MyFishFinder Forum
MFF US Northeast => New Jersey => Topic started by: fishkopp on Mar 10, 2004, 06:33 PM
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Just in case you didn't know , the state just insituted a catch and release division to this program . ;D So there is no reason to kill trophy fish anymore in hopes of recognition or a pin or a certificate . 8) So let some of those big girls go and grow for our children to catch and practice selective harvest for our table fare and watch out for adviseries on high mercury content in our local lakes. It's a fact the larger fish have higher concentrations of mercury then the smaller ones .
good fishing to all and to all a good night
Mike
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That's great news Mike - it's about time the angler was given the choice of keeping/releasing the fish ! ;D
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The problem is, according to the pamphlet I just picked up, you have to have the fish measured at a tackle shop, liscense agent, or by an authorized Division fisheries biologist, and that could also mean the fish ends up dead unless there one of those 3 options is right next to the place your fishing.
Its nice to have the option of catch and release for the award but the 3 options they give you don't seem practical. They should just allow you to take a picture of the fish on a tape measure to verify length.
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Mike
The guy from the state told me all you needed was a clear lengh sided photo of the fish for your entry . I call up some of my NJf&g pals and get this mess straightenned out.
???
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All you need is a picture for the release catagory, I submitted one on 1/3/4 and received the certificate within a couple of weeks.
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SUBMITTING AN APPLICATION The program is open to resident and non-resident anglers. All fish must be caught in New Jersey waters using a hook and line during legally open seasons. Saltwater species taken from a boat must have been caught from a boat that left from and returned to a New Jersey port during the same trip. Incomplete applications or species that cannot be identified will not be considered for an award. The Division reserves the right to investigate fish identification, angling method and accuracy of measurement and weight. It also reserves the right to reject any application. All applications must be submitted within 30 days of catching the fish. Applications for entries caught in December will not be accepted after January 31 of the new year. A clear, side-view photo that allows accurate identification of the species is required for ALL entries. Photos become the property of the Division and will not be returned. Measurements must be taken measuring from the tip of the nose (with mouth closed) to the tip of the tail. For Adult/Junior categories, fish must be weighed and measured by fishing license agents, tackle shops or authorized Division fisheries biologists. Applications must be signed by the person who weighed the fish and the name of the tackle shop, marina, boat or business should be identified. Mail applications and photos to the: Skillful Angler Awards Program, NJ Division of Fish and Wildlife, P.O. Box 400, Trenton, NJ 08625-0400. NEW JERSEY SKILLFUL ANGLER AWARDS PROGRAM APPLICATION Name ________________________________________________ Age _____ Address _________________________________________________ _______ _________________________________________________ _______________ City _____________________________________State_______ _Zip ______ Daytime Telephone Number ( ) ______________________________ Entry Category ___ Adult ___ Junior (under 16 years old) ___ Catch and Release (Qualification based on length) Fish Species (Angler must complete. Subject to verification by a state biologist.) _________________________________________________ _______________ Weight ______ lbs. ______ ozs. Length _________ Girth _______ Date Caught* ________________ Time __________________ Where _________________________________________________ ________ Caught from: Boat__ Shore__ Surf__ Jetty__ Other (specify)__________ Line Test Used _________ Reel Type__________ Rod Type____________ Lure/Bait _________________________________________________ ______ Certification for Adult and Junior Categories Fish measured and weighed by (establishment's name and address): _________________________________________________ _______________ _________________________________________________ _______________ Telephone Number ______________________________________________ Weighmaster's Name ____________________________________________ Weighmaster's Signature _ ________________________________________ I hereby certify that this fish was caught in New Jersey waters in accordance with state laws and regulations and in the case of Adult/Junior category, that the entry was weighed on a certified scale. Applicant's Signature _________________________ Date _____________ * Application/photo must be submitted within 30 days of catching the fish. Applications for entries caught in December will not be accepted after January 31 of the new year. Mail to: NJ Division of Fish and Wildlife, Skillful Angler Awards Program, P.O. Box 400, Trenton, NJ 08625-0400
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The only time you need a varification is when you wiegh in a fish.
Web guy , we''ll have to do a trip this year .
Mike
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Thanks for posting the details Mike, I only found the PDF file and didn't want to have to type it.
The wording could be clearer but there are 3 distinct categories:
Entry Category ___ Adult ___ Junior (under 16 years old) ___ Catch and Release (Qualification based on length)
A clear, side-view photo that allows accurate identification of the species is required for ALL entries. Photos become the property of the Division and will not be returned. Measurements must be taken measuring from the tip of the nose (with mouth closed) to the tip of the tail. For Adult/Junior categories, fish must be weighed and measured by fishing license agents, tackle shops or authorized Division fisheries biologists.
