Fall Trout Stocking in rivers and streams is still scheduled for the week of October 21, 2024.

However, due to continued low-flow river and stream conditions, stocking will be left to the driver’s discretion and any significant deviation from stocking will be noted on the 2024 Fall Trout Stocking Schedule page.

OCTOBER 21, 2024 UPDATE:

• 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 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.

We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause.

Due to space and timing of the production cycle at the Pequest Trout Hatchery, the trout raised for the fall season must be stocked. The reasons for this include: the hatchery currently has 3-year classes of trout on site; the 2024 Fall and Winter fish fill eight pools that are occupying space for the 2026 spring season, and there are more than 1,000,000 fish hatching in the nursery and 360,000 2.25-inch trout that need to be moved outdoors to allow space in the nursery to grow until additional space is available during the 2025 Spring Stocking Season. The large fish are also running out of room in their pools and some of the larger broodstock that need to be stocked are holding up space for future broodstock to grow.

All fall trout-stocked waters may be fished as soon as they are stocked. There are no “closed waters” during fall stocking.