General Trout Information

2011 REGULATIONS

Regulations in red are new this year.

Purple text indicates an important note.

Opening Day of Trout Season

April 9, 2011

April 7, 2012

2011 General Trout Fishing Information

• Opening day of trout season: April 9, 2011 at 8 a.m.
• To fish for trout or salmon, a valid annual New Jersey fishing license and trout stamp are both required for residents at least 16 years and less than 70 years of age plus all non-residents 16 years and older.
• Waters stocked with trout in the spring are listed below (those with no in-season closures) AND in General Trout Regulations (those with in-season closures). Note: Special regulations may apply on some of these waters, or sections thereof.
• After Opening day, trout stocked waters are open to fishing, including the days they are stocked unless listed with in-season closures (General Trout Regulations). In-season closures also apply to designated Seasonal Trout Conservation Areas (General Trout Regulations), and Fly-Fishing Only stretches.
• Ponds, lakes or sections of streams which are stocked with trout are closed to fishing for all species from March 21 to April 9 at 8 a.m. Exceptions: Farrington Lake, Lake Hopatcong, Lake Shenandoah, 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 (General 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 a.m. on April 9, 2011. Round Valley and Merrill Creek Reservoirs (Trophy Trout Lakes) are open to year-round fishing; trout may be harvested within the regulations as shown in General Trout Regulations.
• Only one daily creel limit of trout may be in possession. Once the creel limit is reached, an angler may continue to fish provided any additional trout caught are immediately returned to the water unharmed.
• When fishing from the shoreline, no more than three fishing rods, hand lines or combination thereof may be used.
• Separate stringers or buckets must be used for each angler’s catch.
• Containers in boats may hold only the combined daily creel limit for each legal angler on board.
• Fish and Wildlife reserves the right to suspend stocking when emergency conditions prevail.

Spring Trout Stocked Waters With No In-Season Fishing Closures After opening day these waters may be fished on the day they are stocked.

Note: The number in parentheses indicates the anticipated number of in-season stockings (from April 9 through May 27). A zero indicates the water will only be stocked pre-season (the three-week period preceding opening day). For details on what’s being stocked and when, call the Trout Hotline at (609) 633-6765. This recorded message is updated weekly. (Spring stocking: April–May; Fall stocking: October; Winter stocking: November.)

Atlantic County

Birch Grove Park Pond—Northfield (4)

Hammonton Lake—Hammonton (4)

Heritage Pond—Absecon (3)

Bergen County

Dahnert’s Lake—Garfield (3)

Hackensack River—Lake Tappan to Harriot Ave., Harrington Park (4)

Hohokus Brook—Forest Rd. to Saddle River (4)

Indian Lake—Little Ferry (4)

Mill Pond—Park Ridge (3)

Pascack Creek—Orchard St., Hillsdale, to Lake St., Westwood (4)

Potash Lake—Oakland (3)

Saddle River—Lake St. to Dunkerhook Rd., Fair Lawn (5)

Tenakill Creek—Closter, entire length (3)

Whites Pond—Waldwick (4)

Burlington County

Crystal Lake—Willingboro (4)

Laurel Pond—Mt. Laurel (3)

Pemberton Lake—Pemberton (3)

Rancocas Creek, Southwest Br.—Medford, Mill St. Park to Branch St. bridge (4)

Sylvan Lake—Burlington (3)

Camden County

Gloucester City Pond—Gloucester (4)

Grenloch Lake (see Gloucester County)

Haddon Lake—Audubon (0)

Oak Pond—Sicklerville (4)

Rowands Pond—Clementon (3)

Cape May County

Ponderlodge Pond —Villas (4)

Tuckahoe Lake—Tuckahoe (4)

Cumberland County

Cohansey River—Dam at Seeleys Pond to powerline above Sunset Lake, Bridgeton (4)

Giampietro Park Lake—Vineland (3)

Mary Elmer Lake—Bridgeton (3)

Maurice River—Willow Grove Lake dam to Sherman Ave., Vineland (4)

Shaws Mill Pond—Newport (3)

Essex County

Branch Brook Park Lake—Newark (4)

Clarks Pond—Bloomfield (0)

Diamond Mill Pond—Millburn (3)

Rahway River, W/Br.—Campbell’s Pond to Glen Ave. (Milburn) (3)

Verona Park Lake—Verona (4)

Gloucester County

Greenwich Lake—Gibbstown (3)

Grenloch Lake—Turnersville (3)

Harrisonville Lake—Harrisonville (3)

Iona Lake—Iona (3)

