On line petition for the lower Raritan river:

[saxmatt]

It would be cool if they stocked pike and muskie. They could stock trout too but most of them would get eaten by predators so I think it would be a waste of money. Also the river gets too warm in the summer for trout. No need to stock channel cats, the river is already full of them.

[catfishonthelake]

Originally Posted by ChaosStarter

We don't need more pike in that river as they're already getting in from the D&R canal. We need to go for walleye or smallmouth/largemouth IMO. I'm not arguing over the trout thing. I just wish bass fisherman would step up efforts and not lay down to the trout guys (no offense to those of you out there).

Dan, I think some of the muskies in the Raritan may come from the canal, but the pike would come down from the Millstone. The D & R doesn't get pike. Also, I saw the state put a few dozen 28 to 30 inch tigers muskies in the Millstone last fall. Not sure if Sandy moved any of the canal fish to the river last year, but I have a hunch those tigers being caught below the falls are the ones that were put in the Millstone. I could be wrong, just my two cents.

[saxmatt]

I wouldn't be surprised if some of the muskie from the canal ended up in the river. I've seen a few grass carp in the main river and I'm pretty sure that's where they came from. I got one around 25lbs 3 years ago and my buddy got one 49.5lbs a few weeks ago. If they left the canal I don't see why muskie wouldn't do the same.

[ChaosStarter]

Originally Posted by catfishonthelake

Dan, I think some of the muskies in the Raritan may come from the canal, but the pike would come down from the Millstone. The D & R doesn't get pike. Also, I saw the state put a few dozen 28 to 30 inch tigers muskies in the Millstone last fall. Not sure if Sandy moved any of the canal fish to the river last year, but I have a hunch those tigers being caught below the falls are the ones that were put in the Millstone. I could be wrong, just my two cents.

I knew they were from one of them and I had a 50/50 chance. LOL

Originally Posted by saxmatt

I wouldn't be surprised if some of the muskie from the canal ended up in the river. I've seen a few grass carp in the main river and I'm pretty sure that's where they came from. I got one around 25lbs 3 years ago and my buddy got one 49.5lbs a few weeks ago. If they left the canal I don't see why muskie wouldn't do the same.

Which section are you talking? Brackish or freshwater? (You don't have to name spots)

If it's the brackish, I wonder if the carp can tolerate it better than other species? I know there are white perch in the brackish section. I've never personally seen any lmb/smb bass in the brackish area(not saying they haven't been caught). But I'm sure it's possible above the fish ladder though for muskies.

[AndyS]

The State will only stocks bass in ponds and lakes.

I think walleye would be the best choice. And to Super, I'm looking to the State for answers because when I helped pull the seine net in South Bound Brook last week and there were 4 - 4 to 5 inch brown trout in the net. I give trout more credit than most in surving harsh conditions, remember the Big Flatbrook hit 70* one year and there was no fish kill. Shucker got a rainbow in July in Bound Brook last year. As far as water temps on the river I don't think it could be much worse than the trout that are stocked in duck ponds that have already reached the 70* mark and it's only May.

[ChaosStarter]

Originally Posted by AndyS

The State will only stocks bass in ponds and lakes.

Ugh. I'm going to have to find out about if they still stock RVR with bass. I know they do at SRR but they need 'em at RVR. Enough with the trout already! lol

[Super]

Originally Posted by AndyS

The State will only stocks bass in ponds and lakes.

I think walleye would be the best choice. And to Super, I'm looking to the State for answers because when I helped pull the seine net in South Bound Brook last week and there were 4 - 4 to 5 inch brown trout in the net. I give trout more credit than most is surving harsh conditions, remember the Big Flatbrook hit 70* one year and there was no fish kill. Shucker got a rainbow in July in Bound Brook last year. As far as water temps on the river I don't think it could be much worse than the trout that are stocked in duck ponds that have already reached the 70* mark and it's only May.

I don't know the area that well, but I would think it gets too warm to hold over trout. But there's no point in guessing. You should put a temperature monitor in there for a year and find out. If you can show the F&W that the water stays under 72 degrees all year, that would indicate that the river is better suited for trout and it would be easier to justify trout stocking.

TU does projects like that all the time. See if you can get Central Jersey TU on board.

[SkillfulAngler908]

Im not a trout guy at all, but that argument that trout aren't stocked below 206 because they cant hold over doesn't make any sense to me. So the water a mile upstream @ Nevius St and above that is stocked annually doesn't get over 72 degrees? The stretch of river around the Finderne ave bridge in Manville is just as good of water for trout as anywhere else that they do stock on the river. I would personally love to see almost any gamefish stocked over trout, but to stock the waters they do stock and look at the lower Raritan as a waste of resources is inconsistent to me.

[AndyS]

I thought New Jersey was a put and take as far as trout are concerned ?
I like the thought of fishing a big wide river for trout as opposed to a stream where I have 1 or 2 cranks on the reel handle and the fish is on the bank.
Why I like fishing the East and West branch along with the Beaverkill for trout.

[SkillfulAngler908]

Originally Posted by AndyS

I thought New Jersey was a put and take as far as trout are concerned ?
I like the thought of fishing a big wide river for trout as opposed to a stream where I have 1 or 2 cranks on the reel handle and the fish is on the bank.
Why I like fishing the East and West branch along with the Beaverkill for trout.

Thats what I thought too and if you know the Raritan, you know it isnt all big and slow water. There are plenty of fast deep riffles that trout would love to sit in. Im sure the thousands of trout that go into ponds throughout the state would have a much better survival rate in the Raritan.