Public Meetings & TIPS Line
NJDEP Fish & Wildlife 2024 Calendar of Events
- Trout Meeting — Virtual: Thursday March 7, 2024; 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
- Fisheries Forums — Virtual
- Thursday, May 2, 2024; 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
- Thursday, May 16, 2024; 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
- Opening Day of Trout Season: April 6; General Trout Information
- FREE Fishing Days: June 1, Oct. 19; Free Fishing Days
- Fall Trout Stocking: begins Oct. 8
- Winter Trout Stocking: November 25 and 26
Due to significant increase in participation during previous virtual meetings, the Fisheries Forums and Trout Meeting will be held virtually on Thursday evenings in 2024. Come and share your views and recommendations for the future of freshwater fisheries in New Jersey and learn about current research, management and fish culture activities! Please look for additional in-person public meetings at a later date. Presented by NJDEP Fish & Wildlife. Go to dep.nj.gov/njfw/fishing/freshwater/freshwater-fisheries-forums for updates.
Get on The List!
The Freshwater Fisheries e-mail lists, that is. This free service provides the latest information about NJDEP Fish & Wildlife events, public hearings and other matters related to our freshwater fishing resources. We also have several other lists so you can maximize your enjoyment of New Jersey’s fish and wildlife resources.
Sign up today at: dep.nj.gov/njfw/education/email-lists
NJ's Freshwater Fishing Explorer App
New Jersey DEP Fish & Wildlife's new Freshwater Fishing Explorer App combines the Great Fishing Close to Home App and the new Trout Water Map all in one place!
The Trout Stocked Waters tab provides the stocking dates and number of trout stocked for all trout stocked waters in our spring trout stocking program. Clicking on a water feature within the map will pull up the stocking schedule, the number of fish to be stocked and closures.
The Great Fishing Close to Home tab allows users to explore the great diversity of fishing opportunities New Jersey has to offer. This application includes over 290 publicly accessible lakes, ponds and reservoirs picked by NJDEP Fish & Wildlife staff as good places to fish in the state.
Find it at NJFishandWildlife.com/freshwaterfishing/
Become a Wildlife Habitat Supporter!
Did you know that NJDEP Fish & Wildlife manages more than 360,000 acres in 122 wildlife management areas throughout the state?
These spaces protect and conserve fish and wildlife habitat while providing opportunities for outdoor recreation such as fishing, hunting, birding, wildlife viewing, hiking and more! You can help to ensure the conservation of these natural treasures for the enjoyment of generations to come by becoming a Wildlife Habitat Supporter and making a donation. Donations will be used to:
- Manage and restore fish and wildlife habitat.
- Enforce fish and wildlife regulations.
- Restore and protect endangered and nongame species.
- Fund fish and wildlife educational programs and more.
- Improve public access to recreational facilities on WMAs.
Visit dep.nj.gov/njfw/conservation/wildlife-habitat-supporter-program
Get Your Collectible Decal Today!
Supporters who donate $25 or more receive a beautiful, first-edition collectible car decal.
Attention: Saltwater Anglers
Register. It’s free, easy and required!
New for 2024: Saltwater Registrations can now be obtained online at NJFishandWildlife.com/licensesalessite.htm, where all other Fish and Wildlife licenses and permits are available.
Before heading out to catch your favorite marine fish this year, be sure to join the hundreds of thousands of anglers who have already registered with the New Jersey Saltwater Recreational Registry Program (NJSRRP). Freshwater anglers fishing in tidal freshwater are also required to register with the NJSRRP.
For more information on the NJ Saltwater Recreational Registry Program and to register, visit dep.nj.gov/njfw/fishing/marine/saltwater-registry/
After registering, become part of the fishery management process!
Submit fishing reports after each saltwater trip to the NJ Volunteer Angler Survey. Your fishing reports can help improve saltwater fishing opportunities in New Jersey.
Submit online reports at dep.nj.gov/njfw/fishing/marine/volunteer-angler-survey
Operation Game Thief
Report Abuse of our Outdoor Heritage!
1-855-OGT-TIPS
24 Hours a Day, Seven Days a Week
The person who poaches, pollutes habitat and abuses public land tarnishes the image of sportsmen and robs us of our fish and wildlife as well as tax and license dollars. You can make a difference.
Call OGT to report:
- Negligent use of firearms
- Over the limits for game and fish
- Commercial exploitation of fish and wildlife
- Pollution of habitat, dumping on state land
- Destruction of signs and state property
- Illegal killing, taking or possession of any wildlife
It's Free. It's Confidential. You May Be Eligible for a Reward.
Funded by the New Jersey State Federation of Sportsmen's Clubs. Designed to encourage sportsmen to report poaching and wildlife crimes.
Law Enforcement Offices
- Northern Region — 908-735-8240
(Bergen, Essex, Hudson, Hunterdon, Morris, Passaic, Somerset, Sussex, Union and Warren counties) - Central Region — 609-259-2120
(Burlington, Mercer, Middlesex, Monmouth and Ocean counties) - Southern Region — 856-629-0555
(Atlantic, Camden, Cape May, Cumberland, Gloucester and Salem counties) - Marine Region — 609-748-2050
(coastal and bay areas)
DEP Action Line, 24 Hrs.
The Department has a toll-free telephone hotline number you can use to report environmental incidents, abuses, and complaints in New Jersey or impacting it.
877-WARN-DEP
877-927-6337
