Saturday State Park fishing - NJFishing.com Your Best Online Source for Fishing Information in New Jersey

NJ219bands · #1 01-21-2023, 10:40 PM

Went ultralight jigging in a 42 degree muddy, flooded Central Jersey lake this afternoon on a cold, cloudy day with a strong northwest wind. There was current in the lake from the release of flood waters. Saw 11 other fishermen catch crappies and perch. I caught and released 20 white perch, 2 yellow perch and my first white catfish for this year with Walmart red worm halves on two gold hooks and a 1/32 oz unpainted leadhead jig on 4 lb test line. Landed 537 fish in 16 fishing trips this year from the same spot.

cruiser1234 · #2 01-22-2023, 01:00 PM

Great posts! Keep um coming!

bulletbob · #3 01-22-2023, 04:00 PM

The lake you are fishing seems highly productive.. Lots of fish, but smaller in size.. From what I gather in your posts, it would indicate a lake that has good habitat, probably good forage, but gets blasted with fishing pressure.. There were lakes here in NY state that were similar.. Just super productive for perch, big fat sunnies, and rock bass a foot long... The problem was different in these lakes though.. the fish disappeared due to invasives, habitat degradation, more so than pressure, but even in these giant lakes, pressure took its toll... Seneca Lake had a yellow perch that could be world class, with 2 pounders common, and 3 pounder a possibility for the guys that knew how... However, along with the environmental issues, the pressure was year round, several commercial guys, and other "fish hungry" types, that would and could take their 50 fish every time they went... This world class fishery is now just a memory... Its not just the small lakes that get hit hard... Even huge lakes are feeling the pressure, and populations are collapsing right and left. The fishermen and their modern equipment are just too efficient compared to decades ago... I though MAYBE NJ would be different because of that big ocean, many large bays, big tidal rivers, and myriad estuaries, salt marshes taking a lot of the pressure from NJ fresh waters.. I guess not...

So you are releasing your fish for the most part, but then 2 or 3 others will take your place on any given day, and load up on those yellow and white perch.. Kind of a shame.. Sounds like that lake you fish could support a really robust fishery for nice size panfish, if they were allowed some time to grow... bob

NJ219bands · #4 01-22-2023, 10:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bulletbob

The lake you are fishing seems highly productive.. Lots of fish, but smaller in size.. From what I gather in your posts, it would indicate a lake that has good habitat, probably good forage, but gets blasted with fishing pressure.. There were lakes here in NY state that were similar.. Just super productive for perch, big fat sunnies, and rock bass a foot long... The problem was different in these lakes though.. the fish disappeared due to invasives, habitat degradation, more so than pressure, but even in these giant lakes, pressure took its toll... Seneca Lake had a yellow perch that could be world class, with 2 pounders common, and 3 pounder a possibility for the guys that knew how... However, along with the environmental issues, the pressure was year round, several commercial guys, and other "fish hungry" types, that would and could take their 50 fish every time they went... This world class fishery is now just a memory... Its not just the small lakes that get hit hard... Even huge lakes are feeling the pressure, and populations are collapsing right and left. The fishermen and their modern equipment are just too efficient compared to decades ago... I though MAYBE NJ would be different because of that big ocean, many large bays, big tidal rivers, and myriad estuaries, salt marshes taking a lot of the pressure from NJ fresh waters.. I guess not...

So you are releasing your fish for the most part, but then 2 or 3 others will take your place on any given day, and load up on those yellow and white perch.. Kind of a shame.. Sounds like that lake you fish could support a really robust fishery for nice size panfish, if they were allowed some time to grow... bob

It’s the best bass lake in NJ.

bulletbob · #5 01-23-2023, 10:10 AM

Well with that kind of production of pan fish, I can certainly see how it would be a good bass lake. LOTS of feed!.. I mean seriously, 50 fish on tiny pieces of worm,in 42 degree water?... Must be swarming with life that lake....bob