You don't need a ruler in the shot either, here's the picture I sent in:
(https://www.myfishfinder.com/fishing_forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.kneedeepclub.org%2FCatch%2F2004%2F43010304.jpg&hash=756d0830cee0724c56d9a6c666e8793c)
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Those Hopatcong muskies are by far the nicest looking fish in the state .
Mike K
Nice fish web dude
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Those Hopatcong muskies are by far the nicest looking fish in the state .
Mike K
Nice fish web dude
I guess you never fished Greenwood for them :o :o
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Echo also has the same leech lake strain....Just as nice. But the only way that fish could be nicer, is if i were holding it......
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I guess you never fished Greenwood for them
SHAWN
I guess you can say I fished Greenwood lake just a couple of times(to many to count) and yes I've caght just a few Greenwood lake muskies . As far I'm concerned the muskie is the best looking fish out there , but I think the hopatcong fish have the nicest markings of all the muskies I've seen in our state .
Michael Kopp (president New Jersey Muskies Inc, Chapter 22 )
www.mi22.com
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wow shawn looks like he told u
;)
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mkid,
Lake Hopatcong does not have pure leech lake muskies in it the only lake in our state that has that is Echo as you just said, What you are looking at is a Barred Muskie that perhaps may have been cross bred with a leech lake strain or just a barred musky with the bars broken up(that happens)
A leech lake muskie has spots all over it's body with no bars at all.
Mkid, Check out this site http://www.kneedeepclub.org/
Go to lake species and than go to muskies and at the bottom of that page it will show you the different variations of muskies there are, That does not mean that Lake hopatcong has all those variations of fish, They are just showing you the different types of musky.
Good hunting, Jeff 8) mi22 release chairman
http://www.mi22.com/pages/1/index.htm
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I have to agree with fishkopp about Hopatcongs Muskie. Not only are they the prettiest but they also look to be the fattest. My son caught a 42 incher from Hopatcong last season that most definately outweighed the 45-47 inch fish we caught at Greenwood and Echo. The Lake Leech strain in Echo seem to be very thin in comparison, some almost snakelike. There is one 50+ incher in Echo with some bulk to her however, maybe this season we will get more than a missed vicious boat side strike from her.... Any Day Now
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i agree that the fish in echo aren't as heavy, the problem there,if you want to call it a problem is to many muskie for the size of the lake. Monks has some heavy fish. Once they hit 42" they get real FAT Same with greenwood. Hopatcong being a newer fisherie for muskie looks to be coming on strong,real strong.... I predict it will be the best muskie lake in the state before long. Remember size does matter. Oh buy the way, you can say goodbuy.... to the trout fishing on hopatcong, just like monks.... theres nothing more that a muskie likes than a state stocked scared finless trout in a new home.....
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MKid
It's not the musies wolfing down the trout , it's all the walleye eat'em up. Bob Papson (NJ F& G ) did a study and found the walleyes love to eat 'em and the muskies might eat a couple but there not the main eaters of trout. Perch and alewives are the main stay of the muskie diet .
Good fishing dudes
Michael Kopp
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That sounds like a cover up from F&G to me. Im sur walleye do eat trout to,but i still think the muskie puts a bigger hurt on the trout population.Muskie like soft fin fish. Ive been to monks many times after a trout stocking and seen the results.The muskie will chase the trout out of the water onto the ramp. i personally pushed the trout back in......Ive yet to see a walleye do that ....Not that they dont eat there fare share. The trout fishing used to be great in monks with the walleye around. As soon Mr. muskie came to town the holdover trout fishing has been horrible. The state never wanted muskie in there, but somehow........ they magicaly arrived and i'm happy for it. But i still think the muskie really puts the hammer to those 7-9"stockers.
I bet you have a rainbow or brown trout suick in your boat when fishing monks. I know i do.....
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MKid
It's not the musies wolfing down the trout , it's all the walleye eat'em up. Bob Papson (NJ F& G ) did a study and found the walleyes love to eat 'em and the muskies might eat a couple but there not the main eaters of trout. Perch and alewives are the main stay of the muskie diet .
Good fishing dudes
Michael Kopp
OK Mike (president New Jersey Muskies Inc, Chapter 22 ) ;D
then maybe you can tell us why guy's are using trout for bait ? And they are catching muskies with the trout and why are they not using sucker's & chub’s???????
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Shawn
The simple reason is , you can buy trout , I've not found a place to buy suckers of yet .
I understand perch work really well as bait.
