Stocking Programs
Trout Stocking Hotline
Trout Stocking
Raised with pride at NJDEP Fish & Wildlife’s Pequest Trout Hatchery.
Spring
- More than 180,000 released for Opening Day — April 11, 2026
- More than 570,000 Rainbow Trout (avg. 10.5 inches)
- Spring stocking begins March 23, 2026
- 6,000–7,000 breeders 15–26 inches (3–7 pounds)
- Lakes and ponds are open to fishing year-round, as the previous preseason closure no longer applies to lakes and ponds.
- 23 new waters are added to the Spring season this year, to be stocked once before opening day.
- 84 streams, and 108 lakes and ponds stocked statewide
- All 21 counties stocked
- Most waterbodies stocked at least 3 times
- Stocking continues for seven weeks following Opening Day!
Fall
- Fall of 2026 will be the best Fall yet!
- The Fall (21,000 trout) and Winter (4,000 trout) programs are being combined and increased by an additional 4,000 trout, totaling 29,000!
- New waters include Corliss Park Lake (Ocean), D&R Feeder Canal (Hunterdon and Mercer), Dahnert’s Lake (Bergen), Echo Lake (Monmouth), Lamington River (Somerset), Manny’s Pond (Hunterdon), Mountain Farm Pond (Hunterdon), Passaic River Lower (Morris), Raritan River (Somerset), Sheppard’s Lake (Passaic), Takanassee Lake (Monmouth), and Wood Dale County Park Pond (Bergen).
- Stocking will begin on October 13, 2026 in nearly 60 streams, lakes and ponds
- All large, 2-year-old trout, measuring up to 16 inches
- Plus up to 1,000 breeders, averaging 20 inches
- There are no closures for fall stocking
- The creel limit has been reduced from 4 trout down to 2 trout from June 1 until opening day the following year
- Enjoy great fishing all winter long!
Spring Trout Stocking Schedule — 2026
Scan the QR code with your mobile device to view New Jersey’s 2026 trout stocking schedule, or access the 2026 Spring Trout Stocking Allocations (PDF) for detailed stocking locations and dates.
Hatchery-Supported Fisheries
Courtesy of the Hackettstown State Fish Hatchery 2025 production highlights.
Muskellunge: 10–12" (7,835) Pure Strain and 14.4" (1,744) Tiger Muskie
- Cooper River Park (353 mixed species)
- DOD Lake (240 mixed species)
- Echo Lake Reservoir (420 Pure Strain)
- Furnace Lake (150 mixed species)
- Greenwood Lake (3,300 mixed species)
- Lake Hopatcong (2,573 mixed species)
- Lake Musconetcong (658 Tiger Muskie)
- Little Swartswood Lake (160 mixed species)
- Mercer Lake (540 mixed species)
- Monksville Reservoir (1,110 mixed species)
- Mountain Lake (175 mixed species)
Surplus stocked in: Delaware River
Northern Pike: 6.7" (22,192)
- Budd Lake (1,888)
- Farrington Lake (2,900)
- Passaic River (3,444)
- Pompton Lake (4,080)
- Pompton River (2,456)
- Spruce Run Reservoir (7,424)
Surplus stocked in: Cranberry and Deal Lake
Smallmouth Bass: 2" (24,880)
- 4 waters
Walleye: 2" (130,023); 4" (11,186)
- Canistear Reservoir (7,004)
- Greenwood Lake (30,720)
- Lake Hopatcong (50,609)
- Monksville Reservoir (8,080)
- Swartswood Lake (9,929)
Surplus stocked in: Delaware River
Hybrid Striped Bass: 4" (47,734)
- Lake Hopatcong (27,005)
- Manasquan Reservoir (4,124)
- Monksville Reservoir (3,674)
- Spruce Run Reservoir (12,931)
Landlocked Salmon: 15.0" (2,880)
- Lake Aeroflex (505)
- Merrill Creek Reservoir (720)
- Tilcon Lake (440)
- Wawayanda Lake (1,275)
Largemouth Bass: 2" (290,441)
- 20 waters
Largemouth Bass: 3"–5" (11,169)
- 17 waters
Largemouth Bass: 12" (624)
- 11 waters
Channel Catfish: 6" (15,933)
- 10 waters
Channel Catfish: 12" (8,239)
- 56 waters
Channel Catfish: 22" (466)
- 10 waters
Plus thousands of Black Crappie, Bluegill, Fathead Minnows, and Golden Shiners in more than 100 waterbodies throughout the state!
Raised with pride at NJDEP Fish & Wildlife's Hackettstown State Fish Hatchery.
Warmwater Fish Stocking List
Scan the QR code with your mobile device to view New Jersey’s warmwater fish stocking list, or visit the Charles O. Hayford State Fish Hatchery stocking summaries page for detailed stocking information and locations.
Fish Stocking Do's and Don'ts
Why should I get a Fish Stocking Permit?
It is the law! Before you consider stocking any fish in New Jersey, you must first obtain a fish stocking permit from NJDEP Fish & Wildlife. It does not matter whether the pond is public or private, connected to, or isolated from, a neighboring water, or if the waterbody is stocked by the state or a private club. A fish stocking permit is always required.
An application and additional details are available on the NJDEP Freshwater Fisheries Permits page for permit requirements, eligibility, and submission information. The application fee is only $2.
Only approved hatcheries will be authorized for stocking. Hatcheries are required to submit annual fish health information, thus minimizing the potential for the spread of disease.
Fish Stocking Do’s
- Do establish your stocking goal, whether it is to supplement an existing population, create a unique opportunity or restore a fishery (dredging or dam repair project).
- Do know your waterbody. Most fish require particular conditions, so understand your waterbody’s habitat and water quality. Factors to consider include waterbody size, depth and substrate, and water temperature, oxygen level, pH and flow.
- Do get permission from the waterbody owner, as their signature is required on the application.
- To avoid delays in processing your application, first review the nine simple guidelines outlined in the Freshwater Fisheries Permit Application Information (PDF) before submitting your materials.
Fish Stocking Don’ts
- Don’t purchase fish from a hatchery without obtaining a fish stocking permit.
- Don’t transport fish from one waterbody to another.
- Don’t assume your pond needs to be stocked, as most waters do not require stocking.
- Do not stock invasive species. Learn how to identify and report them on the NJDEP Aquatic Invasive Species page to help protect New Jersey’s freshwater ecosystems.
- Don’t assume common game species are harmless. Even they can cause ecological harm if introduced into the wrong locations.
- Don’t release pet aquarium fish into a local waterway.
