It is illegal to fish at night in Plainsboro, NJ

[NJ219bands]

After catching no carp in 10 days, I caught carp on 10 consecutive nights. After catching a carp last night I got a call on my cell phone from the Plainsboro, NJ, Police telling me to stop fishing and return to the parking lot. 2 Plainsboro Police cars were there. Sergeant Scott Seitz gave me a verbal warning for fishing at night. Last week when I returned to my car to go home, a Plainsboro police car arrived and the officer asked me if I caught anything. After talking about fishing for a while, the police officer left and didn't tell me it's illegal to fish at night. Does anybody know how we lost our right to fish at night in NJ?

[Skunk City]

Most police will enforce the "dawn-dusk" hours in a public park. Anywhere else, unless clearly stated, is game on to me.

[Heronimo42]

The park ranger for Plainsboro is named Craig Harley. Give him a call or shoot him an email and he can help you out. Very fair and friendly officer.

You can fish Miry Run at night without any issues.

[flatcreek]

Why or how do the police have your cell phone #? I think SR closes at dark but fishing is aloud all night.

[Eskimo]

.


A lot of parks don't want people around at night, regardless of whether they're fishing.

Merrill Creek Reservoir has a prohibition on night fishing, whether you're in a boat or on the shore.

A bunch of years back I was shore fishing and it took me too long to get back to my car which was parked in the small parking lot by the water tower. When I arrived, the park employee was waiting for me to get to my car so he could lock the gate. He was pissed!


.

[Rickhem]

I used to fish a few state parks at night from my boat, it was my favorite time to fish them. The rental boats were all back in, and the water gets sooo peaceful at dusk. Usually only two or three of us on the whole lake. Then, a few years later, I had a few guys tell me that they got tickets for night fishing at that same lake. Chalk that up to another thing changed for "our security" after 9-11.
Also lost access to a few prime hunting areas as well, but that is another story.

[acabtp]

Originally Posted by NJ219bands

After catching no carp in 10 days, I caught carp on 10 consecutive nights. After catching a carp last night I got a call on my cell phone from the Plainsboro, NJ, Police telling me to stop fishing and return to the parking lot. 2 Plainsboro Police cars were there. Sergeant Scott Seitz gave me a verbal warning for fishing at night. Last week when I returned to my car to go home, a Plainsboro police car arrived and the officer asked me if I caught anything. After talking about fishing for a while, the police officer left and didn't tell me it's illegal to fish at night. Does anybody know how we lost our right to fish at night in NJ?

is that really what happened ("gave me a verbal warning for fishing at night")? or did they just tell you you can't be in the park you were in at night?
if it was the first thing, i'd contact NJ DFW so they can help educate the officers on the actual laws. if it was the second, well yeah, that'll happen.

Originally Posted by flatcreek

Why or how do the police have your cell phone #?

remember when you renewed your vehicle registration at MVC and they asked you what your phone number was?

[justin1982]

The fact that the police have your cell phone number is the real concern lol... All seriousness, I've been booted from parks cause of the dusk till dawn closing thing

[AndyS]

Why or how do the police have your cell phone #?

[NJ219bands]

Originally Posted by AndyS

Why or how do the police have your cell phone #?

They called my home number and my brother gave them my cell number. The same thing happened in the spring when I was fishing in Sturgeon Pond. The NJ State Police called my cell number while I was fishing and told me to move my car from the abandoned landfill where I was parked. In Plainsboro there is a sign that says "Park Closes at Sunset" but the 2 police officers didn't mention that. They only said that I was fishing at night. It really is selective enforcement. They see my car parked in the lot at night and have an easy target. Every night I saw cars go in and out of the lot and people on bicycles, joggers and walkers are in the park every night. I saw a guy launch his kayak at night in the park. Rowers are on the lake at night. I found a new parking spot in a different municipality and county where there are no signs. I'll see if that police department calls me. They may ticket and tow my car instead.