Our annual rundown of fall trout deposits is predicting huge wins at withdrawal.
Spanning eight days in mid-October, the 2026 fall trout stocking will see a total of 29,000 rainbow trout, including approximately 1,000 3-year old breeders in the 4- to 6-pound range, all will be released in 63 select waters across all 21 counties statewide.
This is Part II of the revamped trout stocking program initiated in the spring, and it promises to deliver on all counts, size and numbers-wise. Gone is the November “winter” stocking that was started in the late 90s and continued through 2025. Instead, the approximately 4,000 rainbows were included in the 21,000 autumn stocking program count. The combined total was bolstered by another 4,000 ‘bows (breeders included), making for a grand total of 29,000.
Not only will this serve to provide outstanding angling opportunities during a glorious time of year, but the inclusion of three new waters (Wood Dale County Park Pond/Bergen County), Lake Takanassee (Monmouth County) and Corliss Lake (Ocean County) from the spring roster will keep interest in trout fishing in these areas growing.
But Why?
Change is never easy, from both personal and procedural aspects. From this corner, seeing the November program scotched was a bit hard to swallow, especially considering that it had been around for decades and was pretty much a part of the Thanksgiving weekend and the few weeks following.
“Many things were taken into account when deciding to make the change that incorporated the winter stocking into the fall program. We wanted to make it better,” said Shawn Crouse, bureau of freshwater fisheries chief with New Jersey’s Department of Environmental Protection’s (NJDEP) Division of Fish & Wildlife, further explaining that the overhaul to the stocking program was years in the making. The primary goals according to Crouse were to expand trout fishing opportunities and enhance existing opportunities while at the same time maximizing the potential participation.
The changes did not come overnight and included several years of field observations, angler input via questionnaires, public comment meetings (including zoom) regarding the current trout stocking programs, and in-house meetings, all with the ultimate goal to improve what was already a popular October pastime that’s been around since the mid-80s. No easy task; then came the mandated presentation to the Fish & Game Council for approval and the necessary adjustments to the Fish Code.
Efforts well spent as this revamped and revitalized program will prove. From a numbers point, the extra 4,000 2-year old ‘bows and the included heavyweight breeders – and the added waters – upped the participation ante. In addition, the pleasant Indian summer season extending well into November makes being out along the water a pleasure, not a chore, for sure.
Yet another incentive is the reduced daily limit to two fish from four that not only keeps more trout around, but encourages more visits stream and/or lakeside. That the fish have the potential to hold over through the winter months and into the spring is an added bonus. More fish available, more time spent fishing.
Business Of Pleasure
Numbers being what they are, business is business. Encouraging participation in the November program was a tough sell insofar as getting someone to purchase a license and trout stamp for what amounted to a mere five or six weeks before the calendar mandated the purchase of a new pair. By adding four to five weeks to the experience makes it more economically feasible to those first-timers, as well as those getting back in the game.
Readying for the expanded fall stocking proved a seamless operation for Pequest Trout Hatchery superintendent Ed Conley and crew. The elimination of the November program negated the necessity of a second setup mere weeks after the October loads went out. Raceways were readied, and the trout scheduled for November were incorporated into the October numbers.
| LICENSE & PERMIT INFO |
| Anyone age 16 and older must have a license to fish the fresh waters of New Jersey (including privately owned waters), and also trout stamp if targeting salmon or trout. The cost for a resident fishing license is $22.50 for ages 16 to 64, and $12.50 for seniors ages 65 to 69; a New Jersey resident trout stamp costs $10.50. For non-residents it’s $34 for a 16 and over license, and $20 for on-resident trout stamp. To purchase and print your license and stamp online, go to nj.aspirafocus.com/internetsales. |
And the extra 4,000 ‘bows? “These were some of the surplus from the spring and we held them over,” explained Conley. As is usual at Pequest, there are thousands of extra (surplus) rainbows produced for the April-May stocking. These are released in select waters beginning in in the fourth week of the seven week in-season stocking period. Taking 4,000 from the overall count, separating them in certain raceways, growing them to the 2-year old standard and adding them to the combined October/November numbers certainly adds meat to the menu.
“Stocking will take place from Tuesday, October 13 through Thursday, October 22,” said Kyle Civalier, the trout stocking coordinator for the Bureau of Freshwater Fisheries. The first week will include the major rivers, the exception being Lake Takanassee; the second week lakes and ponds, the exceptions being the Maurice and Passaic rivers. Civalier noted that the Black River and also the Big Flat Brook above Route 206 will not receive fish as the past few years they’ve had extremely low flows not conducive to stocking the bigger 2-year old trout. The Lamington River (actually the lower Black River) with its better flows will be stocked. Regional biologists will be out checking water levels and other particulars a week or two before the schedule kicks off and make any adjustments if necessary.
Several swims in the October lineup were the recipients of 10- to 12-inch brown trout as part of a surprise stocking last April. Some of these are no doubt still around as these venues are classified as Trout Maintenance wherein the habitat is suitable enough to hold them year-round. These include the Manasquan, Toms, Paulinskill, South Branch of the Raritan and Musconetcong rivers. On the Trout Maintenance designation, waterways that that received browns are the Rockaway and main stem of the Raritan rivers.
By The Numbers
Following are the dates and waters for October stocking, with the actual trout numbers for each listed in parenthesis. Keep in mind the daily limit is two trout no less than 9 inches, and there are no closed waters/stocking dates. Be aware of the special regulation waters such as the Trout Conservation Areas (TCAs) where there are restrictions on methods and harvest.
Tuesday, October 13: North Branch Metedeconk (170), South Branch Metedeconk (290), Toms River and TCA (280, 110), North Branch Raritan (1280), Paulins Kill (1700).
Wednesday, October 14: Musconetcong River and TCA (2960, 170), Pequest River and TCA (1520, 220), Manasquan River (520), Lake Takanassee (240).
Thursday, October 15: Big Flat Brook (1230), Rockaway River (1460), Pohatcong Creek (1090), D&R Feeder Canal (990), Wallkill River (420).
Friday, October 16: Manny’s Pond (140), Mountain Farm Pond (170), Sheppard’s Lake (250), Ramapo River (1050), South Branch Raritan and TCA Gorge (2090, 280), Raritan River (300), Lamington River (120), Wanaque River (400).
Monday, October 19: Green Turtle Pond (360), Lake Aeroflex (400), Silver Lake (320), Furnace Lake (390), Lake Ocquittunk (270), Little Swartswood Lake (380), Corliss Park Lake (180), Echo Lake (180), Lake Shenadoah (260), Topanemus Lake (210), Spring lake (220).
Tuesday, October 20: Giampietro Park Pond (190), Hamonton Lake (250), Mary Elmer Lake (230), Maurice River (190), Crystal Lake (240), Grenloch Lake (190), Oak Pond (190), Sylvan Lake 9190), Lower Echo Park Pond 9200), Speedwell Lake (250), Passaic River (280).
Wednesday, October 21: Greenwich Lake (210), Iona Lake (230), Schadler’s Sand Wash Pond (180), Verona Park Lake (230) Wood Dale County Park Pond (150), Swedesboro Lake (240), Amwell Lake (280), Roosevelt Park Pond (200), Rosedale Lake (230), North Hudson Park Lake (240), Dahnert’s Lake (120).
Thursday, October 22: Ponderlodge Pond (180), Birch Grove Park Pond (210), Barbour’s Pond (290), Mt. Hope Pond (300), Rowands Pond (100), Haddon Lake (220), South Vineland Park Pond (210), Shaws Mill Pond (230).