Mullica Hill Pond—Mullica Hill (3)

Swedesboro Lake—Swedesboro (3)

Westville Lake—Westville (0)

Hudson County

West Hudson County Park Pond—Harrison (0)

Woodcliff Lake—James J. Braddock Park, North Bergen (4)

Hunterdon County

Alexauken Creek—West Amwell, entire length (2)

Amwell Lake—East Amwell (3)

Beaver Brook—Clinton Twp., entire length (2)

Capoolong Creek—Pittstown, entire length (5)

Delaware-Raritan Feeder Canal—Bulls Island to Hunterdon/Mercer County line (6)

Hakihokake Creek—Holland Twp., entire length (2)

Lockatong Creek—Kingwood Twp., entire length (5)

Manny’s Pond—Union Twp. (3)

Mountain Farm Pond—Lebanon Twp. (3)

Mulhockaway Creek—Pattenburg, source to Spruce Run Reservoir (5)

Neshanic River—Kuhl Rd. to Rt. 514 (2)

Nishisakawick Creek—Frenchtown/Everittstown, entire length (2)

Rockaway Creek—Readington Twp., entire length (4)

Rockaway Creek, S/Br.—Lebanon to Whitehouse, entire length (5)

Round Valley Reservoir—Clinton Twp. (1)

Sidney Brook—Grandin, entire length (1)

Spruce Run—Glen Gardner and Lebanon Twp., entire length (5)

Wickecheoke Creek—Covered Bridge, Rt. 604, Sergeantsville to Delaware River (2)

Mercer County

Assunpink Creek—Assunpink Site 5 dam upstream of Rt. 130 bridge to Carnegie Rd., Hamilton Twp. (4)

Colonial Lake—Lawrence Twp. (3)

Delaware-Raritan Canal—Mulberry St., Trenton to Alexander St., Princeton (4)

Delaware-Raritan Feeder Canal—Hunterdon/Mercer County line to Upper Ferry Rd. bridge (6)

Rosedale Lake—Rosedale (3)

Stony Brook—Woodsville to Port Mercer (4)

Middlesex County

Farrington Lake—North Brunswick (3)

Hooks Creek Lake—Cheesequake State Park (4)

Ireland Brook—Farrington Lake to point 500 ft. upstream of Riva Ave. (2)

Lake Papaianni—Edison (0)

Lawrence Brook—Dam at Farrington Lake to 2nd RR bridge (Raritan Railroad) below Main St., Milltown (4)

Roosevelt Park Pond—Edison Twp. (3)

Monmouth County

Echo Lake—Southard (3)

Englishtown Mill Pond—Englishtown (3)

Garvey’s Pond—Navesink (3)

Hamilton Fire Pond—Neptune (3)

Hockhockson Brook—Hockhockson Rd. to Garden State Parkway bridge (northbound) (5)

Holmdel Park Pond—Holmdel (3)

Mac’s Pond—Manasquan (0)

Mingamahone Brook—Farmingdale, Hurley Pond Rd. to Manasquan River (5)

Mohawk Pond—Red Bank (4)

Shadow Lake—Red Bank (3)

Shark River—Hamilton, Rt. 33 to Remsen Mill Rd. (5)

Spring Lake—Spring Lake (3)

Takanassee Lake—Long Branch (4)

Topenemus Lake—Freehold (3)

Yellow Brook—Heyers Mill Rd. to Muhlenbrink Rd., Colts Neck Twp. (2)

Morris County

Beaver Brook—Rockaway, entire length (3)

Burnham Park Pond—Morristown (4)

Drakes Brook—Flanders, entire length (3)

Hibernia Brook—Hibernia, entire length (5)

India Brook—Mountainside Ave. to Rt. 24, Ralston (5)

Lake Hopatcong—Lake Hopatcong (3)

Lake Musconetcong—Netcong (3)

Mt. Hope Pond—Mt. Hope (3)

Passaic River—White Bridge to Rt. 24, Chatham Borough (4)

Pequannock River—(see Passaic Co.)

Pompton River—Pequannock Twp. (see Passaic Co.)

