Official Site of The State of New Jersey
TROUT STOCKED WATERS
OF NEW JERSEY APPLICATION
- 2024 Stocking Schedule and Trout Allocations
- 2024 Bonus Broodstock Program
- Fishing Access to Trout Stocked Waters by County
- Fishing Access to Trout Stocked Waters by Name
- 2025 Trout Regulations
2022 Trout Meeting Presentations
Outdoors with Andre: Raising and stocking a half million trout (nj.com video)
The Spring Trout Stocking Program
Fish and Wildlife will return to a normal stocking schedule with three weeks of pre-season stocking and seven weeks of in-season stocking with in-season closures in effect.
The 2025 season will be as follows:
- January 1 – March 16: Waters open to fishing, with a 4 trout daily limit and a 9″ size minimum
- March 17 – April 5 at 8:00 am: Waters closed to trout fishing (* See Exceptions below)
- April 5 at 8:00 am: Opening day of trout season
From April 5 to May 31, 2025 the minimum legal size is 9″ with a daily limit of 6 trout in most trout waters.
Beginning June 1 through December 31, 2025 the legal size remains 9″ but the daily limit is reduced to 4 trout.
In-Season Closures will be in effect at the following waterbodies from 5:00 am – 5:00 pm on their designated stocking dates. This closure also applies to all tributaries for 100 feet from the main channel.
Waters with In-Season Stocking Closures
| Stocking Days | Waterbody | County | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| MONDAYS | Manasquan River | Monmouth | Rt. 9 bridge, Howell Twp. downstream to Allenwood-Lakewood Rd. (Rt. 21), Wall Twp. |
| Metedeconk River, N/Br. | Ocean | Aldrich Rd. to Ridge Ave., Howell/Lakewood Twps. | |
| Metedeconk River, S/Br. | Ocean | Bennetts Mills dam to twin wooden foot bridge, opposite Lake Park Blvd. on South Lake Dr., Lakewood Twp. | |
| Rockaway River | Morris | Longwood Lake dam, Jefferson Twp. to Boonton Reservoir (aka Jersey City Res.), Boonton | |
| Toms River | Ocean | Rt. 528, Jackson Twp., to confluence with Maple Root Branch, and Rt. 70 to Rt. 571, Toms River/Manchester Twps. (Exception: the section regulated as a Year Round Trout Conservation Area; see separate regulation.) | |
| TUESDAYS | Pohatcong Creek | Warren | Rt. 31, Washington Twp. to Delaware River |
| Raritan River, S/Br. | Morris, Somerset, Hunterdon | Mill dam located 200 feet upstream from Schooleys Mountain Rd. (Rt. 517), Long Valley to junction with Raritan River N/Br. (Exception: the section regulated as Catch and Release). | |
| WEDNESDAYS | Raritan River, N/Br. | Somerset | Peapack Rd. bridge in Far Hills Borough/Bedminster Twp. to junction with Raritan River S/Br. |
| THURSDAYS | Paulinskill River, and E/Br. and W/Br. | Sussex, Warren | Limecrest RR spur bridge on E/Br., Sparta Twp., and Warbasse Jct. Rd. (Rt. 663) on W/Br., Lafayette Twp., to confluence with the Delaware River. |
| Ramapo River | Bergen | State line to Pompton Lake, Oakland (excluding Potash Lake) | |
| FRIDAYS | Big Flat/Flat Brook | Sussex | 100 ft. above Crigger Rd., Stokes State Forest, Sandyston Twp. to Delaware River (Exception: the section regulated as Catch and Release) |
| Musconetcong River | Sussex, Morris, Warren, and Hunterdon | Lake Hopatcong dam to Delaware River including all main stem impoundments except for Lake Musconetcong (Exception: the section regulated as a Year Round Trout Conservation Area; see separate regulation.) | |
| Pequest River | Warren and Sussex | Pequest Rd., Green Twp. to Delaware River (Exception: the section regulated as a Seasonal Trout Conservation Area; see separate regulation.) | |
| Wanaque River | Passaic | Greenwood Lake dam, West Milford, Twp. to Wanaque Reservoir dam, Wanaque Borough and from Wanaque Ave., Pompton Lakes Borough to Pequannock River, excluding the Wanaque and Monksville Reservoirs. |
Season Stocking Summary
- A total of roughly 184,000 trout will be distributed in three weeks during pre-season stocking which will begin on March 17, 2025, a return to our normal stocking schedule.
