2021 NJ trout season changes :

[AndyS]

Significant Changes to the 2021 Trout Season
A total of 500,000 trout will be distributed in four weeks during pre-season stocking, which will begin on March 15 instead of March 22 Trout stocked waters will be closed to fishing beginning March 15 Trout stocked waters will be open to catch-and-release fishing on April 1. Opening day of trout season is April 10 with a daily limit of six trout No Bonus Broodstock Lakes will be designated in 2021
There will be no in-season waterbody closures The remaining 70,000 trout will be stocked during a one-week period in May

[RWole]

That is ridiculous! The state is trying their hardest to screw up trout stocking.

[bigfishy]

That is ridiculous! The state is trying their hardest to screw up trout stocking.

Which part?
I think they overall do a gr8 job...
I like the early open c&r period, like last yr
I like the fact that they stocked alot of previously unstocked areas last year also..hopefully they continue that....
Not sure I like that many fish going in in such a short span, but it is what it is!! Catchem up

[thmyorke1]

works for me, the less closures the better.

But ill admit I dont fish opening day traditionally like others, Im curious what their thoughts are.

That fisheries forum is saturday... :D maybe a good topic!

[Drossi]

Significant Changes to the 2021 Trout Season
A total of 500,000 trout will be distributed in four weeks during pre-season stocking, which will begin on March 15 instead of March 22 Trout stocked waters will be closed to fishing beginning March 15 Trout stocked waters will be open to catch-and-release fishing on April 1. Opening day of trout season is April 10 with a daily limit of six trout No Bonus Broodstock Lakes will be designated in 2021
There will be no in-season waterbody closures The remaining 70,000 trout will be stocked during a one-week period in May

Sounds reasonable given COVID still being an issue I suppose. Is there any word on whether they'll allow volunteers to help stock. PA seems as though they are going to, wonder if NJ is following suit.

Now we just have to hope for a good storm between 3/15 and 4/1 to raise the streams and spread the fish.

[don't know]

Is this confirmed? I know last year that was the day they opened up catch and release. I can't find anything stating that this is true.

[thmyorke1]

Is this confirmed? I know last year that was the day they opened up catch and release. I can't find anything stating that this is true.

I havent seen it posted officially yet, but probably will be soon by f&w. Their spring trout fishing page still displays "2020"

Ive heard from others this is the case this year, and from guys with close ties with f&w.

Also it's posted by Andy so of course it's true :D (unless Mark B proves otherwise!)

[don't know]

Great Thanks!!

[baetis]

This is good news. Give the fish a few weeks to get acclimated and one week of C&R.

Spring trout fishing was lights out last year for an extended period of time.

IMHO, they should make the one week C&R artificial lures only, no bait.

[Lard Almighty]

I'll believe this when I see the press release. Lately there have been a lot of rumors swirling at the DEP.

Andy, would you be willing to provide your source(s) of this information? :confused:

[anthrax2244]

Nothing wrong with some c&r before the opener.

The combination of COVID and NJ stocking regs cleared out my honey hole on opening day 2020. I had it to myself. That’s never happened before.

Keep in mind, these trout are stocked for the purpose of being caught by anglers. They aren’t part of some program to return our streams to the time before Europeans came to America. Rainbows, browns, palominos and tigers aren’t native to NJ. Only Brook trout are. Our streams with native and wild trout are managed accordingly.

If you fish bait and you don’t want to keep the fish Or are fishing during the c&r period, pay attention while you fish and don’t wait long to set the hook!

[Capt. Lou]

Sounds reasonable given COVID still being an issue I suppose. Is there any word on whether they'll allow volunteers to help stock. PA seems as though they are going to, wonder if NJ is following suit.

Now we just have to hope for a good storm between 3/15 and 4/1 to raise the streams and spread the fish.

PA will allow the use of volunteers but on a limited basis based on how long you have been affiliated with this program ! Also PA this year will have April 3 as opening day statewide !

[AndyS]

Chris Lido who works for F&G posted it on his Wastebook page. I know Chris, he takes scuttlebutt very seriously, I call him a "reliable" source.

[pickerelpete]

I just hope that before the ink dries on the official release that they address the lakes that are closed due to pre-season stocking. In effect they will be adding weeks to the closure according to the digest and this new early closure date. This is prime time for ice out fishing for other species. Think about Little Swartswood and Lake Musconetcong. They need to address this and should consider April 1 as opening or just drop them from the closed lakes list.

[Jerzguy2]

There needs to be rules for catch and release. I went to a pond early last year ( have never done pond fishing for trout before) there were dead fish all over with this catch and release with bait.

[BT67]

Allowing the groups like TU to assist in the stocking is important in spreading the fish around. I noticed fishing was off a bit last year because the spots I normally fish aren't by a bridge or main stocking point. Hope they'll be allowed to help again this season.

[EJS]

Sounds reasonable given COVID still being an issue I suppose. Is there any word on whether they'll allow volunteers to help stock. PA seems as though they are going to, wonder if NJ is following suit.

Now we just have to hope for a good storm between 3/15 and 4/1 to raise the streams and spread the fish.

I can confirm, NJ will not allow volunteers for stocking this spring. This is not a F&G decision, this is solely based on the Governor’s rules around COVID.

[Drossi]

I can confirm, NJ will not allow volunteers for stocking this spring. This is not a F&G decision, this is solely based on the Governor’s rules around COVID.

Not surprising. Murphy is a dwad.