I mostly through and troll big muskie size crankbaits to catch mine , so I'm not much of a live bait fisherman . I do admitt to having trout colored baits , but I don't do so well on those colors . It seems like perch pattern does well along with some real bright baits like firetiger and chartruse black dot . ::)
Good fishing to all
Michael Kopp
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Shawn M (captain of team mercer)
Mike is right the only reason why US muskie fisherman use trout is because I can run over to the musconetcong trout hatchery and buy 4-10 inchers for $14, A friend of mine use to get suckers and seemed like alot of work to go and catch suckers for bait.
Shawn I was reading some of your last post directed towards Mike and it seems to me that you have a little pent up anger towards him and I was just curious to know why.
Mike was just trying to answer some questions(I thought that is what a fish forum was about) and you seem to be attacking him.
Maybe I'm wrong and you can clear this up.
Good hunting, Jeff ;D
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dont worry he means nothing by it
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I agree with mark, and I may be confused but isn't it illegal to use game fish as bait???
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No It's not illegal if you purchase them and carry the receipt, The only problem with it is that you have to purchase your bait for that day.
I only use bait in the fall and it's not that often.
Good hunting, Jeff <*))))))><
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Shawn M (captain of team mercer)
Mike is right the only reason why US muskie fisherman use trout is because I can run over to the musconetcong trout hachtary and buy 4-10 inchers for $14, A friend of mine use to get suckers and seemed like alot of work to go and catch suckers for bait.
Shawn I was reading some of your last post directed towards Mike and it seems to me that you have a little pent up anger towards him and I was just curious to know why.
Mike was just trying to answer some questions(I thought that is what a fish forum was about) and you seem to be attacking him.
Maybe I'm wrong and you can clear this up.
Good hunting, Jeff ;D
Jeff,
No I'm not attacking anyone just macking a point that Muskie do eat trout . If I was attacking anyone you would know it ;) ;) just jokeing.
Shawn M (captain of team mercer)
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Hi Shawn,
I'm glad that you don't have any bad feelings, Being someone looking at your post it seemed pretty harsh, But you have cleared that up.
Now for the Muskies eating the trout, Sure I have seen muskies hitting trout on stocking day but I have also seen Pike do the same thing at Spruce run and believe me when I tell you this that I have seen Walleyes do the same and as for Lake trout you can't tell me that the Lakers at Round Valley or Merril Creek Res don't woof down the trout.
In california the guys fish for the large Bass there with large trout lures(the Castaic trout lure).
It just seems that some people like to blame thier inability to catch trout on Muskies at Monksville or Pike at Spuce Run or the Tigers at Swartswood.
These fish are not the only fish out there that eat the trout.
Bob Papson the cheif biologest for New Jersey did a study a few years back and found that the walleyes were having more of an impact on the trout than any other fish.
My point is that trout are prayed upon by just about every fish that is larger than they are and that pretty much holds truth with all fish.
Tight lines, Jeff <*)))))))><
p.s. Shawn don't shoot me, This is just my opinion
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We are getting away from the subject of this post but gamefish, which include but are not limited to musky, pike, pickeral, bass, walleye, and even trout, can and will eat prey that are 1/3 of its own weight. If you do the math, a three pound bass will eat a one pound trout. It will take them longer to eat it but it does happen. I have seen it while fishing for bass on small ponds. Small bass would take large live bait. The bait was so large that you would think the small bass would choke. I even read an article (and saw the picture too) of an 18 pound catfish with teeth marks from a huge muskie piercing its belly. Additionally while muskie fishing, I have caught bass 3 to 5 lbs. on lures 8" to 10" long. Granted, different types of fish do have preferences to what they eat but, the botom line is any type of smaller fish (and it doesn't have to be much smaller) is prey to any type of larger fish. I am sure plenty of bass, walleye, and maybe even trout have made a meal of muskie or pike fry and fingerlings. It is all part of the circle of life.
Vinnie
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Does anybody know how to obtain a schedule of when lakes will be stocked. I wouldn't mind being their at the ramp waiting for the predators.
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Bassfireman,
You can get on the NJ fish and wildlife web site and I think they have the schedule on there if not just give them a call and they will tell you.
My experience with fishing on stocking day or anytime afterwards has always been bad, It seems that they are just to full to bite anything I'm throwing at them.
Give it a try It can't hurt and as they say a bad day fishing is better than a good day at work.
Let em go and let em grow, Jeff<*)))))><
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Right on the nj fish and game website go to stocking and click and it will give you the full schedule. Last year me and Mark did really well fishing on the days that they were stocked so I would give it a try.