What's the Catch?

Snake Eyes

SNAKE EYES EPISODE #8 You are listening to What’s The Catch? the podcast with your host Andrew Rowan. In this episode of What’s The Catch? We’re gonna be talking about Snakeheads :what they are, where to find them, how to catch them, and why you should want to catch them.  SEGMENT 1: SPECIES BACKGROUND The Northern snakehead are predatory fish native to Africa and Asia. Their name comes from the fact that their pattern along their bodies resembles one of a snakes. Their head is also very snake-like. They’re an invasive species, being introduced to U.S waters because of people dumping their pet snakehead into a local body of water without knowing they are not native here. Their average length is 33 inches and the average weight is around 15 lbs.  Fun Facts * They can breathe for a little on land because of the sacs above their gills which take in oxygen from the air * It can survive out of water up to 4 days * They have a big rox of sharp teeth, making it bot possible to golf them by their lips * They can “walk” on land SEGMENT 2: WHERE CAN I FIND THEM? With being an invasive species, Snakeheads can be found in Jersey but not as common as other species. Their are still some places that have them. The best places to fin them are under vegetation like lilies, underwater grass, and downed trees/tree logs Places near/in hopewell * Harrisonville Lake * Crystal Lake * Mantua creek * Salem canal * Delaware river SEGMENT 3: HOW CAN I CATCH THEM? Rods to use * Medium- light 7 foot spinning rod/ baitcaster Best line * 25 lb test braided line Best live bait * Worms * Bluegill cutbait Best rigs/lures * Topwater frogs * Poppers * Buzzbaits * Chatterbaits * spinnerbaits SEGMENT 4: WHY SHOULD I WANT TO CATCH THEM? Reasons why * Good fight, very strong fish * Cool looking, looks almost prehistoric  * Being invasive, fishing for them and getting them out of U.S. waters helps a lot MUSIC CREDITS:   CARAVAN BY OLIVER TRAY CONNECT WITH US ON SOCIAL MEDIA * @theHVSPN [https://twitter.com/thehvspn?lang=en]

Bass, Round 2!

WHAT’S THE CATCH? BASS, ROUND 2! Episode #7  You are listening to What’s The Catch? the podcast with your host Andrew Rowan. In this episode of What’s The Catch? We’re gonna be talking about Striped Bass :what they are, where to find them, how to catch them, and why you should want to catch them.  SEGMENT 1: SPECIES BACKGROUND The Striped Fish is a Saltwater Fish found primarily along the th Atlantic Coast of North America. They have sleek bodies and are gray in color. They get their name from the stripes along the sides of their body. Their average length is between 20-35 inches and their weight can range from 5 to 20 pounds Fun Facts * Can survive in salt and freshwater * State fish of Maryland, South Carolina, and Rhode Island * State Marine fish of New York, New Jersey, Virginia, and New Hampshire * Largest won ever caught on record weighed 124 pounds in 1896 * They can live up to thirty years SEGMENT 2: WHERE CAN I FIND THEM? Since they can survive in bothy kinds of waters, you can find them almost anywhere. But they usually are still mostly found in saltwater. Stripers move to shallower waters after dark so going on the beach and fishing would be best at night. So unlike other saltwater fish, it can be caught while on land. Going on Kayak as well is a good way to catch them. Places near/in Hopewell * Delaware River * Lake Hopatcong * Manasquan Reservoir SEGMENT 3: HOW CAN I CATCH THEM? Rods to use * Medium power rod Best line * 30 lb braid * 12-15 lb fluorocarbon Best live bait * Worms * Cut bait Best rigs/lures * Buck tail jig * Popper  * Diamond jig * Spoon lure SEGMENT 4: WHY SHOULD I WANT TO CATCH THEM? I think that striped Bass are absolutely worth your time and you should definitely consider them when picking your next trip for three main reasons. First it that they are strong fish which give great fights when reeling in. they’re not hard to catch, but I wouldn’t say it’s easy. Second, since they can be found in saltwater and freshwater, you probably don’t have to go far to find them. Lastly, they taste so good. Whether you grill it, deep fry it, whatever, the meat tastes awesome.  MUSIC CREDITS:   CARAVAN BY OLIVER TRAY CONNECT WITH US ON SOCIAL MEDIA * @theHVSPN [https://twitter.com/thehvspn?lang=en]

Oh Carp!

