Fantastic Fishing in New Jersey

Catch a memory – and some fantastic fish. New Jersey offers plenty of opportunities to do both. Fishing has never been better in the Garden State, and you owe it to yourself to make time to enjoy it.

Time on the water by yourself or with family and friends is the perfect antidote to our hectic 21st century lifestyle. Fishing is affordable, too, and one of the best gateways for getting kids interested in outdoor activities. As a bonus, there are tons of great fish just waiting to be caught in our plentiful streams, rivers, lakes and ponds.

New Jersey fishing has something for every level of angler, too. It can be as relaxing or as challenging as you want to make it. From a family outing for panfish on the banks of a public pond, to wading cold, clear streams for trout, or chasing world-class game fish such as muskellunge and walleye – New Jersey has it all.

Two state-of-the-art fish hatcheries and year-round stocking programs provide millions of fish each year, making New Jersey a premier fishing destination in the Northeast. The Pequest Trout Hatchery supplies top-notch trout to fuel a year-round coldwater trout fishing program. The Hackettstown Fish Hatchery raises 15 different fish species and stocks millions of fish each year to perpetuate a truly spectacular diversity of coolwater and warmwater fisheries.

If you’ve drifted away from fishing in New Jersey, it’s time to get out there and see how much things have changed. If you’ve never fished here, there’s no better time than now to experience New Jersey’s first-class freshwater angling. The information on this page will help you get started and provide a road map for navigating all the angling possibilities within a short drive from anywhere.

Don’t miss out. Explore the following links to find out where all the fantastic fish are and learn how to get them on the end of your line.

Try our “Great Fishing Close to Home” App

Smallmouth Bass