Russia Brook—Jefferson Twp., Ridge Rd. to Lake Swannanoa (2)

Speedwell Lake—Morristown (4)

Whippany River—Tingley Rd., Morris Twp. to Ridgedale Ave., Morristown (2)

Ocean County

Lake Shenandoah—Lakewood, Ocean County Park (3)

Pohatcong Lake—Tuckerton (4)

Prospertown Lake—Prospertown (3)

Passiac County

Barbour’s Pond—West Paterson (3)

Clinton Reservoir—Newark Watershed (3)

Green Turtle Pond—Long Pond Ironworks State Park, Hewitt (3)

Oldham Pond—North Haledon (3)

Pequannock River—Rt. 23, Smith Mills to Paterson-Hamburg Turnpike, Pompton Lakes (6)

Pompton River—Pompton Lake to Newark-Pompton Turnpike (4)

Ringwood Brook—State line to Sally’s Pond, Ringwood State Park (5)

Sheppard Lake—Ringwood State Park (3)

Salem County

Harrisonville Lake—Harrisonville (3)

Maurice River—Willow Grove Lake dam to Sherman Ave., Vineland (4)

Riverview Beach Pond—Pennsville Twp. (4)

Schadlers Sand Wash Pond—Penns Grove (3)

Somerset County

Lamington River—Rt. 523 (Lamington Rd.) at Burnt Mills to jct. with the N/Br. of Raritan River (4)

Middle Brook, E/Br.—Martinsville, entire length (2)

Passaic River—(See Morris Co.)

Peapack Brook—Peapack-Gladstone, entire length (5)

Raritan River—Jct. of Raritan River N/Br., and S/Br., to Rt. 206 bridge (4)

Rock Brook—Zion, entire length (1)

Spooky Brook Park Pond—Franklin (0)

Sussex County

Alms House Pond—Myrtle Grove, Hampton Twp. (3)

Andover Junction Brook—Andover, entire length (2)

Big Flat Brook, Upper—Saw Mill Pond, High Point State Park to 100 ft. above Steam Mill Bridge on Crigger Rd, Stokes State Forest (4)

Blue Mountain Lake—Delaware Water Gap Nat’l Recreation Area (3)

Clove River—Jct. of Rt. 23 and Mt. Salem Rd. to Rt. 565 bridge (5)

Culver’s Creek—Frankford Twp., entire length (5)

Dry Brook—Branchville, entire length (3)

Franklin Pond Creek—Hamburg Mtn. WMA, entire length (5)

Glenwood Brook—Lake Glenwood to state line (2)

Lake Aeroflex—Andover (3)

Lake Hopatcong—Lake Hopatcong (3)

Lake Musconetcong—Netcong (3)

Lake Ocquittunk—Stokes State Forest (3)

Little Flat Brook—Sandyston Twp., entire length (5)

Little Swartswood Lake—Swartswood (3)

Lubbers Run—Byram Twp., entire length (5)

Neldon Brook—Swartswood, entire length (2)

Papakating Creek—Plains Rd. bridge to Rt. 565, Lewisburg (2)

Papakating Creek, W/Br.—Libertyville, entire length (2)

Pond Brook—Middleville, entire length (5)

Saw Mill Pond—High Point State Park (3)

Silver Lake—Hamburg Mountain WMA (0)

Stony Lake—Stokes State Forest (3)

Swartswood Lake—Swartswood (3)

Trout Brook—Middleville, entire length (2)

Wawayanda Creek—Vernon, entire length (5)

Wawayanda Lake—Vernon (3)

Union County

Green Brook—Rt. 527, Berkeley Heights to Rt. 22, Scotch Plains (2)

Lower Echo Park Pond—Mountainside (3)

Milton Lake—Rahway (4)

Passaic River—(See Morris Co.)

Rahway River—I-78 bridge, Springfield to St. George Ave. (Rt. 27), Rahway (4)

Seeleys Pond—Berkeley Heights (3)

Warinanco Park Pond—Roselle (0)

Warren County

Beaver Brook—Silver Lake Dam to Pequest River (4)

Blair Creek—Hardwick Center to Blair Lake (2)

Blair Lake—Blairstown (3)

Buckhorn Creek—Roxburg, entire length (2)

Columbia Lake and Gatehole—Knowlton Twp. (3)

Furnace Brook—Oxford, entire length (2)

Furnace Lake—Oxford (3)

Honey Run—Swayze’s Mill Rd. to Rt. 519, Hope Twp. (2)

Jacksonburg Creek—Jacksonburg, entire length (2)

Lopatcong Creek—Rt. 519 to South Main St., Phillipsburg (5)

Merrill Creek Reservoir—Stewartsville (1)

Pohatcong Creek—Mt. Bethel to Rt. 31 (2)

Pophandusing Creek—Oxford Rd., Hazen to Delaware River (2)

Trout Brook—Hackettstown, entire length (2)

Trout Brook—Hope, entire length (2)

White Lake—Hardwick Twp. (3)