Are there still sea run browns????

[HerringKing]

Since the state stopped stocking brown trout is there still a chance to catch a sea run brown?

[Capt. Lou]

One in a million ! Not because of stocking , was always a shot in the dark ! LI you might have better shot out East ! Never was anything special but you might get lucky if you put in the time !

[bulletbob]

Yeah, one in a million probably is not too far off... ANY trout other than lakers can run down a stream, enter salt water, survive and return.. Problem is, not many survive to make it back up steam as large silvery, "salters"[brookies] or sea run rainbow or brown trout.. I think most that are stocked in creeks and larger streams and rivers, just never make it down to the tide zone, either because they get caught, die from thermal stress as the summer gets hotter. or simply find good habitat without moving all the way downstream past the tide line..

The few that do make it that far would be easy prey in the NY/NJ area.. blues, Weaks, Stripers, Fluke, dogfish, sharks of various species, and Lord knows what else lie in wait..
There are a few caught each year in NJ and NY, but most that ARE caught will make the headlines in the sports page fishing section simply because it doesn't happen that often.. Most trout simply have no need to move out of freshwater in temperate climates.. they have enough food.

Sea run trout are more common by far in northern new england and canada than in NY/NJ Conn..

best bet is northern maine for "salters". There are guides that specialize for them up there.. bob