NJ Fall Trout Stocking Schedule Revised

Critically low stream and river flows in the northern and central tier counties necessitated a rearranging of the first week’s schedule of the wildly popular fall trout stocking program that was originally slated to run October 8-11 that included 16 venues and 16,600 rainbow trout.

The stocking has been moved to October 21-24.

The second week of the original schedule remains intact and includes 19 lakes and ponds, as well as the Maurice River.

Although there was a time or two in years past when it was a close call, this change because of existing conditions is the first for the program since it started back in the Eighties. To be sure, it wasn’t an easy decision, but from this corner, kudos to DEP’s Fish & Wildlife’s fisheries biologists for making the call.

All told, 20,400 two year old rainbows in the 14-16 inch range, including approximately1000 spent breeders up to 5-6 pounds will be released during the two periods.

Indeed, autumn is a fantastic time to be on the lake or stream during this most glorious time. Great weather and incredible surroundings. Sure, the arboreal finery will be muted because of the prolonged late summer/early fall dryness, but the eye-popping brilliance of the ‘bows is an adequate compensation.

This is prime time trouting. Sure, the fish might take a day or two to acclimate, but when they get used to their new digs, the feedbags are put on. Hardware, flies, live and prepared baits, grocery baits (corn, mini marshmallows)...all will prove effective one time or another.

The daily limit is four, and fishing is allowed even as the trout are being stocked. A 2024 freshwater license and trout stamp are required.

Following are the waters and respective stocking dates (the number of trout in parenthesis) for the first week.

Tuesday, October 15: Hammonton Lake (230), Giampietro Park Pond, Lower Echo Park Pond, Oak Pond, Grenloch Lake, Maurice River and Sylvan Lake (180 each), Crystal Lake and Speedwell Lake (230 each) and Mary Elmer Lake (210).

Wednesday, October 16: North Hudson Park Lake and Verona Park Lake (310 each), Greenwich Lake, Colonial Lake and Roosevelt Park Lake (190 each), Schadler’s Sand Wash Pond (160), Iona Lake and Swedesboro Lake (220 each), and Rosedale Lake (210).

Week two looks like this.

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Monday, October 21: South Branch Metedeconk and North Branch Metedeconk rivers (270, 160), Manasquan River (480), Toms River (360), Black River (330), North Branch Raritan River (940), and Paulins Kill (1,580).

Tuesday, October 22: Musconetcong River (2880), Wallkill River (510) and Pequest River (1680).

Wednesday, October 23: Pohatcong Creek (1010), Big Flat Brook (1530) and Rockaway River (1380).

Thursday, October 24: South Branch Raritan River (2210), Ramapo River (970) and Wanaque River (370).