Sight-Fishing for Smallmouth Bass on the Raritan River

With the waters finally warming up, the Raritan River smallmouths are starting to seek out shallower water, making for a very special day of fishing.

[@SaltySamFishing]

Wow those are some big ol' smallies, great video! Would definitely rate that an epic day!

[@billwilburn1685]

That’s a hell of a day for sure.

[@mikeviola6995]

Wow , great fish! Love the Raritan river videos.Gonna be hard to top that!

[@FishingWithLardAlmighty]

Thanks. The Raritan videos are some of my favorites too.

[@PamN191]

Conrats on the BIG ONE! Lots of river rocks at location 3. 🙂

[@Your_Name_Here_]

Love how you captured in a few minutes of video the full emotional roller coaster that fishing can be. Look forward to your videos every week.

[@FishingWithLardAlmighty]

Thanks. That fish was a journey, for sure!

[@adamzalewski7746]

That's some quality raritan river smallmouth. You pretty much summed up my reaction to every big fish I ever lost. Congrats on getting it to bite again and a giant fish.

[@FishingWithLardAlmighty]

Thanks. I was so lucky that fish decided to bite again!

[@burhannaveed1911]

Sometimes when you haven't caught something in a while, you get blessed with an unexpected catch :)

[@FishingWithLardAlmighty]

And sometimes when you haven't caught anything for a really long time, ANY catch is unexpected.

[@leannesmith3660]

I was really wondering how this video was going to play out after you pulled in the anchor and 2 bobbers shit show! I was as excited as you catching that Amazon girl!!! I Googled it and she was in the 5 to almost 6 lb range. Congratulations!!!! 👍👍👍

[@FishingWithLardAlmighty]

Some of my best days have started off slow and/or weird. That's why I always stick with it.

[@danhealyeverythingoutdoors7105]

WOW ! That was a lifetime smallmouth ! Well done !

[@FishingWithLardAlmighty]

Thanks. She was a true beast.

[@FishinginNewJersey]

Hey Lard , I run a guide service on the river and always watch your videos and would love to have you on the boat

[@FishinginNewJersey]

The name of the company is Reel Raritan Angling Adventures float free of charge I been watching you videos for a long time

[@ledraps22]

tis the season! Congrats on the PB. Good strategy to lurk the warm calm shallows.

[@FishingWithLardAlmighty]

Warming water, a few days after the full moon, it makes sense that the fish would be coming up shallow.

[@bertmiranda8103]

Wow beautiful!

[@FishingWithLardAlmighty]

Thank you.

[@RuthlessMcDugal]

Nice one!! I lost a 4 lb smallmouth at the 2nd spot you were at.

[@FishingWithLardAlmighty]

Yeah, that spot always seems to hold a few good fish.

[@henryschmidt636]

Excellent catch

[@FishingWithLardAlmighty]

Thank you.

[@AbbyNormill]

Well done!

[@FishingWithLardAlmighty]

Thank you.

[@jcds22scheeler93]

Nice smallmouth!!!

[@FishingWithLardAlmighty]

Thank you.

[@josephscalone5402]

Wow nice catch, congratulations, be safe

[@FishingWithLardAlmighty]

Thank you very much.

[@mikes7164]

Congrats on a slob. Had to be close to 5lbs right ? Well deserved. This is what will always keep us coming back.

[@FishingWithLardAlmighty]

Had to be 5. Time to get a 6!

[@bigbuck9984]

That Smallmouth is a beauty. I don't think most anglers in NJ realize the Smallmouth in our rivers. I know the Paulinskill and Museconetcong are loaded.

[@FishingWithLardAlmighty]

I guess I should thank Fish & Wildlife for distracting most of the fishermen in this state with 10" stocked trout, so I can have the big smallies to myself.

[@zzJERZEEzz]

Oh mannnnn, what a catch! Have you checked out the “Skillful Angler” program for NJ? It’s on the NJ fish and wildlife , that would have been it! My son was on the leader last year for carp, actually thanks to watching your videos and leading us to a spot

[@FishingWithLardAlmighty]

I do know about Skillful Angler. I never felt the desire to participate.

[@zzJERZEEzz]

Can’t wait to see what’s next for you! We look forward to your videos! Hoping to some day catch you in real time ❤️

[@sodfarmer6574]

You were on the SouthBranch, think I passed you by Sunday in the kayak while you were try to catch that same smallie

[@FishingWithLardAlmighty]

I hadn't seen that fish yet when you passed by. I guess I was fortunate that you didn't see her first.

[@rippinlips3565]

Nice fish. It's illegal to target smallmouth beds in my state, so I have to fan cast moving baits and hope for a giant female to decide to abandon her area, rarely happens I mostly end up catching 1-2 pounders during spawn.

[@FishingWithLardAlmighty]

Maybe try working the deeper water next to the bed. Sometimes the female will be hanging out there while the male guards the nest.

[@rippinlips3565]

@@FishingWithLardAlmighty I'll give it a go when I hit a local creek on Thursday, thanks 👍.

[@felixpolnasekjr.9049]

I caught so many smallmouths out of that river ! Nice catch there . Was that second spot on duke island park there?? I caught my biggest smallie out of that river myself Congrats.

[@FishingWithLardAlmighty]

I hear tell of even bigger smallies in that river. Maybe there's a 6-pounder with my name on it.

[@felixpolnasekjr.9049]

@@FishingWithLardAlmighty There are My friends and I caught nice football smallies out of there . Live crayfish or helgrimites .!

[@felixpolnasekjr.9049]

I only did well at the neshanic mill for trout . A very occasional smallie ! I did really well from 206 Dukes Gardens down past the Bridges.