Tips for Carp Fishing in New Jersey

Carps are one of the most popular targets for anglers. Though they are native to Europe and Asia, the U.S authorities imported them in 1831. Later, their existence was widespread all over the world. In recent times, various states of North America cover a large number of carps. Among them, New Jersey provides immense fishing opportunities. Carp is present in almost every lake, river, or waterway in New Jersey. Innovative fish cultivation and progressive management are responsible for such amounts. If you are planning for carp fishing NJ, the water reservoirs will not disappoint you.

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Records

NJ lakes have many records of yielding monster carps. All catches are judges in two individual sections. The first one is fishing with a rod, reel and the other one is archery fishing. Billy Friedman found a 47 lbs carp in 1995. He was fishing in the Raritan River. In 2011, James Dempsey caught a grass carp weighing 55 lbs. He found the fish in  Curlis Lake. This incident surpassed the highest catch in 2008 by one lb. An angler named Homer Tye was the previous record holder of Curlis Lake. Adam Faatz made a state record by capturing a 42-inch long carp. It broke the old record of Mark Kronyak in 2008 in archery. Matt Janiszewski caught another massive carp in 2012. With 53 lbs weight, it could’ve been an official record. But he decided to release the fish for spawning.

NJ Top Carp Fishing Methods

1. Lure fishing: It is one of the oldest carp fishing techniques. Almost all carp sources in New Jersey allow users to utilize it. People have to bring rods, reel, line, and lures for catching carps. The fisherman can choose different sized gear based on their purposes. As a lure, you can bring anything that the carps east. The foods list includes Insects, dense vegetation, worms, algae, etc. So, the anglers have a lot of options because of such a diverse diet. Homemade dough, corn, boilies work fine for attracting carps. Sometimes, the visitors perform pre-baiting to get fish easily in a specific area. It means they simply place cheap foods such as corn, boilies, etc. The carps become more confident in finding more food and stay there. The Delaware River is New Jersey’s most renowned carp fishery. Also, there is the Wallkill river, Paulinskill lake, branches of the Raritan River. While visiting these areas, you will see a lot of tourists are trying to get carps using their rods.
2. Fly fishing: It is almost the same as traditional fishing except that flies are used as a lure. The flies successfully copy the activities of small fishes. Their appearance and movements easily trick carps. Remember, you have to use certain flies for carp such as wooly worms, woolly buggers, nymphs, etc. No matter which one you choose, they have to be wiggly and within six to ten sizes. People who love to catch topwater bites should go for unweighted nymphs. Medium weighted flies utilize beads to travel to mid-water depth. Flies having more weight for getting deeper are called depth charges.  Try adding three various weights of flies in place of just one. It will help to reach the fishes in all water columns. Nj carps can be smarter than you think they are. So, first of all, observe their behavior for a few minutes. Then you will be familiar with the tendencies. Don’t waste your time on carps splashing on the surface because they hardly take flies. The same thing goes for fast-moving groups. Target the sunbathers and slow-moving pods instead. Numerous fly fishing spots are full of carp species, including the Jersey Shore, south branch of Raritan River, etc.
3. Bow fishing: Targeting fishes with a specialized archery system is known as bow fishing. The users shoot the carps with a barbed arrow standing on the river bank or a boat. A line connects the arrow to the bow. After a perfect short, the fishes are retrieved on the shoreline or boat floor.  The overall process barely requires any skill. But you must have sharp eyesight for spotting the fishes and precise air for killing them. Stand near the carps such that they can’t see you. Keep your eye on the water bubble and shallow water near food supplies from the ground. Then fix your aim and shoot. Note that if you see a carp roaming anywhere, it means it is actually in a lower place. Don’t let the refraction fool you. Keep prepared to fire an arrow as soon as you see the carp. They may vanish while setting up the tools. We have the permission of carp bowfishing in Delaware river, Spruce run reservoir, Passaic river, and so on.

Most Suitable Weather

Carps stay in deep water when the weather is cold. It gives them the warmth they need to survive. In winter, they reduce their activities as much as possible. Thus, the number of carp catches decreases in January and February, New Jersey’s coldest months. After the lean winter days, spring comes with increasing temperature. As a result, they migrate into the shallow water. Also, we can find more shallow water carps on summer days. Hence, these two seasons are best for fishing with rod and reel. Generally, July and August are the two hottest times in New Jersey. These weather conditions are perfect for bowfishing as well, especially when anyone plans to catch carps from the shore.

The last few days of May and the first two weeks of June will give the best result for sure. The chances of carp bites are usually high in the warm morning. They seek food to feed and take more bait. Apart from the shallow water, you will find lots of jumping carp throughout the lake. Besides, the deep layers offer fair chances of having carps. If the water temperature is not warm enough, wait for the late afternoon or evening. Then, the warmth rises up to a few degrees.  Moreover, afternoon hours on a summer day give excellent outcomes.