TROUT STOCKED WATERS CLOSED TO TROUT FISHING UNTIL APRIL 6

TROUT-STOCKED WATERS ARE CLOSED TO TROUT FISHING UNTIL APRIL 6

NJDEP Fish & Wildlife continues its normal stocking schedule with three weeks of pre-season stocking and seven weeks of 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.2024 spring trout season will be as follows:

• Now through March 17: Waters open to fishing, with a 4 trout daily limit and a 9" size minimum
• March 18 - April 6 at 8:00 a.m.: Waters closed to trout fishing (* See Exceptions below)
• April 6 at 8:00 a.m.: Opening day of trout season

*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 on Seasonal Trout Conservation Areas from 12:01 a.m. to 8:00 a.m. on April 6, 2024. 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 18 in the Trout Regulations.