NEW JERSEY – Fall trout stocking in rivers and streams is still scheduled for the week of Oct. 21, according to the New Jersey Division of Fish and Wildlife.
However, due to continued low-flow conditions in many waterways, the stocking process will be left to the discretion of the drivers, and any significant deviations will be noted on the 2024 Fall Trout Stocking Schedule page, officials said.
October 21, 2024 Update:
- Big Flat Brook (Upstream of Rt. 206): Flows in this section are too low for trout stocking. Fish allocated for this area will instead be distributed downstream of Rt. 206 at other stocking locations.
- Black River: The flow is so low that trout will not be stocked in this river at all. These fish will be relocated to the South Branch of the Raritan River, between the Red Mill Dam in Clinton Township and the confluence with the North Branch of the Raritan River.
- Rockaway River: The upper section of the Rockaway River is also too low for stocking north of I-80. Fish will be stocked throughout the remainder of the river.
- Wallkill River: No fish will be stocked upstream of the Passaic Street bridge; instead, they will be spread out in the rest of the Wallkill River.
The New Jersey Division of Fish and Wildlife apologizes for any inconvenience this may cause. Due to space constraints and the timing of the production cycle at the Pequest Trout Hatchery, the trout raised for the fall season must be stocked now. The hatchery currently has three-year classes of trout on site, and the fall and winter fish are occupying space needed for the 2026 spring season.
Additionally, over 1,000,000 fish are hatching in the nursery, along with 360,000 2.25-inch trout that need to be moved outdoors to create space for growing fish.
All fall trout-stocked waters may be fished as soon as they are stocked, and there are no “closed waters” during the fall stocking period.