OH CARP! EPISODE #6 You are listening to What’s The Catch? the podcast with your host Andrew Rowan. In this episode of What’s The Catch? We’re gonna be talking about Carp :what they are, where to find them, how to catch them, and why you should want to catch them.  SEGMENT 1: SPECIES BACKGROUND The Eurasian Carp or European Carp, also known as the common Carp, is freshwater fish native to lakes and rivers of Europe and Asia. They are not native to North America, but they have been introduced to waters here since the mid-1800’s as a heavily farmed fish. They can now be found in local ponds, rivers, and lakes. Two of the big places to find them can be the Mississippi River and the Great lakes. They are bottom feeders, meaning that they swim along the bottom of a body of water and feed what's on the bottom. They are large in size and have large scales, a large dorsal fin, and have two barbels (whiskers) on their upper lip. Their average size can range on average between 4-31 lbs. Adults can be between 16-31 inches long on average. The average lifespan for a common Carp can be up to 20 years.  Fun Facts * The history of farming common Carp can date it’s beginning all the way to Roman times * They are the 3rd most frequently introduced species worldwide * There was once a report of a Carp living for 47 years in captivity * The largest carp ever recorded was caught by Colin Smith at Etang La Saussaie Fishery, France in 2013. The carp clocked in at 100.5 lbs * China is the largest producer of carp, accounting for 70% of the worlds production of the fish SEGMENT 2: WHERE CAN I FIND THEM? Like I mentioned earlier, now that Carp have been farmed and spread to almost every state and to every country, you can find them almost everywhere. Places near/in hopewell * Delaware River * Rosedale Lake * Curlis Lake * WallKill Lake * Lake Hopatcong SEGMENT 3: HOW CAN I CATCH THEM? Carp are strong fish and you will need to have a strong rod and line to make sure they don’t break you off or break your rod. They feed more in darkness so going early in the morning or at night will be the most effective time to go fishing for them. Rods to use * 6 ½ to 7 ½ feet long medium-heavy action spinning rod Best line * 10-15 lb monofilament or braid Best live bait * Sweet corn * Bread * Nighcrawlers (worms) * Bugs * dough baits Best rigs *  You can use any rig you want. All I would recommend is that it has some kind of lead weight to keep it on the bottom, and to use an octopus hook. SEGMENT 4: WHY SHOULD I WANT TO CATCH THEM? You should wanna catch these guys for a good couple of reasons. First, they are a good fish if you love a hard fight when reeling in. Like I said earlier, they are strong and will not be easy to catch. Second, they taste awesome. You can cook them any way you want, but I would recommend baking them in the oven and putting some kind of seasoning or glaze on it, kinda like how you prepare a salmon. Lastly, they are bad for ecosystems. They uproot and submerged vegetation when looking for insects, they make water clarity worse, and all this contributes to algae blooms. They also have no natural predators. So the more you catch them and get them out of our waters, the more your helping waters near you or around the world. MUSIC CREDITS:   CARAVAN BY OLIVER TRAY CONNECT WITH US ON SOCIAL MEDIA * @theHVSPN [https://twitter.com/thehvspn?lang=en]

Walleye Ever See You Again?

