TRENTON, NJ – The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) Fish & Wildlife has announced its trout stocking and fishing schedule for the spring season. Pre-season trout stocking will proceed as planned over three weeks, followed by seven weeks of in-season restocking, with specific in-season closures.
The spring trout season is delineated as follows: Fishing is allowed up to March 17, with anglers subject to a daily limit of four trout and a minimum size requirement of 9 inches. From March 18 until 8:00 a.m. on April 6, trout fishing waters will be closed. The season officially opens at 8:00 a.m. on April 6. Exceptions to these closures include Lake Hopatcong, Mountain Lake, Lake Shenandoah, and other designated areas which remain open year-round for fishing; however, all trout caught must be released immediately.
Additional exceptions are made for Seasonal and Year-round Trout Conservation Areas and designated Holdover Trout Lakes, which are also open to fishing but enforce a catch-and-release policy for trout. Fishing in Seasonal Trout Conservation Areas is prohibited from 12:01 a.m. to 8:00 a.m. on April 6. Trophy Trout Lakes such as Round Valley and Merrill Creek Reservoirs are exempt from seasonal closures, allowing year-round fishing within specific regulations.