Official Site of The State of New Jersey
Fall trout stocking has become one of the most popular stocking programs offered by NJDEP Fish & Wildlife. Due to low flow conditions in our rivers and streams, trout stocking will now begin Tuesday, October 15, 2024, and continue throughout the following week.
NJDEP Fish & Wildlife will stock a total of approximately 20,000 two-year-old Rainbow Trout, averaging 14-16 inches over a two-week period. In addition to these trout, up to 1,000 Broodstock trout (three-year-old rainbow trout, averaging 18-22 inches) are also stocked. Broodstock trout are mixed in with each truckload of fish.
All fall trout-stocked waters may be fished as soon as they are stocked (no “closed waters” during fall stocking).
Please Note: The stocking of Mill Pond has been suspended due to severe siltation that has built up over time and has been exacerbated by the increase in strong storm events in recent years. Fish that were allocated to Mill Pond will be stocked in North Hudson Park Lake and Verona Park Lake.
The stocking boundaries for streams are the same as in the spring (see the current Freshwater Digest for information).
Updates to the fall stocking program are posted as necessary.
See the Fall Trout Fishing Information page for details about this season’s stocking.
Updates
Big Flat Brook (Upstream of Rt. 206): Flows in this section of the Big Flat Brook are too low for trout stocking. The fish allocated for this section will be distributed downstream of Rt. 206 throughout the rest of the trout stocking locations.
Black River: Flow in the Black River is so low that trout will not be stocked anywhere in the river. These fish will be stocked in the South Branch of the Raritan River between the Red Mill Dam in Clinton Township and the confluence with the North Branch of the Raritan River.
Rockaway River: Flow in the Upper Rockaway River is too low for trout to be stocked upstream of Dewey Ave. These fish will be stocked throughout the rest of the Rockaway River.
Wallkill River: No fish will be stocked upstream of the Passaic Street bridge. These fish will be spread out throughout the rest of the Wallkill River.
Waters and Trout Stocking Numbers
| Big Flat Brook, 10/23 – 1,530 | Manasquan River, 10/21 – 480 | Paulins Kill, 10/21 – 1,580 | Rosedale Lake, 10/16 – 210 |
| Black River – CANCELED DUE TO LOW FLOW | Mary Elmer Lake, 10/15 – 210 | Pequest River, 10/22 – 1,410 | Schadler’s Sand Wash Pond, 10/16 – 160 |
| Colonial Lake, 10/16 – 190 | Maurice River, 10/15 – 180 | Pequest River TCA, 10/22 – 210 | Speedwell Lake, 10/15 – 230 |
| Crystal Lake, 10/15 – 230 | Metedeconk River N/B, 10/21 – 160 | Pohatcong Creek, 10/23 – 1,010 | Swedesboro Lake, 10/16 – 220 |
| Giampietro Park Pond, 10/15 – 180 | Metedeconk River S/B, 10/21 – 270 | Ramapo River, 10/24 – 970 | Sylvan Lake, 10/15 – 180 |
| Greenwich Lake, 10/16 – 190 | Mill Pond – SUSPENDED | Raritan River N/B, 10/21 – 940 | Toms River, 10/21 – 260 |
| Grenloch Lake, 10/15 – 180 | Musconetcong River, 10/22 – 2,730 | Raritan River S/B, 10/24 – 1,950 | Toms River TCA, 10/21 – 100 |
| Hammonton Lake, 10/15 – 230 | Musconetcong River TCA, 10/22 – 150 | Raritan River S/B TCA Gorge, 10/24 – 260 | Verona Park Lake, 10/16 – 310 |
| Iona Lake, 10/16 – 220 | North Hudson Park Lake, 10/16 – 310 | Rockaway River, 10/23 – 1,380 | Wallkill River, 10/22 – 510 |
| Lower Echo Park Pond, 10/15 – 180 | Oak Pond, 10/15 – 180 | Roosevelt Park Pond, 10/16 – 190 | Wanaque River, 10/24 – 370 |
Map is subject to change. Check 2024 Stocking Schedule updates as stocking changes may be made.
