Surprise D&R canal musky

[deaone123]

Hit up the D&R canal in the new Brunswick area today and hooked up with large musky first one ever for me good way to start my 2020 fishing.
I tried everything to land the fish for a picture but it was impossible to pull it up all the brush so i grabbed my ten pound leader and it broke after exhausting my options.
But overall it was a surprise hookup with a pretty large musky in the D&R but will confirm they are def in there!!

[thmyorke1]

They come from the delaware, or maybe even Carnegie lake? If that's attached to the DnR canal. Not sure myself.
And then they also jump out into the millstone + Raritan river from the canal.
-Either way; I think they're found throughout the whole canal, rare of course as musky are.

If I ever fished the canal more Id bring with me a long net. One of those pike or carp nets they use in UK.

From the big walleye, monster bass, musky, flatheads, it's bound to safe a fish. Just cant hit any of the bikers flying by when you extend the net out from behind lol.

Got an estimate on size?

[deaone123]

It was about 40 inches roughly, i looked it up the state stocked 150 musky in 2012 and 300 in 2008 in the D&R canal.
I sure wasn't targeting them lol but the cold water made the fish quite lethargic so it gave up after about a ten minute fight

[Jedhead]

State has stocked them there for years, all up and down the canal! Tough part as you stated is landing one when you are so high above the water line. Not the kind of fish you can drag up the bank! Nice job and sure it got your adrenaline running!

[Godrew1972]

new brunswick area?
thats awesome. seems like most guys in that area are always going for catfish and sunnys to fill the buckets. nice surprise

[thmyorke1]

Originally Posted by Jedhead

State has stocked them there for years, all up and down the canal! Tough part as you stated is landing one when you are so high above the water line. Not the kind of fish you can drag up the bank! Nice job and sure it got your adrenaline running!

True, looks like they did with tiger musky some years.

https://www.njfishandwildlife.com/fish_tigers.htm

[shucker]

The canal is loaded with them, use live sunnies near the lochs. Never saw a pure strain don't think they stocked them but tigers are plentiful