The New Jersey Division of Fish and Wildlife’s (Division) Salmon Stocking Program continues with this fall’s stocking of large fish from the Hackettstown State Fish Hatchery. In mid-October the Division stocked 4,325 Landlocked Atlantic Salmon, ranging from 12 to 16 inches, in four northern New Jersey lakes suitable for salmon, Wawayanda Lake (2,103 salmon), Lake Aeroflex (810 salmon), Tilcon Lake (762 salmon) and Merrill Creek Reservoir (650 salmon).
Anglers are urged to report catches of these fish by e-mailing the Bureau of Freshwater Fisheries at njfwfish@dep.nj.gov preferably with photos of your catch.
The Division has also continued with its highly popular program of stocking muskie with fall deposits of fingerlings and yearlings in nine New Jersey waters. According to a press release from the state, staff from the Hackettstown State Fish Hatchery completed this year’s stocking of 10-inch fall fingerling in Echo Lake Reservoir (532), Furnace Lake (100), Greenwood Lake (3,000), Mercer Lake (522) and Mountain Lake (109). Additionally, 12-inch yearling muskellunge were stocked in DOD Lake (180), Lake Hopatcong (2,685), Little Swartswood Lake (150) and Monksville Reservoir (760).
The Fall Fingerlings were hatched April 1 growing to 10 inches in 6.5 months. By fall 2021 they should be 16 to 18 inches, approximately 24 inches by fall 2022, and 30 inches after four years of growth. Beyond that age growth slows with many variables coming into play, including available forage base and sex (males are always smaller than females). A large male can be 40 inches and 15 pounds whereas females can reach 50 inches and 35 pounds.
All Hackettstown Hatchery fish are fed live forage before they are stocked so they acclimate to feeding in the wild.
New Jersey’s stocking sizes and rates are recommended by Bureau of Freshwater Fisheries regional biologists to create and maintain fisheries. Angler feedback has been mostly positive – please send comments on our programs to staff at NJFWFISH@dep.nj.gov.
