Rainy day question, where's this guy from?

[Esox Luciano]

Had minimal time on the water lately so no recent rivermonsters to boot since the last. Been able to wet my lines here and there and while fishing this weekend on the lower Passaic, my buddy pulled out a 1st for our gang. After landing a striper he gets another hit soon after and we were expecting the same fish. Once it came closer and I had it in hand, we noticed it wasn't a 5lb striper... but a 5lb wiper! 1st I've seen or heard of coming out of this river.
So I couldn't figure out where it travelled from even after checking the stocking locations. Nothing that's stocked seems to be connected by any kind of tribs that I can find. If anyone has any ideas on how this guy ventured from where would be great.

[ScowardNJ]

I've seen hybrids caught in Greenwood Lake and Monksville. I also know of hybrids in Wanaque Res.

[Skunk City]

Pretty cool. I have a pic on my phone of one a friend caught in the river years back. Wanaque Reservoir, like Scott said, is apparently loaded with them. Any pic?

[tautog]

Depending on where you were it also could have come up from the ocean. A few make it to saltwater and do well.

[jimmythegreek]

they get mixed up in the stocking bins, they have been put in almost everywhere at some point by accident or sometimes they throw a few in for no reason. hybrids are sterile so theres no worry on reproduction. There have been wipers netted at roundvalley and at big swartswood too, plus many other bodies of water. just a nice surprise to catch anywhere, best fighting fish pound for pound in freshwater

[Mark B.]

Broken lines? Some individual pure strain stripers have them.

[Riz]

wow that's a first, been fishing the Passaic from Lyndhurst up to Fairfield for 20 years and never saw one. congrats on the catch bud .

[Esox Luciano]

Thanks for the feedback guys. Wasn't sure how this one found its way down. The Passaic never seizes to amaze me with the plethora of species that show from time to time. Here's a pic of the fish for better recognition.

[Mark B.]

Originally Posted by Esox Luciano

Thanks for the feedback guys. Wasn't sure how this one found its way down. The Passaic never seizes to amaze me with the plethora of species that show from time to time. Here's a pic of the fish for better recognition.

That looks like a pure strain striper to me. As I posted above, some have broken lines. I've caught / sampled them.

Also the fish appears slim like a pure strain.

Caught below Dundee Dam?

[Skunk City]

I was leaning towards true strain too. Hybrids tend to almost have a hump behind their heads, almost football shaped. I've had schoolies with broken stripes as well..