The Division of Fish and Wildlife annually stocks over 70 bodies of water throughout New Jersey with channel catfish raised at the Hackettstown State Fish Hatchery.
As an added bonus this year, 28 waters were stocked between October 6-9 with “Super Cats” averaging 28 inches in length and 6.5 pounds in weight. Similar to the Division’s Bonus Brood Stock Trout Stocking Program, these 5+ year-old Super Cats have been retired as brood stock and are stocked for angler enjoyment.
On an annual basis, the Division’s Hackettstown Hatchery also stocks 800 18-inch channel catfish in 24 waters, 10,000 12-inch in 60 waters, and 15,000 6-inch in 10 larger waters. These annual stockings provide an excellent fishery in many of these waters.
Channel cats (see chart) are stocked in waters ranging from 1-acre park ponds to New Jersey’s largest lakes and reservoirs.
