Carpe Diem!

[Esox Luciano]

No carp...but, I did do myself in quite a bit and am pretty damn spent! To start off, I got to knock off a new freshwater species on the maiden voyage of a new inflatable yak. Hooked and cooked my 1st landlocked salmon outta some great looking Jersey waters. Next to fresh walleye & krappie, this is now my 3rd fav fish to eat. I didn't smoke it though so, I know that's a game changer.

After that was my window. Had off a few days and hit the mountains and water pretty hard. Some places had more fish, other places had more scenery. Some places were "public", some were really public. But as they say, you can't catch a fish if your line ain't in the water. And my line can't reach the water from all the barbed-wire gates.😂🤣
First, was local piking actually. Got to land a few with a couple nice ones in the mix. Nothing big, but did connect all with my homemade jerkbait. Also, with only teeth having bit it since I've made it, was able to land this nice little river Larry on it as well! That's 2 species on the jerkbait soo far, and 6 on my popper!


Speaking of my homemade popper, while starting my next adventure I decided to start with my popper. I like to start with it so anything that will go crazy for topwater at first, I'd rather it bite my lure. Sure as shit, after a few casts by some laydowns hooked into a nice 3½lber & was able to land it over some weeds. Let him go sweet and kept it moving. Had to switch lures but doing so quick I was quickly on another fattie. No trouble landing her and she measured out at 4½lbs. Let her go sweet and kept it moving. Bite died shortly after.


Doing more exploring, I stayed to the trees and found some fish. Nothing big, but had a great hike and got to use a new double-chatter bait I bought. Worked great the 1st day, we'll see how it holds up.

[Esox Luciano]

With in between trips pondhopping in Sussex with only dink bass & pickeral, and striking out hard on the yak at Swartswood, my window was still open but closing quickly. I went for one more day while my body let me. Started early ended quite later and covered a few miles. Great end to a well needed staycay as the fish were not there to relax. Bright & early 1st one came in at another 3½lbs. So while wrangling him in, I knew I saw flashes going on behind him. After a quick pic & release I threw right back where I saw the flashes and sure enough out came the bigger one! This one came in @ 4¼lbs. She swam sweet and I landed a few more dinks before leaving to the top of the mountain. Found some more beautiful water and fish to follow. Couple 2lbers but I know there's some bigger in there. Now I just have to do with a slight breeze here and there till my window opens again.

[AndyS]

Cool report, try Split Rock !

[Esox Luciano]

Thanks Andy. Actually, been waiting for my friends schedule to line up with mine so we can hit Splitrock together. Definitley gonna get there soon!

[FASTEDDIE29]

Fantastic mixed bag! Those Salmon are strong tasty fish! Delicious! Way to make the fish commit!

[Bruce Litton]

Still trying to get a NJ salmon. Close encounters. None over the gunwale. (Or through a hole.) Congrats! I really like the contrast of that first photo, too.

Esox some great pics! Beautiful landlock, that fish has been feeding well on the herring population!