SPRING TRADITION GETS UNDERWAY WITH OPENING DAY OF TROUT
SEASON THIS SATURDAY, APRIL 6

(19/P026) TRENTON – More than 184,000 freshly stocked rainbow trout will be available when anglers cast their lines on the opening day of trout season this Saturday, April 6, DEP Commissioner Catherine R. McCabe announced today.

Approximately 100,000 anglers of all ages will be heading to their favorite fishing spots on this eagerly anticipated day. Trout season kicks off at 8 a.m., offering an excellent opportunity to spend quality time outdoors while enjoying some of the best trout fishing on the East Coast.

“The DEP’s Division of Fish and Wildlife has been stocking beautiful rainbow trout raised at the Pequest Trout Hatchery in Warren County statewide for several weeks and will continue stocking through the end of May,” Commissioner McCabe said. “I encourage anglers young and old, experienced and novice, to take full advantage of our quality stocking program and enjoy not only excellent trout fishing but also the beauty of New Jersey’s great outdoors.”

Most trout being stocked will average 10½ inches but large breeders, measuring 14 inches to 23 inches and weighing up to 7 pounds are also distributed in the early weeks of the season. Approximately 570,000 rainbow trout will be stocked statewide by the end of the spring stocking season.

The state's 14 major trout streams are stocked every week following opening day and are closed to fishing from 5 a.m. to 5 p.m. on the day of stocking to allow the trout a chance to disperse. All other waters are open to fishing on stocking days following opening day, with most stocked at least three times.

Select lakes and ponds will also receive additional huge trout as part of the Bonus Broodstock Lakes Program. This year, nine trout-stocked lakes and ponds located throughout the state will receive 30 to 50 broodstock fish, providing even more excitement for anglers. A list of these waterbodies can be found at: www.njfishandwildlife.com/bonus_brdstk19.htm.

Anglers will also be happy to learn that many of the big trout stocked last fall will have carried over and are available to catch this spring. These fish have grown even more since they were stocked.

“Fishing has never been better, and the word is spreading about the quality of the trout we stock,” said Division of Fish and Wildlife Acting Director Dave Golden. “Every county has waters that are stocked with trout, which means that excellent fishing opportunities and access to great places to fish are always close to home.”

For more information on the spring trout stocking program including the in-season stocking schedule and spring stocking updates and changes visit www.njfishandwildlife.com/agentlst.htm

Anglers can download the complete in-season stocking schedule to their smartphones just by scanning the QR code found in the 2019 NJ Freshwater Fishing Digest. Trout stocking information is also available through the Trout Stocking Hotline at (609) 633-6765. Print copies of the Freshwater Fishing Digest are also available at license agents and Division of Fish and Wildlife offices.

Anyone age 16 or older must obtain a New Jersey Fishing License and Trout Stamp to fish for trout. Anglers can easily purchase these online at www.nj.wildlifelicense.com/ or through license agents. A list of license agents is available at: www.njfishandwildlife.com/agentlst.htm.

You can save money through the Buddy Up and Save! Program. Introduce a family member or friend to fishing by getting a Fishing Buddy License. This license offers both an existing angler and new angler (or even two new anglers) an opportunity to receive reduced priced fishing licenses. For information about the Fishing Buddy License visit: www.njfishandwildlife.com/fishbuddy.htm

The Division of Fish and Wildlife’s Pequest Trout Hatchery is supported with proceeds from the sale of fishing licenses, trout stamps and federal funding from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Sportfish Restoration Program.

The dedicated funding received from the purchase of a fishing license and fishing equipment enables the Division of Fish and Wildlife to enhance fishing opportunities in New Jersey and protect the quality of the state’s waters for fish, wildlife and people.

###