{"id":2516,"date":"2022-01-31T00:23:07","date_gmt":"2022-01-31T00:23:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/deptest.nj.gov\/njfw\/?page_id=2516"},"modified":"2026-04-01T16:24:00","modified_gmt":"2026-04-01T20:24:00","slug":"trout-fishing-information","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/deptest.nj.gov\/njfw\/fishing\/freshwater\/trout-fishing-information\/","title":{"rendered":"Trout Fishing Information"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:66.66%\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed aligncenter is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube horizontal-video wp-embed-aspect-9-16 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Why We Toss Trout\" width=\"540\" height=\"960\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/CeufHqk9MzA?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:33.33%\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Featured Video<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/shorts\/CeufHqk9MzA\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong>Why We Toss Trout\n<\/strong><\/a> <i class=\"fa-brands fa-youtube text-danger\" title=\"YouTube Video\"><\/i><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>March 19, 2026<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/@NJDEP-Fish-and-Wildlife\"><\/a><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Why do we toss trout when stocking?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>During trout stocking, hatchery staff look for appropriate locations along waterways to toss trout. This toss helps energize the fish and gets water moving through their gills. We do not dip or place the fish near the edge of the water where they are more prone to predation and other dangers. Tossing the trout also increases stocking efficiency and staff safety by preventing falls when carrying heavy nets of fish near slippery streambanks&#8230;. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/shorts\/CeufHqk9MzA\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Learn More<\/a> <i class=\"fa-regular fa-arrow-up-right-from-square\" style=\"color: #2c51b3\"><\/i><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\"><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/@NJDEP-Fish-and-Wildlife\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Watch More Freshwater Fishing Videos on YouTube<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:20px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-default is-cropped wp-block-gallery-1 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"800\" data-id=\"17494\" src=\"https:\/\/deptest.nj.gov\/njfw\/wp-content\/uploads\/njfw\/rainbow_trout_river-1024x800.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-17494\" srcset=\"https:\/\/deptest.nj.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/njfw\/rainbow_trout_river-1024x800.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/deptest.nj.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/njfw\/rainbow_trout_river-300x234.jpg 300w, https:\/\/deptest.nj.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/njfw\/rainbow_trout_river-768x600.jpg 768w, https:\/\/deptest.nj.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/njfw\/rainbow_trout_river.jpg 1593w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2560\" height=\"1441\" data-id=\"17491\" src=\"https:\/\/deptest.nj.gov\/njfw\/wp-content\/uploads\/njfw\/roosevelt_park_trout-edited-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-17491\" srcset=\"https:\/\/deptest.nj.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/njfw\/roosevelt_park_trout-edited-scaled.jpg 2560w, https:\/\/deptest.nj.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/njfw\/roosevelt_park_trout-edited-scaled-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/deptest.nj.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/njfw\/roosevelt_park_trout-edited-scaled-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/deptest.nj.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/njfw\/roosevelt_park_trout-edited-scaled-768x432.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/deptest.nj.gov\/njfw\/fishing\/freshwater\/fall-trout-fishing-in-new-jersey\/\">Fall Trout Fishing<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/deptest.nj.gov\/njfw\/fishing\/freshwater\/trout-waters-by-county\/\">Fishing Access to Trout Stocked Waters by County<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/deptest.nj.gov\/njfw\/fishing\/freshwater\/trout-waters-alphabetical\/\">Fishing Access to Trout Stocked Waters by Name<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/deptest.nj.gov\/njfw\/fishing\/freshwater\/freshwater-fisheries-forums\/\">Freshwater Fisheries Forums<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/deptest.nj.gov\/njfw\/fishing\/freshwater\/landlocked-salmon-in-new-jersey\/\">Landlocked Salmon<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/deptest.nj.gov\/njfw\/fishing\/freshwater\/spring-trout-fishing-information\/\">Spring Trout Fishing<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/deptest.nj.gov\/njfw\/fishing\/freshwater\/summer-trout-fishing-in-new-jersey\/\">Summer Trout Fishing<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/deptest.nj.gov\/njfw\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/digest-freshwater-fishing-2026-segment-16-21.