New State record from Skunksville:

[AndyS]

17 pound Hybrid Striped bass !!

[thmyorke1]

wow what a chunk. Hybrids are FUN !!!

[Jigman13]

Jesus christ. That's massive...

[Mark B.]

I recall that just before I retired from NJDF&W on 9/1/18, a very small number of hybrids were stocked in both Monksville and Splitrock Reservoirs along with publicity hyping anglers "to go out and get them!" Many of us thought it foolish,.........drops in the buckets of those big reservoirs,.....with no chance of anglers ever catching any. Who would have thunk it: 2 consecutive State Records from Monksville.

[thmyorke1]

do you think this will promote more stocking of hybrids in other lakes? And perhaps more quantity than just a few? From what i understand alewives and hybrids go well together

[Mark B.]

Originally Posted by thmyorke1

do you think this will promote more stocking of hybrids in other lakes? And perhaps more quantity than just a few? From what i understand alewives and hybrids go well together

I don't know about the stocking of hybrids in other lakes, as I am out of the loop now. But yes, hybrids require a good population of alewives to flourish.
I just remembered that those few hybrids were BIG when stocked. Probably 6lbs+ or more. Their size was the basis of the publicity hype. They were "found" in one of the many Hackettstown Hatchery ponds. The hatchery pushed for their stocking in Monks and Splitrock. At The Fish Lab, we thought it would have been better to stock them in lakes (Spruce Run, Hopatcong,...) with existing hybrid populations where experienced anglers were targeting them.

[DanH]

Originally Posted by Mark B.

I recall that just before I retired from NJDF&W on 9/1/18, a very small number of hybrids were stocked in both Monksville and Splitrock Reservoirs along with publicity hyping anglers "to go out and get them!" Many of us thought it foolish,.........drops in the buckets of those big reservoirs,.....with no chance of anglers ever catching any. Who would have thunk it: 2 consecutive State Records from Monksville.

That's an incredible story and thanks for that ! Wouldn't those few hybrids have aged out by now ?