NJDEP Division of Fish & Wildlife - Night Electrofishing at Manasquan Reservoir

Night Electrofishing at Manasquan Reservoir

Electrofishing - the use of an electrical current in the water to stun fish for capture - is a tool fisheries biologists use to inventory lakes and streams. The results are used to formulate and adjust management plans (including stockings, size and creel limits, etc.) for state waters to optimize the fishing experience. This fall, Manasquan Reservoir in Howell Township, Monmouth County, was electrofished at night.

The first night of electrofishing for the Manasquan's inventory report revealed a variety of species. They included: largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, hybrid striped bass, sunfish species, black crappie, chain pickerel, white perch, yellow perch, alewife herring and gizzard shad. The two largest fish collected were a 20.5”, 5.8 lb. largemouth bass and a 24.3”, 6.6 lb. hybrid striped bass (see photos below).

All the fish are released unharmed after measuring. And it isn't just division staff catching these fish - on October 1, 2004, Fred Mace was fishing the Manasquan Reservoir from his boat in 22 feet of water. Using chicken livers as bait for white perch he hooked (and nearly lost all of his line to) a 22 lb. channel catfish that he boated after a 15 minute fight. He returned, with a friend, to the same spot the next day and caught a 15 lb. channel catfish. Both fish were released.

October 20, 2004 Update:
Continued sampling (gill netting) at the Manasquan Reservoir revealed the following: hybrid striped bass up to 23" and 5.5 lbs.; smallmouth bass up to 20" and 3.6 lbs.; chain pickerel up to 21" and 2.1 lbs.; white perch up to 13" and 1.2 lbs. ; black crappie up to 12.4" and 1.14 lbs. Yellow perch, alewife herring, bluegill and pumpkinseed sunfish were also collected. The 15 lb. and 22 lb. channel catfish caught and released by an angler on 10/03, evaded the nets, as did all the other catfish in the reservoir.

A detailed, bathymetric map of the Manasquan Reservoir, made from aerial photographs prior to its filling, is being produced and will be made available to anglers. It includes the acres of standing timber, stump fields and cabled down trees left as fish structure.

Brian Felten with 20.5" 5.8 lb. largemouth bass.	Jim Hartobey & Brian Felten with 24.3" 6.6 lb. hybrid striped bass.
Jim with brown bullhead 16.4" 1.9 lb.	Brian with black crappie 13.3" 1.26 lb.