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• Fishing Access to Trout Stocked Waters by County
• Fishing Access to Trout Stocked Waters by Name
• 2026 Stocking Schedule and Trout Allocations
• 2026 Bonus Broodstock Program
• 2026 Trout Regulations

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	Ravine Lake Dam 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 23, 2026, a return to our normal stocking schedule.
• Trout stocked rivers and streams will be closed to fishing beginning March 23. (* See Exceptions below)
• Trout stocked rivers and streams will not be open to catch-and-release during the pre-season this year. (* See Exceptions below)
• Opening day of trout season is April 11 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 2026 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 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.

The section of Lawrence Brook from Davidsons Mill Rd. to Farrington Lake dam remains open for catch-and-release trout fishing during the pre-season.

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 11, 2026. Trout can be harvested from the state’s two Trophy Trout Lakes, Merrill Creek and Round Valley Reservoirs. Be sure to check the Freshwater Fishing 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, Lawrence Brook (section from Davidson’s Mill Rd. to Farrington Lake dam) 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 11, 2026. 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 .

2026 Spring Trout Stocking Updates / Changes

• Atwater Pond – Black River WMA will not be stocked this year due to dam safety concerns. Will resume once dam is fixed.
• Deer Path Park Pond (Readington Twp.) will not be stocked this year due to an ongoing dredging project. Will be stocked once dredging project is complete.
• Cooper Pond (Bergenfield Boro.) will not be stocked this year due to an ongoing dredging project. Will be stocked once dredging project is complete.
• Lake Shenandoah will not be stocked this spring due to ongoing dam repairs resulting in low water in the lake. Fish allocated for Lake Shenandoah will be distributed into the other waterbodies in the area.
• Mill Pond will not be stocked this spring due to ongoing sedimentation issues in the lake. Trout stocking will resume when the dredging project is completed.
• Mountain Lake in Liberty Twp., Warren County, is currently under a Harmful Algae Bloom (HAB) Advisory. Due to the HAB Advisory, Mountain Lake will not be stocked with trout this spring.

2026 Spring Trout Pre-Season Stocking Lakes and Ponds

• Monday, March 23 – Echo Lake (Monmouth County); Prospertown Lake (Ocean County); Blair Lake (Warren County)
• Tuesday, March 24 – Giampietro Park Pond, Mary Elmer Lake, Shaws Mill Pond (Cumberland County)
• Wednesday, March 25 – Crystal Lake, Edgewater Park Pond, Laurel Pond, Northern Community Park Pond, Pemberton Lake Sylvan Lake (Burlington County); Tippins Pond (Camden County); Ponderlodge Pond, Tuckahoe Lake (Cape May County); South Vineland Park Pond (Cumberland County); Demott Pond (Hunterdon County); Burnham Park Pond, Speedwell Lake (Morris County)
• Thursday, March 26 – Manny’s Pond, Mountain Farm Pond (Hunterdon County); Stacy’s Pond (Mercer County); Dahnert’s Lake (Bergen County); Oldham Pond (Passaic County)
• Monday, March 30 – Whites Pond, Wood Dale County Park Pond (Bergen County)
• Tuesday, March 31 – Mt. Hope Pond (Morris County), Mac’s Pond (Monmouth County)

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