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Spring Trout Fishing Information
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TROUT SEASON OPENS APRIL 7, 2012
TROUT STOCKING HOTLINE: 609-633-6765
Stocking New Jersey's Trout Waters - NJ.com Video Feature
Fly Fishing For Trout in New Jersey - Backwoods Angler TV
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The stocking trucks from the Pequest
Trout Hatchery began rolling on March 21 as the
spring pre-season distribution of this year's trout got under way. By
year's end, approximately 600,000 trout will be stocked
throughout the state, but the action really got going on
Opening Day, April 9, at 8 a.m.
The "production trout" average 10.5" but were kept company prior to opening day by some of the more than 6,000 three to eight pound breeder trout which are also being stocked. This spring, trout will be placed in 88 streams and 90 ponds and lakes throughout New Jersey. Those trout will be in addition to some of the 26,000 bruisers still in the water from stockings in the fall and winter. Fortunately for the state's anglers, trout remain available throughout the summer in many waters.
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HIGHLIGHTS
FOR 2011
Trout fishing in New Jersey continues to be some of the best available on the East Coast. The average size of the trout stocked is larger than trout stocked in neighboring states, and the Bonus Broodstock Lakes and the breeder stocking programs provide plenty of trophy size fish within a short drive from anywhere in the state. Aside from some allocation changes, noted below, the 2011 season is expected to provide the normally superb trout fishing opportunities New Jersey anglers have grown to appreciate.
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Driving directions to some of the state's better know trout water access points can be found at www.njfishandwildlife.com/accesswater.htm. Anglers are reminded that access to locations along trout stocked streams may be available only through the good graces of private landowners. Please be respectful of their property and take care not to damage trees and shrubs. Leaving your fishing location cleaner than when you arrived helps maintain good angler-landowner relations and ensures continued public access to trout streams. |
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Allocation Changes
Spring trout allocations are calculated annually using a computerized
database. Individual allocations may differ from previous years if
there is a change associated with the waterbody (such as a fishing
regulation change, or a new or dropped stocking point). Newer technology
(GIS mapping) is now being used to update our trout-stocked waters
database so this year there are more changes than usual. The most
significant changes are described below, and an overview of the trout
allocation methodology appears on page
6 in the Freshwater Digest.
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Using
GIS, the number of trout-stocked waters within a 10-mile radius
was determined for all lakes and ponds. This resulted in the
trout allocations for 30 lakes and ponds statewide being adjusted.
These waters will now receive 10% fewer fish than before because
there are more trout fishing opportunities nearby than had previously
been accounted for. In addition, only lakes and ponds that have
no trout-stocked waters within 10 miles, or that are in highly
populated areas, are eligible to receive a fourth in-season
stocking.
It was determined that five trout-stocked waters
(Birch Grove Park Pond, Hammonton Lake, Hook's Creek Lake, Oak
Pond, and Riverview Beach Pond) have one or more (not zero)
trout-stocked waters within a 10-mile radius so they are
now stocked three times, rather than four, after opening
day.
Two other database corrections resulted in allocation increases
for the following waters: Blair Lake (acreage corrected)
and Dahnert's Lake (a 4th in-season stocking added due
to high human population density).
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The miles of stocked water for eight trout-stocked streams
was adjusted (stocking points dropped, and/or mileage recalculated)
resulting in changes to their allocation. Using GIS, the mileage
was re-calculated on six waters, resulting in allocation
increases for Beaver Brook (Hunterdon Co.), Clove Brook, Honey
Run, Wallkill River, and the S/B Raritan River, and a decrease
for Beaver Brook (Warren Co.). Several stocking points
were eliminated on the N/B Metedeconk River (vicinity of
Rt. 9) and Pequest River (upstream of Rt. 46), which reduced
the stocking mileage and, in turn, their allocations.
The in-season stocking schedule, covering the seven weeks following
opening day, is available online at www.njfishandwildlife.com/trtstk11.htm
and through the trout stocking hotline at 609-633-6765.
Stocking Schedule Changes
Changes
to the stocking schedule occur every year and anglers are
advised to check the stocking schedule to obtain up-to-date information
when planning their outings. The schedule is available online at www.njfishandwildlife.com/trtstk11.htm
and through the trout stocking hotline 609-633-6765.
