Opening day

(April 6, 2013) Today is opening day for spring trout fishing in New Jersey. And what a perfect cool, clear spring day it is for angling. Beginning at 8 a.m. many area lakes and streams are open for fishermen. To fish for trout, a valid annual N.J. fishing license and trout stamp are required for residents between 16 and 70 plus non-residents 16 or older. Others may fish for free.

Last month the State of New Jersey's Fish and Wildlife division began augmenting trout populations with regular stocking of hatchery grown fish. In some streams and lakes these are net stocked (scooped out a tank truck and lowered to the water using hand nets) and float stocked (dispersed around the lake by boat). In other places tank trucks are simply driven to the shoreline where trout are dumped into the lake or stream.
Stocking consists mostly of brown and brook trout, although other species of trout, such as rainbow, lake trout, and other more exotic types are found in some waters.

These stockings often leave fish circulating close to the place in which they are put. In some cases the fish are dumped at convenient boat launch ramps or near docks or bridges. This improves the odds of catching trout in places that are easily accessible.

The stocking trucks from Pequest Trout Hatchery in Oxford began rolling on March 18 as the spring pre-season distribution of this year's trout got under way. By year's end, about 600,000 trout will be stocked throughout the state. The "production trout" average 10.5" but were kept company prior to opening day by some of the more than 6,000 three- to eight-pound breeder trout which also are being stocked. This spring, trout will be placed in 88 streams and 90 ponds and lakes throughout New Jersey. Those trout will be in addition to some of the 26,000 bruisers still in the water from stockings in the fall and winter. Fortunately for the state's anglers, trout remain available throughout the summer in many waters.

For more information, check out the N.J. Division of Fish and Wildlife website at www.nj.gov/dep/fgw. It lists waters stocked with trout and when the stockings take place throughout the season. The site also carries a host of other fishing news and information, including a complete recital of rules and regulations. Fishing enthusiasts even can purchase licenses on line. Those under 16 and resident senior citizens over 69 do not need a license.