Carmans River - Citizens Campaign for the Environment

Carmans River - Citizens Campaign for the Environment

As a fresh water fisherman I have been fishing the Carmans River since 1999. The main part that I fish is located of off

Montauk Hwy

between Yaphank and Shirley in the Town of Brookhaven, New York. As the years progressed I have seen the number of fish decrease in size and population.

Many fisherman there speculate that there is a change in the salinity or water temperature which prevents the Brown Trout and the Rainbow Trout from breeding, this may be the case but, as Citizens Campaign for the Environment put it "Recently, the Carmans River has been seriously threatened by two invasive plant species Leaf Milfoil and Cambomba." What these plants do is soak up oxygen and sunlight to produce chlorophyll and multiply. But by doing this, they take the much needed oxygen needed by other animals such as the native Trout species and Yellow Perch, which swim up river to breed and lay their eggs in the spring. Basically, the plants suffocate the river and lakes that accompany it as stated by the website.

The website also talks about how residential waste and fertilizers from lawns provide nutrients for these invasive species. The fact that the waste into the river does not get monitored or regulated is enraging to a person like myself who treasures the bounty of the river and practicing a "catch 'n release" fishing ethic to sustain the population of the fish. There are plenty of people who keep many undersized fish and also try to catch the fish out of season, although the park police and EPA say that there are plenty of officials who do, over the many years of fishing there river i can only think of two instances where either of the agencies were present and they were not enforcing fishing regulations rather surveying the water for pH and temp.

The future is grim for the ecology of the Carmens River if we do not do something to protect the fish and the natural plant life. There might not be a sustainable habitat for the trout that they restock it with annually. The future generations may not have a place to go fishing with their family if we do not act quickly. Between the invasive plant species having a choke hold on the river and loose fishing regulations, the only fish future generations may catch is at the bottom of the barrel.

Tips & Warnings

• Keep the lures as realistic as possible. Rainbow trout seem to be able to tell a poorly represented bait.
• Fish in the cleanest, clearest waters possible. Trout have a hard time hitting lures and bait in murky, cloudy water.
• Obtain all permits and licenses before fishing for rainbow trout

Read more: How to Catch Rainbow Trout | eHow.com http://www.ehow.com/how_2085563_catch-rainbow-trout.html#ixzz2NpOJNOLe