Unlike many lakes, ponds and reservoirs in New Jersey, Spring Lake will be closed to anglers in the three days prior to the opening day of trout season on Saturday. That’s the timeframe when members of the Shark River Surf Anglers (SRSA) will be stocking the lake with over 600 trout in advance of Saturday’s annual Trout Contest for Kids at Spring Lake on Saturday, April 11 from 8 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. As always, it is offered free of charge to all children ages 15 and under.
For the 2026 trout season, nearly all trout stocked lakes and ponds are open year-round to fishing and are no longer closed during the preseason stocking period. However, as per the New Jersey Freshwater Fishing Digest released in January, Spring Lake is the exception to the rule as fresh-stocked trout will be off-limits to all anglers beginning on Wednesday, reopening at 8 a.m. on Saturday.
In addition to a grand prize package for the child landing the largest trout at Spring Lake this Saturday, there are also divisional prizes for first, second and third heaviest trout in ages 5 years and under, ages 6 to 9, ages 10 to 12, and a teen division ages 13 to 15. All children weighing-in a trout are eligible to receive a special prize, while those who do not will still take home a bag of goodies.
“For those new to our tradition, we collaborate with the Musky Trout Hatchery in Asbury, NJ to facilitate the stocking of over 600 trout – including some true trophies exceeding 10 pounds – into the waters of Spring Lake,” said SRSA President and Trout Committee Chairman Greg Hueth, adding that kids are invited to help the club stock trout on Thursday, April 9 at 4:30 p.m. near Mercer Avenue.
Hueth added, “This effort ensures that our young contestants have a strong population of formidable ‘opponents’ awaiting them for the contest.” To better safeguard availability of those stocked trout on the April 11th opener, Spring Lake will be closed to fishing for the 3 days prior to Opening Day (see page 17 of the New Jersey Division of Fish & Wildlife’s 2026 Freshwater Fisheries Digest).
“On the day of the event, we set up tents on the north side of the lake to serve as our headquarters, where SRSA club members are available to answer questions, provide fishing guidance and instruction, and supply bait and tackle to all that may need it,” said Greg Hueth with the Shark River Surf Anglers. Prizes will be awarded at 2 p.m.
For more information visit the club website at SharkRiverSurfAnglers.com.