- Trout stocked waters will be closed to fishing beginning March 17. (* See Exceptions below)
- Trout stocked waters will not be open to catch-and-release during the pre-season this year. (* See Exceptions below)
- Opening day of trout season is April 5 at 8 am with a daily limit of six (6) trout.
- The Bonus Broodstock Lake program remains in effect.
- In-season waterbody closures will be in effect during Spring 2025 trout season.
All anglers should remember:
- ALL REGULATIONS FOR SPECIAL REGULATION WATERS REMAIN IN EFFECT (e.g. TCAs, Catch & Release Areas, and Trophy/Holdover waters).
- ESTABLISHED SEASONS, SIZE, AND CREEL LIMITS FOR ALL OTHER SPECIES APPLY.
Since every county has waters that are stocked with trout, trout fishing opportunities are never too far away.
Brown and Brook Trout are still available, and regulations are in place to keep it that way (see page 20 in the 2025 Freshwater Fishing Digest). Waterbodies such as the South Branch Raritan River, Pequannock River and Big Flat Brook, (to name a few) have naturally reproducing trout in them that will surprise and delight many lucky anglers with their beautiful markings and coloration.
There are several waters that remain open for catch-and-release trout fishing: Lake Hopatcong (Morris/Sussex), Mountain Lake (Warren), Prospertown Lake (Ocean), Lake Shenandoah (Ocean), Swartswood Lake (Sussex), and the section of Lawrence Brook from Davidsons Mill Rd. to Farrington Lake dam are open year round to fishing.
Catch and Release Only, Seasonal, and Year-Round Trout Conservation Areas and designated Holdover Trout Lakes are also open to fishing. However, trout caught in any of these waters during this period must be released immediately. Note that, fishing is not permitted on Seasonal Trout Conservation Areas from 12:01 a.m. to 8 a.m. on April 5, 2025. Trout can be harvested from the state’s two Trophy Trout Lakes, Merrill Creek and Round Valley Reservoirs. Be sure to check the Freshwater Digest for regulations pertaining to these waters.
The Hook-a-Winner rewards anglers who catch one of the 1000 jaw-tagged trout stocked during the pre-season. Anglers who catch a tagged trout can claim their certificate and patch by submitting an application form.
Don’t forget that a fishing license and trout stamp are required to fish for trout if you are 16 years or older. Children under 16 and New Jersey residents 70 years and older can fish without a license. Licenses and stamps may be obtained through one of the many license agents statewide, or online.
* Exceptions: Trophy Trout Lakes, Lake Hopatcong, Mountain Lake, Lake Shenandoah, Lawrence Brook (section from Davidson’s Mill Rd. to Farrington Lake dam), Prospertown Lake and Swartswood Lake are open year round to fishing. However, all trout caught during this period (above) must be released immediately. Seasonal and Year-round Trout Conservation Areas and designated Holdover Trout Lakes (see pages 19-21 in the Trout Regulations) are also open to fishing but are catch-and-release only for trout. Fishing is not permitted on Seasonal Trout Conservation Areas from 12:01 a.m. to 8:00 a.m. on April 5, 2025. Round Valley and Merrill Creek Reservoirs (Trophy Trout Lakes) are open to year round fishing; trout may be harvested within the regulations as shown on page 18 in the Trout Regulations.
2025 Spring Trout Stocking Updates / Changes
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