WHAT’S THE CATCH? WALLEYE EVER SEE YOU AGAIN? EPISODE #5 You are listening to What’s The Catch? the podcast with your host Andrew Rowan. In this episode of What’s The Catch? We’re gonna be talking about Walleye :what they are, where to find them, how to catch them, and why you should want to catch them.  SEGMENT 1: SPECIES BACKGROUND The Walleye, also known as the yellow pike or yellow pickerel, is a freshwater fish native to the northern United States and almost all of Canada. They are gold and olive in color with a white underbelly. Their mouths are large with sharp teeth. Adult Walleye are usually gonna be between 2.5-3 feet long and weigh around 10-20 pounds. The average lifespan of a Walleye will typically be about 7 years. Fun Facts * They get their name their cloudy-looking eye, which is caused by this layer of pigment called the tapetum lucidum that helps the Walleye see in low light * It is the state fish of Ohio,Minnesota, South Dakota , and Vermont * A female can lay up to 600,000 eggs a year * They have their ‘taste buds’ on their lips SEGMENT 2: WHERE CAN I FIND THEM? They are native to Canada, the Great lakes, the Missouri River basin and the upper Mississippi River Basin, but have been able to be spread to the western and northeastern parts of the United States. These guys prefer cool, deep, and calm waters of rivers, lakes, and reservoirs. They are mostly nocturnal and during the day mostly take cover under logs and aquatic vegetation.so the prime time to be catching them is around dawn or at night. It seems to be going nowhere but up for walleye fishing in the state. Walleye fishing in New Jersey has been growing in popularity over the last couple of years.  Places near/in hopewell * Delaware River * Monksville Reservoir * Swartswood lake * Lake Hopatcong SEGMENT 3: HOW CAN I CATCH THEM? Rods to use * Spinning rod  * Ice Fishing Rod if ice fishing  Best line * 12-25 lb braid * 6-14 lb monofilament Best live bait[https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/e28rul-eBC81Zd75qS8BfmgJF9pSGFpe6vrrbH2-VJzrawctG7xa9oyAQ-ZTSz78J5qa0GJ6ZTesaf_aIFcQr7rdQxevoiqsSobFYcEUOHgpD3u_EBuPtyNcvD97cgvxh_DfJ6qhNwpjYZvCq_kth1XmKuMXk6tw2wQoUd0zh4iqvsXD4QZQn73_BrihGg] * Nightcrawlers (worms) * Minnows * leeches Best lures * Jig and grub tail * Blade baits Best rigs * Slip bobber rig * Jig rig SEGMENT 4: WHY SHOULD I WANT TO CATCH THEM? Walleye are great fish for a couple reasons. One, they are pretty cool looking fish. They have this beautiful coloring to them and the fact they have teeth I feel gives them a lot of character compared to other species. Two, the fight they put up when reeling in is one of the best. They’re an aggressive fish and will hit your bait hard and will make your time worthwhile. Three, most of the places they’re native to are some really pretty locations. The areas around the great lakes, both big rivers, and canadian wilderness are breathtaking views make catching them great because even if you catch nothing, you got to see all those pretty nature and relax. Lastly four, they are considered one of the best tasting fish. Putting them in a beer batter and frying them is the most popular way to cook them. MUSIC CREDITS:   CARAVAN BY OLIVER TRAY CONNECT WITH US ON SOCIAL MEDIA * @theHVSPN [https://twitter.com/thehvspn?lang=en]

