sea run brown trout

I really dont know but i think if there was...Jay would be fishing for them. As would I.
 
While I haven't fished for them, NJ has a limited program which they started in the mid 1990s to introduce sea run browns into the Manasquan River - which is in center state and flows directly into the Atlantic. I have heard different opinions on the results and I don't know if the state is still stocking fish. Certainly, there have been some decent catches and locals do target the trout. The folks who know this game are tight lipped about it. It might be worth looking into as I admit I haven't followed this story for a few years. I don't know if it would be worth a trip.
Of course, this time of year, there's always other good stuff to target on the NJ shore if you can't find any trout.
 
well there ya go. Dang Fishidiot imma have to check into that. Sounds interesting. I hope the program worked. That really would be something.

Anyways......i learned something today 🙂
 
Did a quick google search and found this article from Nov 2006. Sounds pretty interesting, migh have to check it out one of these days.

http://ezinearticles.com/?Top-Secret-Brown-Trout-Fishery---New-Jerseys-Sea-Run-Brown-Trout-Program&id=361511

PS-Fishidiot, I seem to recall a post saying you designed the trout stamp for the sea runs, is my memory accurate?
 
Jason,
I designed the trout stamp that was featured for the New Jersey fishing license in 1997 (essentially the same stick-on image pasted on the fishing license that PA used to have - both states have dropped color stamps even though PA still charges for the "stamp" and I think NJ too). Anyway, 1997 was the year (or the second year, I can't recall) that NJ started the brown trout stocking program in the Manasquan River. Of course, funds from the state trout stamp helped fund this program and the stamp contest sponsers specifically informed me that the image I'd painted would help with this new program. I was, and remain, proud of my small contribution to this effort. In 1999 I won the NJ stamp competition a second time. As I mentioned earlier, I don't know if the stockings continue. I know they did it for at least a few years.
With regards to fishing for them, I hear rumors often when I visit the NJ shore of trout catches and there are some photos floating around but I have never personally seen one of these fish. Some folks over there will tell yuh they don't exist and others mention great "secret" fishing for browns.
 
Fishidiot,

Good stuff re: the trout stamps. In the past I've heard rumors of big browns being pulled from the manasquan, but they were always second hand accounts so i never paid much attention to them.
 
Yeah, what dave said. There are apparently a few in NJ, but there isn't much info available. It's certainly tempting, but I'd rather fish the surf in Jersey this time of year.

I have been researching sea run browns in New Hampshire, and plan to target them up there one of these days.
 
Jay,

Are u thinking the Connecticut River?

I read some where awhile back it has Sea Run Brook, Brown and Rainbow Trout. Along with salmon. I have heard accounts of Brook Trout in the 5-10 lb range and browns and bows much much larger.

I always want to try it. Appearently it has a FFO section on it.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Connecticut_River

The river has fly-fishing-only regulations on 5 miles (8.0 km) of river. Most of the river from Lake Francis south is open to lure and bait as well. Two tail-water dams provide cold river water for miles downstream making summer fishing on the Connecticut River excellent.
Click to expand...
 
No Problem 🙂
 
The Delaware has sea runs. There are a few of us in years past chased them. (there are huge sea run tigers too).
 
I used to live right on a trout stream in Connecticut where it dumped into brackis water. It had a few. Saw them and had a few chases on hardware, but never caught any. They were well fed on the little snapper blues.

When I say right on the stream, I mean right on it. Rented an apartment that was in a converted mill. I loved that place.
 
Damn Dave why did you leave :lol: Sounds like a great place.
 
Hated paying rent, and that is the ONLY reason.

almost never got skunked, and the average size trout I caught there was about 14". A few small ones dropped the average.

did I mention oysters and blue crabs, too?

Oh yea. there was also another smaller trout stream nearby that had wild browns and brookies.

On the bright side, I got to live that way for a year!

Flanders fish market was just down the road. It's a famous restaurant now, but back then it was a fish market. The guy taught me how to make real seafood chowder, and mine is excelent if I do say so myself. However, I can't get everything i need to make it like that, living in Ohio.

If the place was for sale and I could have afforded it, I'd still be there instead of here.
 
The place that offers the best chance for success on sea run browns is in the Allaire State Park section of the Manasquan River. I don’t know anything more specific than that but that’s where I always hear the fish are caught.

However, no one ever seems to know someone firsthand who has caught one but everyone seems to know someone who was told by someone that someone they knew caught an 8 lb sea run brown – but there’s never any substantiation. I did hear from speaking with one local fly shop in the area that there is indeed a limited number of sea run browns that happen in the fall/winter but you really have to know where, when and how to fish for them and there aren't many people who know the secrets and the ones that do aren't very forthcoming about it. It really sounds like a crap shot unless you know what you are doing.

As for the Connecticut River, I fished the Lake Francis outlet and the outlets from the First, Second and Third Connecticut Lakes many years ago. I don’t recall anything about sea run browns but there were landlocked salmon and I did hook into one ny mistake that probably went around 7-8lbs (on a 7.5 foot, 3 weight rod fishing a Mickey Finn for small brookies – it was gone before I knew what happened). Lots and lots of small brookies but there are a few decent sized ones as well. The upper reaches of the river is very tricky to fish in spots, as it’s not very wide but it is deep and in some spots you will be fishing while standing on top of giant boulders that drop off into 10+ feet of water. The water is crystal clear and you can actually see the fish holding on the bottom.

In addition to the Connecticut River, there are a lot of small, unnamed tribs in the area that offer excellent brookie fishing. Also, some of the best pickerel fishing I ever had was fishing the lily pads in some of the small ponds around the Pittsburgh, NH area.
 
I might have to check this place out and get a pic of a fish . That why its set in stone. Just wondering........does laying a 8 lb sea run brown on the grass cut him all up? :lol:
 
that trout stream in Connecticut had a fish ladder upstream about a mile for the sea runs, but it was always getting clogged up. I cleaned it out several times because nobody else was. One day I lost a set of car keys. I found them in that fish ladder. Carma?
 
shouldn't have any problem finding grass in N.J.-
 
got to admit Ct. heck of a lot prettier than I imagined.
My wifes from Danbury.
 
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