TRENTON, N.J. – New Jersey’s trout-stocked waters are now closed to fishing until April 5 as part of the state’s annual spring trout stocking program, the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) Fish & Wildlife announced.
The closure, which began March 17, is part of a pre-season stocking period that lasts three weeks. Fishing will resume at 8 a.m. on April 5, the official opening day of trout season.
Before the closure, anglers were permitted to fish from January through March 16 with a daily limit of four trout and a minimum size requirement of 9 inches. Following the reopening, the NJDEP will continue stocking through seven weeks of in-season distribution.
Certain exceptions apply to the closure. Trophy Trout Lakes, including Round Valley and Merrill Creek Reservoirs, remain open for fishing year-round, though trout caught before April 5 must be immediately released. Other designated lakes and conservation areas also allow catch-and-release fishing.
For details on regulations and the full stocking schedule, anglers can refer to the NJDEP’s official trout regulations.