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Fishing for Musky, Tiger Musky, Northern Pike,
Chain Pickerel, Bowfin and Sturgeon in New Jersey.
New Jersey offers unique fishing opportunities. Listed below find
information about species of fish found in New Jersey which may
not be featured in the main section of AA-Fishing.com.
Musky - Muskellunge
Esox masquinongy
World Record: 69.9 lbs
The largest of the pike family, they are found in about half the states,
primarily the northern and northeastern states. They prefer clear water
with temperatures from 60 to 70 degrees. Also known as musky, muskie
and great pike, they eat any fish they can catch and prefer to ambush
their prey. They also eat crayfish, frogs and birds. Use large lures
(salt-water sizes) and heavy line when fishing for muskellunge. They
will hit lures and fresh cut bait. They are known for their speed and
are exceptionally strong for short runs.
Tiger Musky - Muskellunge
Esox lucius ~ Esox masquinongy
USA Record: 51.2 lbs.
The tiger muskellunge is a cross of the musky and northern pike. Male
Tiger Muskellunge are most often sterile yet some females are fertile.
Tiger muskies tend to be smaller than non-hybrid muskies but grow very
fast. The body is often quite silvery with brownish fins and tail, without
spots but displays broken vertical markings. Like their parent, they
eat any fish they can catch and prefer to ambush their prey. They also
eat crayfish, frogs and birds. Use large lures and stout line when fishing
for tiger muskellunge. They will hit lures and fresh cut bait. They are
known for their speed and are exceptionally strong for short runs.
Northern Pike
Esox Lucius
World Record: 55 lbs
The northern pike is a valient fighter and prefers water temperatures
from 58 to 70 degrees. Also known as jack, jackfish, great northern pike
and pickerel. While they have been transplanted into most states with
cold water, they are native to the northern states and are abundant in
the north-eastern states. Northern pike are basically olive in color
with white and/or yellow bellies. The northern pike has light-colored
marking on a dark body whish is opposite that of their cousins the muskies.They
are an ambushing predator that eats frogs, crayfish, birds and virtually
any fish they can get into their mouth. Use spinners, fish-immitating
lures, jerk-baits or cutbait and fish close to cover.
Chain Pickerel
Esox niger
World Record: 9.4 lbs.
A freshwater fish in the pike family easily identified by the "chain-like
marking along its sides. It can be found in the northwest, northeast
and southeast sections of the USA. Its primary food source is smaller
fish and is known to lie in wait to ambush its prey. While it can be
eaten it is not considered one of the better sport fishes for table fare.
The chain peickere can be caught on fish-imitation lures and live or
cut bait. Watch the sharp teeth when handling. Prefers water temperatures
from 62 to 70 degrees. Also known as pickerel, eastern pickerel, pike,
grass pike, jackfish, jack and others.
Bowfin
Amia calva
World Record: 21.5 lbs.
Found in waters around Alabama, Florida, Louisiana and Mississippi, the
bowfin prefers water temperatures of the warmer climates. It has an exceptionally
long dorsal fin which extends back to the tail, made of about 50 spines
or rays. Near the upper tail is an eye spot. They have very sharp teeth
and a nasty disposition when hooked. Handle with caution. They are most
often caught on cut bait and crayfish. They put up quite a fight and
are not considered good eating. The bowfin is also known as dogfish,
mud pike, mudfish, grindle, swamp bass and others.
Sturgeon
Sturgeon have been captured weighing over 2,000 lbs at length in excess
of 18 feet. They have been reported by divers to exist on the Columbia
River up to 30-foot long. They are a prehistoric fish and have an exceptionally
long life for a fish, commonly reaching sexual maturity at the age
of 120 years. They are not sought for their meat, it's their egg roe
which is made into caviar. They are found in major rivers feeding into
the ocean and can be caught with cut bait, giant hooks, heavy weights
and stout line. The larger ones can fight an angler for days and not
tire out.
If you offer fishing guide services for any of these fish in New Jersey
we would like to include you as a resource for our visitors. We
offer a complimentary listing for your guide service on our New Jersey
Fishing Guides page or you can see other options to promote your
fishing guide services in New Jersey by visiting our Advertising opportunities
section.
NJ Other Fishing - All About Fishing for Musky,
Tiger Musky, Northern Pike, Chain Pickerel, Bowfin, Sturgeon and
other fish in New Jersey.
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