Free Fly Fishing for Bass Workshop

 

Are you interested in learning to fly fish for bass? Join NJDEP F&W’s Fishing R3 Program to learn about the equipment and basic skills you need to target largemouth and smallmouth bass with a fly rod.

This free workshop is for anglers 18 years and older who are interested in learning how to fly fish. The program will start with an in-depth classroom session before putting newly learned skills to practice on August 15, 2025, at Echo Lake in Howell Township, Monmouth County.

All equipment will be provided, or you can bring your own.

All participants must have a valid 2025 NJ Freshwater Fishing License.

Registration Deadline: July 27, 2025 see forms.office.com/pages/responsepage.aspx

Workshop is limited to 12 participants. Only selected participants will be notified by email. 

You will need your Conservation ID (CID#) to apply. Your CID# can be found on your Freshwater Fishing License or by logging in to NJ Fish & Wildlife’s License Sales Site at: nj.aspirafocus.com/internetsales

Hike Governor Mountain

 

Governor Mountain in Ringwood State Park offers you a good hike on the Cooper Union Trail to a rock outcrop for a stunning view over the Wanaque Reservoir. 

A guide from njhiking.com gives you options: a 7.3 or 2.2 miles round trip. The shorter version delivers the same view for less effort but the full route is a worthwhile ramble through a pretty forest.

Post-hike: Explore the grounds of Ringwood Manor, the Victorian-era summer estate of Abram S. Hewitt. Ringwood, Passaic County, New Jersey.

Bats Helping Rid Us of Lanternflies

 

We have known in NJ for several years about the spotted lanternfly. The New Jersey State Department of Agriculture put out warning about how this insect invader could have devastating effects on farms and vineyards in the Garden State.

One piece of good news is that a researcher at Rutgers found that the invasive species has an enemy that we didn't know about before – bats. "Most recently, we've discovered that they are eating the spotted lanternfly," said Erin McHale, a PhD candidate. As a part of McHale's research study, she analyzes what bats are eating by studying their guano (bat poop).

Bats are incredibly helpful to humans. Many bats eat insects and some can consume thousands of mosquitoes in a single night, reducing the need for chemical pesticides.

Fruit bats pollinate plants. We are not growing bananas, mangoes, and agave in NJ but where it is grown they help maintain ecosystems and agriculture.

Bats spread seeds through their droppings, helping forests regenerate and grow. 

New Jersey residents can help by installing a bat house. If it attracts bats, they can consume thousands of insects every night in your neighborhood. 

Reporting Atlantic Sturgeon in NJ Waters

NJDEP Fish & Wildlife has received recent reports of Atlantic sturgeon sightings in our waterways. As a reminder, Atlantic sturgeon are a federally protected species under the Endangered Species Act, and it is illegal to possess, harm, or harass them in any way, whether the fish is alive or dead.

• DO NOT attempt to handle, remove, or interact with sturgeon.

• If you accidentally catch a sturgeon, release it immediately, unharmed.

• If you see a sturgeon (alive, stranded, or deceased), report the sighting immediately to
NJDEP Fish & Wildlife at 609-748-2020, or file a report on the NJ Marine Protected Species Reporter application and email NOAA Fisheries at noaa.sturg911@noaa.gov

If possible, take photos from a safe distance and note the exact location (GPS coordinates if available), date, and time of the sighting.

Your cooperation is critical to the protection and recovery of this ancient and endangered species. 

Thank you for doing your part to protect New Jersey’s wildlife and waterways!