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">2026 Trout Regulations<\/a> <i class=\"fa-solid fa-file-pdf text-danger\" title=\"Adobe Acrobat PDF File\"><\/i><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>New Jersey offers some of the best trout fishing opportunities you will find in the northeast &#8211; and its not just a spring thing anymore. Stocking programs in spring and fall provide for excellent year-round trout fishing opportunities in the Garden State.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"alignright size-full is-resized\"><a href=\"https:\/\/deptest.nj.gov\/njfw\/wp-content\/uploads\/njfw\/rbt_thomas_fox4-25-20.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"474\" height=\"422\" src=\"https:\/\/deptest.nj.gov\/njfw\/wp-content\/uploads\/njfw\/rbt_thomas_fox4-25-20.jpg\" alt=\"Thomas Fox releasing Rainbow Trout\" class=\"wp-image-2517\" style=\"width:290px;height:258px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/deptest.nj.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/njfw\/rbt_thomas_fox4-25-20.jpg 474w, https:\/\/deptest.nj.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/njfw\/rbt_thomas_fox4-25-20-300x267.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 474px) 100vw, 474px\" \/><\/a><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<p>A progressive trout stocking program results in nearly 600,000 trout, raised at the&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/deptest.nj.gov\/njfw\/fishing\/freshwater\/visiting-the-pequest-trout-hatchery-and-natural-resource-education-center\/\">Pequest Trout Hatchery<\/a>, being stocked statewide each spring, followed by additional fall distributions. The average size of trout stocked in the spring is 10.5 inches in length and \u00bd pound in weight, but be wary and watch your line as thousands of 2 pound to 5 pound fish are also mixed in and stocked with the regular production fish. Talk about excitement!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Come October, New Jersey anglers can gear up to hook into approximately 29,000 super-sized trout stocked in the&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/deptest.nj.gov\/njfw\/fishing\/freshwater\/fall-trout-fishing-in-new-jersey\/\">fall&nbsp;stocking program<\/a>. These fish, which measure 14 inches to 24 inches can be caught throughout fall and the following spring. New Jersey also boasts two Trophy Trout Lakes. Round Valley and Merrill Creek Reservoirs both which support monster rainbow trout, brown trout and lake trout. Round Valley supports perhaps one of the most southern naturally reproducing populations of lake trout and boasts the current state record of more than thirty-two pounds!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Angler fishing access abounds in New Jersey, and this is where this small state has it big on many of its larger counterparts. The state&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nj.gov\/dep\/greenacres\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Green Acres Program<\/a>&nbsp;has been acquiring land by leaps and bounds and Fish and Wildlife has been the advocate for, and recipient of, thousands of acres of land specifically designated as fishing access. So if you want to fish for trout and are not sure where to wet a line, there is a good chance a spot is being held open for you by the state.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>So what are you waiting for? With more trout being stocked and more places to fish, trout fishing has never been better. Just remember a&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/deptest.nj.gov\/njfw\/fishing\/freshwater\/buy-a-license\/\">fishing license and trout stamp<\/a>&nbsp;is required to fish for trout for resident anglers age 16 through 69, and for nonresidents 16 and older. And to make it easy, licenses and stamps can be purchased and printed&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/nj.aspirafocus.com\/internetsales\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">online<\/a> <i class=\"fa-regular fa-arrow-up-right-from-square text-primary\" title=\"External Web Page\"><\/i> or obtained through one of the many&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/deptest.nj.gov\/njfw\/licenses-and-permits\/license-agents\/\">license agents<\/a>&nbsp;throughout the state. In just minutes, you can be on your way to spectacular trout fishing in the Garden State.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Additional Information<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/deptest.nj.gov\/njfw\/fishing\/freshwater\/regulations-and-permits\/\">Fishing Regulations<\/a><\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/deptest.nj.gov\/njfw\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/focus_on_fishing_trout.