The NJ Division of Fish and Wildlife has announced that two new record fish were caught in September. The first was a sheepshead caught spearfishing and is the first record in that category in the Garden State; the second is for land-locked salmon caught on rod and reel and broke a record set back in 2018.
Russ Griffin of Manahawkin made his way onto the state spearfishing record fish list by landing a new state record sheepshead on September 20, while free diving off Long Beach Island. The fish weighed 12 pounds, 8 ounces and is the first record fish to be caught for this category. The record sheepshead measured 26 inches in length and a girth of 22.5 inches.
Then on September 30, Joe Satkowski caught an 8-pound 10-ounce Landlocked Atlantic Salmon at Merrill Creek Reservoir, breaking Runelvy Rodriguez’s June 2018 Lake Aeroflex record fish by 5 ounces. Joe’s fish – seen on the cover of The Fisherman Magazine on October 4 – measured 26 inches long and had a girth of 16-1/4 inches. It was caught on 6-pound test line while Joe was casting from his boat.
According to the NJ Division of Fish and Wildlife, Merrill Creek Reservoir has been stocked with 14-inch salmon raised at the Hackettstown Hatchery for three consecutive years beginning in 2018 (325 fish, 700 fish, 650 fish).