Somewhere Over The Rainbow

WHAT’S THE CATCH? THE PODCAST EPISODE TITLE: SOMEWHERE OVER THE RAINBOW EPISODE #4 You are listening to What’s The Catch? the podcast with your host Andrew Rowan. In this episode of What’s The Catch? We’re gonna be talking about the Rainbow Trout:what they are, where to find them, how to catch them, and why you should want to catch them.  SEGMENT 1: SPECIES BACKGROUND The Rainbow Trout is a freshwater fish native to North America. They get their name because of the beautiful coloration on the sides of their body. They also are a part of the same family as salmon. These guys average length is around 20-30 inches and weigh between 8 pounds. The average lifespan is around 3-4 years. Fun Facts * Biggest Rainbow trout ever caught: 48 lbs caught by Sean Konrad on September 5th,2009 * They always end up returning to their birth place * They can lay thousands of eggs at one time * There are fifteen subspecies of rainbow trout SEGMENT 2: WHERE CAN I FIND THEM? Historically, Rainbow Trout have lived in rivers in lakes west of the Rocky Mountains, most densely populated in the Pacific Northwest area of the country. However, thanks to Trout being a very popular fish for farming, they’ve been able to spread to pretty much the whole country by stocking local lakes, rivers, and streams. Places near/in Hopewell * Stony Brook Creek, Pennington: Rosedale park * Aqueduct next to the Delaware river, Titusville * Molders fishing preserve, Monroe Township * Musky Trout Hatchery, Asbury SEGMENT 3: HOW CAN I CATCH THEM?[https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/99AzAo8IdAe-n_8dsn218js-hLwgrmXMT101jNVETb82juw9N5CXayNiv3blI8VKunKEI8YsG0DqZMj1r552ncpwZ5OeNyO2AWxaTgDJG23jayo9UQTJX8mj46Q6hoIdgm5TFvMe4kzlk37_raYOxbdAgy4Q9rJJOEuKXhYcc_fVVupitOW5KBkSV1qSTg][https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/AKOelzKRX9828Fdw725qelbNcHPzhCJhW7HJSgryzaAfqeasHOAWMcPhNqCAtRsdhQhbBHQsNiqHv0q8ligNhQMhYYg4JXE_MEvt7kKf4Xl4POa3y6M2-QxoemSjRgEaY4hmPyiTH2t6G5VFDBoup4fKUqzFPbGHGNC9u2-tfGP2ihyXdHOrP7zTCaV4rA][https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/7H0XikRk78Q6i_A4Pksxvk9edvWjDszTMI5GabI0U-Uf5v3GQZBQ0JaZdqnh_4FrAPiIJppro_oRQaopPm4eZM846o4xBNaoSLLfmTXmnp2LKKnKpRgsGxIZQ-9WzWef5jZyWi8IiSCptlEiglr9e_yASo09W3sakB0b_hkd4hGi2h4OKcYXhcYLQrtbxg] Rods to use * Spinning rod * Fly fishing rod[https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/uJTmZfcjezRkAAusqxKMlstw1eoSemQ51ncnbXUXC6gEdOb8h-xqdTBvD3WdjfjzoPzIPpaDj9vB_qXb_6RALlw206QRuY8XISKL_-Z7Yf9OomJf2tFUOjwivYzvoD8s11kwL6HfRPw2BtTt1JfqpoYWr8PwP-NMVrYZ9caR152MtxFpW-ETr9Rn4R8dUQ][https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/_W4gQ56WQmlmuHKO3H4gcURHXeq4Rul79d8n8fP-anNN3WpEpXNTx6YsjdLizDKJGd_IHLjx6Znu681LatEEfmpWVRfd1C9RR7kl_Hhyu6rqwFg8W2Ob9SsyzwS6BTfk-F5SSJuH9ndjngpfXzdbrsaXzNyp3TS6NQNufJLkoc4ShVx1ZGqu6PsI631kqg] * Ice fishing rod if ice fishing Best line * 4 lb test line * Monofilament or fluorocarbon Best live bait * Worms * Crawfish * Crickets or grasshoppers * Bread * Corn * Salmon eggs * Trout nuggets Best lures * Rooster tails * Fly jigs * Jig and grub tail * Spoon lure * Jerkbait SEGMENT 4: WHY SHOULD I WANT TO CATCH THEM? These guys are totally worth your time for several reasons. they’re super fun to catch. They put up enough fight to make catching them a challenge which makes you wanna keep coming back and trying again. They are some of the prettiest looking freshwater fish. Not every fish has the same reputation of being admired for their looks. Also where you find them can bring you to see beautiful places all over the country. In addition, they taste really good when you cook them. I personally would recommend using some cajun spice on some trout filets. MUSIC CREDITS:   CARAVAN BY OLIVER TRAY CONNECT WITH US ON SOCIAL MEDIA * @theHVSPN [https://twitter.com/thehvspn?lang=en]