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong>Focus on Fishing &#8211; Trout<\/strong><\/a> <i class=\"fa-solid fa-file-pdf text-danger\" title=\"Adobe Acrobat PDF File\"><\/i><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/deptest.nj.gov\/njfw\/fishing\/freshwater\/visiting-the-pequest-trout-hatchery-and-natural-resource-education-center\/\">Pequest Trout Hatchery and Natural Resource Education Center<\/a><\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/deptest.nj.gov\/njfw\/fishing\/freshwater\/pequest-trout-hatchery-stocking-summaries\/\">Trout Stocking Summaries<\/a><\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.NJFishandWildlife.com\/troutstocking\/\"><strong>Trout Stocked Waters of New Jersey App<\/strong><\/a> <i class=\"fa-solid fa-map text-primary\" title=\"Web Mapping Application\"><\/i><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">External Links<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=ee8TYfKH18s\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong>Catch and Release How-To<\/strong><\/a><\/strong> <i class=\"fa-brands fa-youtube text-danger\"><\/i> (Take Me Fishing on YouTube &#8211; August 5, 2014)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.lehighvalleylive.com\/sports\/index.ssf\/2013\/05\/hearty_lake_trout_fishing_avai.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong>Hearty Lake Trout Fishing Available at Merrill Creek and Round Valley Reservoirs<\/strong><\/a> <i class=\"fa-regular fa-arrow-up-right-from-square text-primary\" title=\"External Web Page\"><\/i> &#8211; (lehighvalleylive.com &#8211; May 20, 2013)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.nj.com\/news\/index.ssf\/2017\/05\/outdoors_with_andre_raising_and_stocking_a_half_mi.html#incart_river_home\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong>Outdoors with Andre: Raising and stocking a half million trout<\/strong><\/a> <i class=\"fa-regular fa-arrow-up-right-from-square text-primary\" title=\"External Web Page\"><\/i> (nj.com &#8211; May 18, 2027)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/waterdata.usgs.gov\/state\/new-jersey\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong>Streamflow Data for New Jersey<\/strong><\/a> <i class=\"fa-regular fa-arrow-up-right-from-square text-primary\" title=\"External Web Page\"><\/i> (USGS Site)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Video Features<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=Fz6Wl9YoXKE\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong>Fall Trout Stocking<\/strong><\/a> <i class=\"fa-brands fa-youtube text-danger\"><\/i><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=dpm_L1N1qEk\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong>Winter Trout Stocking<\/strong><\/a> <i class=\"fa-brands fa-youtube text-danger\"><\/i><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=dnN9OQsb42o\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong>Rainbow Trout Spawning<\/strong><\/a> <i class=\"fa-brands fa-youtube text-danger\"><\/i><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=VvhCSDwazNg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong>Raising and Stocking Trout From the Pequest Hatchery<\/strong><\/a> <i class=\"fa-brands fa-youtube text-danger\"><\/i> &#8211; (nj.com on YouTube &#8211; May 9, 2017)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=xaRMCihlTHM\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong>Opening Day of Trout Season, 2008<\/strong><\/a> <i class=\"fa-brands fa-youtube text-danger\"><\/i> (nj.com on YouTube &#8211; April 5, 2008)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=ZQDmeHajqSI\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong>Bigger Trout For the Fall Season<\/strong><\/a> <i class=\"fa-brands fa-youtube text-danger\"><\/i> (nj.com on YouTube &#8211; October 18, 2008)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Featured Video Why We Toss Trout March 19, 2026 Why do we toss trout when stocking? During trout stocking, hatchery staff look for appropriate locations along waterways to toss trout. This toss helps energize the fish and gets water moving through their gills. We do not dip or place the fish near the edge of [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":12,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-2516","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/deptest.nj.gov\/njfw\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/2516","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/deptest.nj.gov\/njfw\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/deptest.nj.gov\/njfw\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/deptest.nj.gov\/njfw\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/deptest.nj.gov\/njfw\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2516"}],"version-history":[{"count":21,"href":"https:\/\/deptest.nj.gov\/njfw\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/2516\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":65773,"href":"https:\/\/deptest.nj.gov\/njfw\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/2516\/revisions\/65773"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/deptest.nj.gov\/njfw\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/12"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/deptest.nj.gov\/njfw\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2516"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}