plenty of guidance on how to do it...
4) Ask people who know - ask the people at your local tackle shop for places to try. Ask people you bump into fishing at the town pond. Ask "Has anyone fished at ________?" right here on this forum when you are thinking about a new spot.
5) Look at Google Maps satellite images to find places you didn't know about/would never have thought of. I found a pond the size of a postage stamp right in my town I would never have thought of and I've caught 20"+ catfish there dozens of times.

And most importantly, go fishin'. There's no substitute for experience. I had never fished for bass until a couple years ago and now I'm not too shabby at catching just about any kind of fish you can pull in from shore in NJ. Takes practice - but there are worst things to be practicing, right?

Have fun and let us know how it goes.

[goodfishin]

p.s. My young son and I keep two $25 dollar Shimano spinning rod/reel combos in the car and fish with them incessantly. They work great, are durable, and are cheap enough that I don't have to feel bad if I accidentally circumcise them with the car's power windows (like I did last year).

You'll do just fine with a cheap rod/reel combo. If you can get the casting distance you want, you're fine.

[nyrsimon]

Thanks for input

I hit Turkey Swamp this weekend for an early evening session. Some Sunfish & Crappie and as it got later, a couple of catfish. Is it just me or is really hard to get the hook out of a catfish???? All on my old faithful of slim jim!!!

Tried a bunch of different plastics and spinners but no success - in fairness I was in pretty open water so not a lot of cover for bass....

Simon

[goodfishin]

Yes, hard to get the hook out of cats. Very bony mouths with lots of cartilage. You should invest in a pair of long forceps. They're available at most places that sell fishing gear. Incredibly useful for swallowed hooks, catfish, etc..

Re: bass, you really won't catch them in open water. You'll catch them three feet offshore more often than you'll catch them in the open where there is no "structure".

Look for fallen trees along shorelines. Often bass hiding around them.