Friday, March 17, 2023

NJ Trout-Stocked Waters Closed to Trout Fishing Before Trout Season

Most of NJ's trout-stocked waters will be closed to trout fishing from march 20-April 8, 2023.

NJ Fish & Wildlife continues its normal stocking schedule with three weeks of pre-season stocking and seven weeks of the in-season stocking with in-season closures in effect. Trout-stocked waters will not be open to catch-and-release during the pre-season this year.

2023 spring trout season will be as follows:

Up to March 19: Waters open to fishing, with a 4 trout daily limit and a 9" size minimum

March 20 - April 8 at 8:00 a.m.: Waters closed to trout fishing (* See Exceptions below)

April 8 at 8:00 a.m.: Opening day of trout season!

Information at dep.nj.gov/njfw/fishing/freshwater/spring-trout-fishing-information/


*Exceptions: Lake Hopatcong, Mountain Lake, Lake Shenandoah, Lawrence Brook (section from Davidson's Mill Rd. to Farrington Lake dam), Prospertown Lake, and Swartswood Lake 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 in Seasonal Trout Conservation Areas from 12:01 a.m. to 8:00 a.m. on April 8, 2023. 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 21 in the Trout Regulations.



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