Finally

[Dylcook91]

Well first I would just like to say Hi to everyone, Im not new here, just havent been to this site in a REALLY long time.

Ok, so... I just got back into fishing(hardcore) and have tried to get out at least a few hours everyday since spring. Early on around prespawn I was getting a good number of fish each time out. Most were just lb'ers, but some were pretty decent hawgs, the biggest being what looked like a 5lb+ that ended up snapping my line as i was reaching for it in the water(still mad to this day). So as time has past, I have started putting some more money into fishing, and buying things such as scales so I could actually weight the fish, and lures of all kinds and rod/reels. Then as the weather got hotter, it became harder to even get a bite, and when I would get one it would just be a little dink or a dang pickerel haha. These last two weeks have been the hardest, and it seemed that there was no longer any fish in these waters(or so I would like to blame it on). I knew if I kept at it I would end up finally catchin a break. Well, lastnight I was in the basement looking though old boxes when I came across some old plastic lures of mine from 7 or more years ago. One being an unopened pack of Storm 4" black/blue crawfish. So today I went fishing and first tried my normal routine....nothing, again as if there was no life in the water. I was thoughing KVDs, berkleys, all the stuff that looks real fancy and some that look so good even I want to eat em hahaha. So just before leaving I remembered the old, falling apart bag of Storm crawfish I put in my box, I figured what the hell I might as well. I rigged it up texas style and work it along the bottom down the edge of a bed of lilly pads. But the only thing that did was collect a bunch of weeds cause of the weight. On my final cast I had all but given up, when I decided to though it into the lillys instead. I let it sink again to no avail. So I began reelin it in fast bringin it across the top of the pads just so I could leave, and thats when everything changed. All of a sudden a huge splash about 5 feet out from me, that scared the crap outta me, but even worse I missed the fish. I quickly cast back out, and just as it got to the same spot the splash again, and again it was a miss, so for a third time I cast it back out, this time using a stop and go retrieve. I stopped it where I was getting the hits and BAM, this time it was hooked. The fish jumped from the water and then after seeing it I thought I would never manage getting it in as I am only using 12lb mono. So I just muscled it across the top and grab it as fast as I could, and In that moment all the stress of not catchin any the last couple weeks was lifted of me. I know its not a monster by most standerds, but this is the first fish that was decent in size and that I could finally weight and since I know is my current pb. The scale read 3.68lbs(around 3lb,10oz) I also punched in the meaurments online lenght=18" girth= 13" and it sayes 4lbs, 1oz but Im going with what the scale sayes cause I dont know which is more accurate. After putting the fish back in the water and watchin it swim off I decided to end on a good note and just packed up and left. Hope I didn't ramble to much, I just got the fishin high right now. hahaha

[AK-Jax86]

Well first I would just like to say Hi to everyone, Im not new here, just havent been to this site in a REALLY long time.

Ok, so... I just got back into fishing(hardcore) and have tried to get out at least a few hours everyday since spring. Early on around prespawn I was getting a good number of fish each time out. Most were just lb'ers, but some were pretty decent hawgs, the biggest being what looked like a 5lb+ that ended up snapping my line as i was reaching for it in the water(still mad to this day). So as time has past, I have started putting some more money into fishing, and buying things such as scales so I could actually weight the fish, and lures of all kinds and rod/reels. Then as the weather got hotter, it became harder to even get a bite, and when I would get one it would just be a little dink or a dang pickerel haha. These last two weeks have been the hardest, and it seemed that there was no longer any fish in these waters(or so I would like to blame it on). I knew if I kept at it I would end up finally catchin a break. Well, lastnight I was in the basement looking though old boxes when I came across some old plastic lures of mine from 7 or more years ago. One being an unopened pack of Storm 4" black/blue crawfish. So today I went fishing and first tried my normal routine....nothing, again as if there was no life in the water. I was thoughing KVDs, berkleys, all the stuff that looks real fancy and some that look so good even I want to eat em hahaha. So just before leaving I remembered the old, falling apart bag of Storm crawfish I put in my box, I figured what the hell I might as well. I rigged it up texas style and work it along the bottom down the edge of a bed of lilly pads. But the only thing that did was collect a bunch of weeds cause of the weight. On my final cast I had all but given up, when I decided to though it into the lillys instead. I let it sink again to no avail. So I began reelin it in fast bringin it across the top of the pads just so I could leave, and thats when everything changed. All of a sudden a huge splash about 5 feet out from me, that scared the crap outta me, but even worse I missed the fish. I quickly cast back out, and just as it got to the same spot the splash again, and again it was a miss, so for a third time I cast it back out, this time using a stop and go retrieve. I stopped it where I was getting the hits and BAM, this time it was hooked. The fish jumped from the water and then after seeing it I thought I would never manage getting it in as I am only using 12lb mono. So I just muscled it across the top and grab it as fast as I could, and In that moment all the stress of not catchin any the last couple weeks was lifted of me. I know its not a monster by most standerds, but this is the first fish that was decent in size and that I could finally weight and since I know is my current pb. The scale read 3.68lbs(around 3lb,10oz) I also punched in the meaurments online lenght=18" girth= 13" and it sayes 4lbs, 1oz but Im going with what the scale sayes cause I dont know which is more accurate. After putting the fish back in the water and watchin it swim off I decided to end on a good note and just packed up and left. Hope I didn't ramble to much, I just got the fishin high right now. hahaha

Nice fish man I use to live in Manasquan but moved to Florida... fishing here in FL is like night and day to NJ. The biggest fish in NJ is the smallest fish I caught here.

