Raritan River, Big Hybrid Striper 8/13

[FASTEDDIE29]

After attending a F&G council meeting with Andy I decided to go to the Raritan River. Knowing the water was up from the rain I thought that there might be something worth catching. Got to the river around 245 and started casting medium sized Bombers. Wound up with 2 dink Smallies about 10 inches a piece. Out of the corner of my eye I keep seeing what appears to be fins coming out of the white water of the falls. I ignore the first few times it happens thinking to myself, I'm hallucinating!!! No way, no hallucination because it keeps happening and the fins are that of the STRIPED TYPE!!! So from there I start burning lures in the white water hoping to hook what I think I see. The same old stuff isn't getting me any hook-ups so I tie on a giant gold Rat-l-trap. Start casting it out retrieving the lure in the stop and go method, no takes. Slowed down the lure and started jigging it in the white water and then finally, BAM, FISH-ON!!! This fish is going up and down side to side taking me for a ride, drags rippin, I'm sweating. Finally after an intense battle I land a 7lb 11oz HYBRID STIPER from the Raritan River in moderately high, fast water. WOW, Ive heard stories about them in the river, and now I know they're true. Quite an eventful day I must say. First the big meeting with Andy and then to top it off, another beautiful specimen caught out of the one and only RARITAN RIVER!!! TIGHT LINES!!!

You are a SLAMMER!!!!!

[Bottomfeeder]

Nice job! This might be a stupid question, are those fish swimming upstream from the ocean or downstream from a location where they have been stocked?

[Bicey]

That's damned near certified lunker .......nice fish bro.

[flatcreek]

Nice fish buddie. Ya got to love those Hybrid, bet that was a good fight in the white water.

Thanks for sharing;

[maddhatterr]

Nice catch!......Your a machine FastEddie!

Did it swim or did it end up in a pan?

[GetANet]

You Da Man!!!! Monster hybrid in the RARITAN!!!! OMG What's next salmon?

[lunkertaker]

Awesome catch
know the spot...who knew what is lurking in the white wash? Guess you proved it.

[paulyfish]

Originally Posted by Bottomfeeder

Nice job! This might be a stupid question, are those fish swimming upstream from the ocean or downstream from a location where they have been stocked?

Great catch Eddie....

Not a stupid question. Very rare for them to occur in nature...
We believe that when we have heavy rain events they flow out of Spruce run and other stocked spots. They move around like crazy. I have caught them all the way down to the bay. Not common, but they are most certainly there and really make you take notice in tenacity between them and a true strain Bass. And yes, they love rattle traps... and eat flies and topwaters as well.
paulyfish@reeltherapy.com

[Fish n Jeep]

Hi Paul! Remember me? Navesink River, launched kayaks out of Rumson, I tipped over by that creek on the north side?