I am telling ya, there are no fish in the Canal!

[Fishinfire]

Hit the water at about 11:30 last night in hopes of a cooperative Walleye or two. Started my standard practice of grabbing the UL armed with a tiny Gulp minnow on a gold Trout Magnet jig head.
Couple of bounces near the wall never fails to give up a sunny or rock bass no matter what time of day it is! Time for Mr sunny to get a hands on lesson on piercings the food chain!

A 3/0 football jig just behind his dorsal usually does the trick. I like to call it turning little fish into big fish! Down into the was it goes. About 10-15 mins of him trying to swim into the falls goes on with no results. Cross over to the tow path side and redeploy. 30 seconds later a monstrous slam followed by a determined descent to the bottom of the locks began. The struggle for control lasted about 15 minutes or so and I finally got it to the surface. Hoping to see big white pearly eyes I look down and see a bit fat mouth of a cat! I attach the rope to the line and slide the hook down like a zip line. A slight lift and I feel the weight. I continue hand over hand and the weight gets heavier and heavier. Hoist it over the top of the wall and BOOM!!! There she is! All 33" of her! I don't carry a scale so I am not sure of a weight. I can however tell you that I needed 2 hands to hold her off the ground!

The Canal is coming to life!! I was going to post pics of recent weeks catches at the Canal but they are not worthy after this pig!

[AndyS]

Looks like a Flathead. As per NJF&G rules you are not to release Flatheads back into the water as they are invasive.
Nice post, haven't heard from you in a while !!

[Sako1]

Looks like something off the show 'River Monsters'

Nice catch and congratulations!

Dave

[TheDreamCatchers]

Is that right where the Raritan meets the Canal?

[thmyorke1]

No fish in the canal cause that thing has been eating them all! Definitely looks like a flathead and Andy said it right.

Which lock was this taken out of? I'm guessing they're all over it

[Cuz]

What a great catch. Very kool. My best fighting fish in a stream was a three pound channel catfish caught on a ultra lite trout rod and four pound Trilene line. Your fish is a monster compared to mine. Congratulations.

[FASTEDDIE29]

Hahahaha! Great report dude! That's a big ole Flathead right there! Fish is gona be around 18-20 lbs or so! Big canal dweller, WOW! Great job landing that slob!!! YEA BUDDY!

P.S. I agree if course, "there are no fish in the canal at all!"

[Mark B.]

No fish,.........with the exception of every species that swims in the Delaware River, from where the D&R Canal emanates.

[Chrisper4694]

how in the world did you land that on ultralight!!!??? well done!

[Eskimo]

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Wow - that is amazing!


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