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The Missing Record Sea Run TroutPrincipal Fisheries Biologist November, 2004 There's something missing on the State Freshwater Record Fish List:
Kind of stands out, doesn't it? The absence of an outstanding record sea run brown trout? The actual fish and angler are also outstanding: Strong, wary, one of the most difficult fish in the world to catch and the dedicated, tightlipped anglers that pursue them, usually for neither fame or glory. Zane Grey, the great storyteller of the American West, once said, "The fight of a sea trout is thus stronger than that of a brown trout and, if possible, even more active and full of quick turns ... I prefer a good fresh run sea trout, of three or four pounds, in a river on a single-handed rod and fine tackle to anything else." Fine praise indeed from a man who spent every spare minute fishing throughout the world. Catches, Near Catches -- Anonymous Anglers' Accounts & Tips While a few sea runs have been reported (112), it is our opinion that many more are being caught but not reported. Sea run anglers tend to be a secretive bunch, and as stated above, "one of the most difficult fish in the world to catch." With some prodding I was able to get a few to open up regarding their passion for sea run browns, but only under conditions of anonymity. Here are their stories:
"The time is now to catch 'em...Browns spawn in the fall and they are up in the Manasquan River...heading down early sat morning...bringing both spinning and fly rod...with tons of shrimp imitations and Clouser minnows...talked to a buddy of mine said he was down there last weekend and caught one sea-run 18½ inches on a sandworm...and a load of decent stockers..." "A guide I was talking to last year suggested getting out into the channel of the Manasquan River at Lightning Jack's Marina, either on a regular boat or even a canoe/kayak. There is little boat traffic there this time of year. He said find the channel and put your bait on the drop off, and there are trout sitting there. The big ones use the structure just like the other species that frequent the area." "I was in my boat with a friend, fishing for weakfish in shallow water at the turn to the Glimmer Glass (an embayment of the Manasquan R.). Using a Storm soft bait with a teaser I hooked what I at first thought was a weakfish. Upon landing it, I realized that it was a sea run brown trout - silvery on top and kind of golden on the sides, twenty four inches long and probably about 4 lbs. My friend then hooked a similar sized, strong fish but lost it. I then released the sea run." Questions and Answers Below are some questions that were posed to Paul Hopwood. He fishes at night for sea run browns in the United Kingdom (www.seatroutfishing.net) and hopes that his site will be informative to all sea trout anglers from all over the world.
Q. A lot of anglers think that sea run brown trout in the Manasquan River are bogus. Some refer to sea trout there as "Nessy" (Loch Ness Monster). Do you agree?
Q. How much more difficult is it to catch a sea trout than a freshwater brown trout?
Q. I don't think that Manasquan River anglers can comprehend how hard it is to catch these fish. How many do you catch in a season for how many hours fished?
Q. What would you consider a good catch rate - the number of sea trout caught divided by number of hours fished?
Q. How many years have you been fishing for sea runs?
Q. How many have you landed in total?
Q. What was your largest?
Q. What would you say is a good catch rate for a novice, someone who has caught freshwater brown trout but only read about sea trout? HOPE THIS IS OF SOME HELP - IT ISN'T GOOD READING FOR THE NOVICE - BUT WHEN THEY DO CATCH ONE THEY WON'T FISH FOR ANYTHING ELSE! Reporting Fish There have been reports of 112 sea run trout being caught from 1998 through October 2004. Ninety-four (94), or 89%, of these were caught from the Squankum Dam through the Manasquan River Wildlife Management Area (pdf, 490kb). Seventeen (17), or 15%, of these sea runs reportedly weighed from 5 to 13 pounds and would have qualified as the NJ State Record. The most successful Manasquan River angler has caught about 40 sea run trout from 1996 through 2003. If the angler has the time, skills and luck to hook and land one of these rare creatures that is 5 lbs. or greater, maybe the experience and memory is enough. Because this recreational fishery is so secretive, we have reason to believe that more of these fish are being caught but not reported. Please report any sea run trout catches to Mark Boriek at the Lebanon Fisheries Lab at 908-236-2118. You can also contact Mark via email at mark.boriek@dep.nj.gov Take photos!
Manasquan R. Sea Run Trout Reported Caught 1998 - Oct. 2004 by Month
Note: In the below graph an additional 7 sea run trout were reportedly caught at the following locations: Manasquan R. at Route 35 Bridge; Manasquan R. at Route 70 Bridge; Point Pleasant Canal; Stockton Lake; The Glimmer Glass off of the Manasquan R.; Route 9 Bridge at Oyster Creek; Atlantic Ocean off of Shark River.
Manasquan R. Sea Run Trout Reported Caught 1998 - Oct. 2004 by Location
RELATED PAGES
Sea Run Brown Trout Program
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"I lost one on a spinner behind
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