12/4/2016 Ramapo River Report

[MudCat08]

Went over to the Ramapo in the morning for what looks to be the last decent weather before the cold really hits. Caught a few fish, lost a couple. One lost fish felt like a trout. Catches included some fallfish, a few perch and two of the biggest suckers I've seen. Pictured is one of the bigger perch and my PB sucker at 3.3lbs and around 21". The other sucker was 3lbs and about 20".
All fish were released to fight another day.

Was absolutely frozen by the end of the trip but it was a fun last day of the 2016 season!

[23cardinal]

Loving the porky perch!

Apparently some people eat sucker?
Pretty sure I know your spot- def. some trout- but they get spooked by other fish sometimes..

[bulletbob]

As long as you can deal with the bones, suckers from cold water are as good to eat as any fresh water fish , and better than a lot of them. White and very mild.. Too many bones for me though... bob

[MudCat08]

I think I tried sucker once. Tasted like carp but a little sweeter, which is better in my opinion. Lots of bones as already said. Any carp relative is going to have lots of sharp bones.
I have also heard of people making pickled suckers..I think I'll stick to eating other fish haha!

I really like catching perch like that from the Ramapo but there's less and less of them. People harvest them quite a bit. I release all of mine because those perch tend to have a bit of worms on them (blue dots on fins and skin). The perch in the picture was surprisingly clean though. The cleanest i've seen in a long time from this river.

Pretty sure I know your spot- def. some trout- but they get spooked by other fish sometimes..

Yea it's a somewhat popular spot. This year in the fall it didn't hold much trout though. In the spring there was way more action.

Too many bones for me though... bob

The bones will kill ya! Better tasting than carp for sure. But nothing beats catfish haha.

[KenBeam]

Originally Posted by 23cardinal

Loving the porky perch!

Apparently some people eat sucker?
Pretty sure I know your spot- def. some trout- but they get spooked by other fish sometimes..

Hell yea...... they`re great in the wintertime boys! Good eatin` indeed!

Heck if ya ain`t never heard of it.......... Google "NJ Sucker Gigging" or go to SuckerGigging.com

OR......... even check this out; http://adventureswithken.com/legenda...rs-califon-nj/ and scroll all the way down to watch the Video!

Fur-Fish-Game Magazine published my article that year; http://adventureswithken.com/fur-fis...y-by-ken-beam/

[tradingfrank27]

I take my son sucker fishing all the time but that is a true giant!! Congrats

[23cardinal]

Originally Posted by MudCat08

I think I tried sucker once. Tasted like carp but a little sweeter, which is better in my opinion. Lots of bones as already said. Any carp relative is going to have lots of sharp bones.
I have also heard of people making pickled suckers..I think I'll stick to eating other fish haha!

I really like catching perch like that from the Ramapo but there's less and less of them. People harvest them quite a bit. I release all of mine because those perch tend to have a bit of worms on them (blue dots on fins and skin). The perch in the picture was surprisingly clean though. The cleanest i've seen in a long time from this river.


Yea it's a somewhat popular spot. This year in the fall it didn't hold much trout though. In the spring there was way more action.


The bones will kill ya! Better tasting than carp for sure. But nothing beats catfish haha.

Water quality wasn't bad there this year. I pulled a crappie out in October.
I'm still always surprised when waters around here hold native fish- even my "secret" spot doesn't seem to get as much traffic as I expect- considering we live in the densest populated state in the us.
Fall stocking was kinda light this year- but much better fish.

[MudCat08]

Heck if ya ain`t never heard of it.......... Google "NJ Sucker Gigging" or go to SuckerGigging.com

Skewering suckers, thats what's up! haha

I'm still always surprised when waters around here hold native fish- even my "secret" spot doesn't seem to get as much traffic as I expect- considering we live in the densest populated state in the us.

I definitely feel the densest state in the US - there is usually someone in my chosen fishing spots whenever I go fishing!

[23cardinal]

Originally Posted by MudCat08

I definitely feel the densest state in the US - there is usually someone in my chosen fishing spots whenever I go fishing!

I work 3 13 hour shifts so I'm not out on a lot of weekends. I cheat!

[MudCat08]

Originally Posted by 23cardinal

I work 3 13 hour shifts so I'm not out on a lot of weekends. I cheat!

Right, I try my best to go during the week thinking that most people will be working, but still there is usually someone skulking about on the hunting grounds haha. On rare occasion I do get to meet some of the members of this site. I think I bumped into FastEddie at least once this year while targeting catfish. That's always cool.