Bonus Broodstock Waters
Each year a different set of waters scattered across the state is
selected for the Bonus
Broodstock program. This year ten designated ponds and lakes will
receive between 30 and 50 of the 15 to 24-inch broodstock trout. These
bruisers are stocked before opening day and the odds of catching a
big one are in your favor if you try fishing one of these waters:
Burnham Park Pond (Morris Co.), Dahnert’s Lake (Bergen
Co.), Giampetro Park Pond (Cumberland Co.), Lake Ocquittunk
(Sussex Co.), Mac’s Pond (Monmouth Co.), Oak Pond (Camden
Co.), Roosevelt Park Pond (Middlesex Co.), Spooky Brook
Park Pond (Somerset Co.), Sylvan Lake (Burlington Co.),
and Woodcliff Lake (Hudson Co.).
SPRING TROUT SEASON BASICS
Anglers should be aware that most trout-stocked waters are closed
to fishing during the 3 weeks leading up to opening day (March 21
- April 9 at 8 a.m.). During this time most trout-stocked waters
are stocked with trout to provide anglers with great fishing opportunities
on Opening Day, April 9.
During this pre-season period you might want to try fishing one
of a handful of trout-stocked waters that remain open for fishing.
Farrington Lake (Middlesex Co.), Lake Hopatcong (Morris/Sussex counties),
Lake Shenandoah (Ocean Co.), Prospertown Lake (Ocean Co.), and Swartswood
Lake (Sussex Co.) are open year round to fishing. Designated Trout
Conservation Areas (Seasonal and Year Round) and Holdover Trout Lakes
also remain open to fishing. (Note that fishing is not permitted on
Seasonal Trout Conservation Areas from 12:01 a.m. to 8 a.m. on April
9, 2011). Trout caught in any of these waters during the
pre-season period must be released immediately.
Those looking to fish during the pre-season period and keep their
catch can cast a line in either of the state's two Trophy Trout
Lakes, Merrill Creek and Round Valley Reservoirs.
Be sure to check the trout regulations (pdf, 170kb) pertaining to all the above waters.
On Opening Day and the days that follow, there are a few regulations
to keep in mind. On most waters anglers may keep 6 trout per day,
and the trout must be at least 9 inches long. Since the trout reared
at the Pequest Trout Hatchery average 10½ inches when stocked, most
of the stocked trout you catch can be harvested if you chose to. June
1 is an important date, as the daily creel limit for trout on most
trout waters drops from 6 to 4 per day.
The state's sixteen major trout streams are stocked every week after
Opening Day for the next seven weeks and they are closed to fishing
from 5 a.m. to 5 p.m. on the day of stocking. This allows the trout
a chance to disperse following stocking and gives anglers an equal
opportunity to fish for freshly stocked trout. All other waters may
be fished at any time following Opening Day, including the day they
are stocked. Many are stocked at least three times after Opening Day
so be sure to check the trout stocking schedule to determine the stocking
dates for the waters you plan to fish. Since every county has waters
that are stocked with trout, spring trout fishing opportunities are
never too far away.
"Hook-a-Winner" jaw-tags are placed on 1,000 brook trout
by hatchery staff prior to stocking each spring. Anglers who catch
a Hook-a-Winner trout
should send their name, address, fish tag number and location of catch
to:
Hook a Winner Program
Pequest Trout Hatchery
605 Pequest Road
Oxford, NJ 07863
In recognition of your catch you will be mailed a certificate and a
patch.
Don't forget that a fishing
license and trout stamp are required to fish for trout and salmon if you
are 16 years of age or older. Children under 16 and New Jersey residents
70 years and older can fish for free. Licenses and stamps may be obtained
through one of the many license
agents statewide, or online.
2011
SPRING TROUT STOCKING UPDATES
Any deviations from the stocking schedule will be noted here, on
the 2011 Spring Stocking
Schedules page and on the Trout Hotline (609-633-6765).
4/20/11 - Trout Stocking Rescheduled for Four Waters
4/18/11 - After checking USGS water levels this morning, the After checking USGS water levels this AM the following waters are NOT being stocked today due to flooding:
Hackensack River
Rockaway River
Passaic River
Russia Brook
These waters will be stocked when the levels are suitable.
Ponderlodge Pond (Cape May Co.) is temporarily suspended
from the stocking program due to safety concerns.
2010 Opening Day - NJ.com Video Feature
Back to Trout Fishing
in New Jersey
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