New Jersey Division of Fish, Game and Wildlife

For more information contact:
Bob Soldwedel at 609-292-8642

The Department of Environmental Protection's Division of Fish, Game and Wildlife will continue its popular Channel Catfish Stocking program this year by releasing approximately 44,000 fish in selected waters throughout the state. In addition, although the Fall Trout Stocking program has been discontinued as a result of budget constraints, the Fish and Game Council has approved the Division's release of approximately 50,000 surplus brook, brown and rainbow trout in selected waters.

The channel catfish, averaging 6-inches in length, have the potential to grow up to 20 pounds or more and many will be released into urban ponds to allow local anglers a chance to experience the excitement of landing one of these fish. The trout average 6-inches in length and are considered surplus.

"Each year at this time, the Division inventories the trout at the Pequest Hatchery," said Division Director Bob McDowell. "When the inventory exceeds the number needed to meet spring trout stocking requirements, the surplus is removed to increase efficiency and allow maximum growth of the fish slated for spring stocking. A surplus must be maintained throughout the summer to safeguard against an unexpected die-off during this critical period when the fish are smaller and more vulnerable to the hotter temperatures."

The release of channel catfish is as follows:

COUNTY	LOCATION
Atlantic	Heritage Park Pond Hammonton Lake
Bergen	Scarlet Oak Pond
Burlington	Mirrow Lake Swedes Lake
Camden	Haddon Lake Dennisville Lake West Pond
Cumberland	Bostwick Lake Giampietro Park Pond Mary Elmer Lake Shaws Mill Pond Sunset Lake
Gloucester	Franklinville Lake Greenwich Lake Iona Lake
Mercer	Colonial Lake Gropps Lake
Middlesex	East Brunswick Park Pond Farrington Lake Weston's Mill Pond Hook's Creek Lake
Monmouth	Deal Lake Holmdel Park Pond Shadow Lake Takanassee Lake Echo Lake Hurley's Pond Lake Topenemus Silo Farm Pond Allentown Mill Pond
Morris	Lake Ames Silas Condict Park Pond Speedwell Lake
Ocean	Lake Carasaljo Lake Manetta Colliers Mill Pond Turnmill Pond
Passaic	Green Turtle Pond Monksville Reservoir
Salem	Woodstown Lake Thundergust Lake
Somerset	Ann Van Middleworth Pond
Sussex	Jefferson Lake Lake Ocquittunk Swartswood Lake
Warren	Delaware Lake

COUNTY	LOCATION
Bergen & Passaic	Wanaque River (Upper, Lower) Ramapo River
Hunterdon, Morris & Somerset	Raritan River (South Branch)
Hunterdon, Morris, Sussex & Warren	Musconetcong River (Upper, Lower)
Monmouth & Ocean	Metedeconk River (North Branch) Metedeconk River (South Branch) Tom’s River
Morris	Black River Rockaway River
Somerset	Raritan River (North Branch)
Warren	Pohatcong River
Warren & Sussex	Pequest River Paulinskill River (Upper, Middle, Lower)
Sussex	Big Flatbrook – Lower