Attention NJ Musky Anglers

[catfishonthelake]

That got your attention. Now please read and consider this......

http://www.fieldandstream.com/blogs/...src=SOC&dom=fb

[FASTEDDIE29]

Not that I'm a Musky fisherman! However this is something I practice when it comes to Pike fishing! Once the water gets too warm in the areas I target Esox I'm done! That's usually around the end of June or early July! Those fins get a deep red color and reviving the fish takes longer and longer the warmer the water is! No Piking for me in the summer months! It's gotta be hard to survive out there unless your good at targeting and guiding for multiple species!

GOOD READ!

[AndyS]

Thanx for the post. Spring and Fall, (winter too) plenty of time.

[UglyStick]

Muskies Inc. NJ Chapter 22 endorses this message...

Great post, I can't over stress the importance of safe handling and release... including when NOT to fish for muskies and pike.

[JDTuna]

Great post. Always good to mindful of proper catch and release, especially with rising water temperatures. Short fights and minimal air exposure. I found a postrelease mortality study conducted on recreationally caught muskies using proper catch and release techniques, in water temperatures from 62 to 79 degrees. The study had zero mortalities.

I think pike are hardier than muskies. I catch them most of the summer and the fish are in excellent condition and rarely need to be revived. Regardless, proper catch and release techniques are very important.

[Chrisper4694]

see that's the thing....it's not the warm water...it's people don't know how to do it or don't have the right equipment.

Wouldn't it be nice if you had to pass an actual fish handling test to get a license haha unfortunately that will never happen and way too many people don't give a crap.

[UglyStick]

Originally Posted by Chrisper4694

see that's the thing....it's not the warm water...it's people don't know how to do it or don't have the right equipment.

Wouldn't it be nice if you had to pass an actual fish handling test to get a license haha unfortunately that will never happen and way too many people don't give a crap.

Water temps do matter over 80 degrees...

[Moz]

Good article. The part about the divide with "goody-goodies" and everyone else struck a chord as there's been similar debate about nighttime rainbows at Round Valley during the summer and whether it hurts the fishery.

I don't think we need any more laws and regulations so this is really individual choice and debatable to no end.