Where were you fishing?

I would always fish in Wall, 2 lakes in Bradley Beach, and a couple lakes on Rt. 34 over by the Wawa, and at the Manasquan Resivour.

[AK-Jax86]

I forgot about Spring Lake I never caught anything over 2 pounds there. I saw a guy pull out a 6 pounder which is a monster in NJ

[Nitrofreak]

Nice fish, congrats!!!

Thanx for sharing the story too !!

[Dylcook91]

Thanks guys,

Nice fish man I use to live in Manasquan but moved to Florida... fishing here in FL is like night and day to NJ. The biggest fish in NJ is the smallest fish I caught here.

Where were you fishing?

I would always fish in Wall, 2 lakes in Bradley Beach, and a couple lakes on Rt. 34 over by the Wawa, and at the Manasquan Resivour.

I was fishing in some water out in the middle of the woods a few miles from my house, it doesnt even have a name. I cant believe that fish was even in there, as a few months back it was almost completley drained. I try to fish as many waters around here as possible, however the only water that I know of around Wawa on 34 is a pond in Shark river park, that I have yet to see any fish at. Is that where you went? Ive been to the Manasquan Res. a few times but its not that great for shore fishing and the few times I have rented a boat I didnt get anything.

As for Spring Lake I never even bothered, cause I figured that water wouldn't be able to harvest larger bass being so accessible to the public. You say a guy pulled a 6lber out though? I might just head there now then. hahaha

-Dylan

[AK-Jax86]

Thanks guys,

I was fishing in some water out in the middle of the woods a few miles from my house, it doesnt even have a name. I cant believe that fish was even in there, as a few months back it was almost completley drained. I try to fish as many waters around here as possible, however the only water that I know of around Wawa on 34 is a pond in Shark river park, that I have yet to see any fish at. Is that where you went? Ive been to the Manasquan Res. a few times but its not that great for shore fishing and the few times I have rented a boat I didnt get anything.

As for Spring Lake I never even bothered, cause I figured that water wouldn't be able to harvest larger bass being so accessible to the public. You say a guy pulled a 6lber out though? I might just head there now then. hahaha

-Dylan

No the pond is on route 34 heading towards wawa. It is the light before wawa you have to take a jug handle so you can make that left. Then u go down the road I think it's wychoff and there is a New Jersey Natural Gas building and you turn into the parking lot and the pond is on the right. They have huge bass and pickerel in there I'm not sure if you are allowed to fish there so I usually went later like after 6.

As far as Spring Lake if you fish the cove that is closer to the town side I've caught nice ones over there by the lilly pads. And if you go by the bridge that is closer to the fire house and go on the other side opposite of the Lilly pads and caste into the pads that's where I've caught nice ones and the guy caught the 6lb. Also the cove in that end has nice ones too those are the only spots where I've had success.

If you ever in Bradley take main street from Belmar and once you get into Bradley beach you will see a pond on your right that have some monsters in it. Me and my friend would go around 530, 6 and get some nice 3+ pounders consistently and I caught a 5lb in there once.

[AK-Jax86]

As far as manasquan Resivour goes the shore fishing isn't that great but the pier part isn't bad if there isnt a lot of people around it. Also if you go to the side where the boats go and you fish from the furthest boat dock from the building I've caught some nice ones there.

If you rent a boat again go to where the pier is and directly across from it you will see trees in the water go I've there. I pulled out 6 fish in a hour all over 3lbs in that area. Also if you are on the pier and and are looking straight out so your back is to the parkin lot directly across from there, on other side of Resivour so u need a boat obviously, I saw a bunch of big fish in the shallow parts chasing shiners and bluegills.

Finally spot is by the rocks on the far end of Resivour, again if u r on the pier and your back is facin parking lot it is to your left. There is a main road that people fish from and there are a bunch of trees in the water. That spot is known for big fish bass, pickerel, and Muskie. So if you are renting a boat go early and spend the day because it will take you a while to get to all those spots and fish them.

Let me know if you try out any of these spots.

(if you go to the spot at New Jersey Natural Gas be careful because that spot has a lot of snakes, that's y I think the fish are so big there and they are really aggressive. People say thAt there are no water moccasins in Nj but they got em there and I've seen some at the Resivour too)

[ClackerBuzz]

gotta love it when a plan comes together. congrats!

[Dylcook91]

Let me know if you try out any of these spots.

Wow man thanks for all the info. Now I know what ponds your talking about, the funny thing is I drive past them everyday. There is one at the NJNG and at the buisness across on the otherside of 34. I always figured they were just there for show/drainage and didnt hold any fish hahaha. I'm definatly gonna give these spots a shot as Ive been getting very bored with the places I currently go. I know what you mean about the snakes aswell, the pond I got to now also has a ton of them. Its very heavy weeds you have to walk though to get to it and you dont know the snake is there until it takes off just before you step on it. I have had a few snakes ( that I thought were moccasins also) come after me as I tried to get away from it. Im also gonna try the other spots you mention, cause they sound real good to me. I'll definitely let you know how I make out after I hit them up.

gotta love it when a plan comes together. congrats!

Yeah I'll roll with "plan", but really for me it was like luck coming together hahahaha