Surplus Trout

[NJSquatch]

Excellent production at the Pequest Trout Hatchery is allowing the NJDEP Div. of Fish and Wildlife to add extra trout to each load of fish headed to state trout waters. The fish average about 11 inches and will provide great angling through the stocking period (until May 26) and into the summer in waters remaining cool enough. For details, visit http://www.njfishandwildlife.com/new...stk17extra.htm on the Division's website.

[thmyorke1]

Did they state where they'll be stocking them or is it just a heads up for the end of the season?

[NJSquatch]

The link indicates they are throwing them in everywhere

[AndyS]

Mmmmmmm, Manville, Bridgewater, Bound Brook, Piscataway on the Raritan river

[bigfishy]

Originally Posted by AndyS

Mmmmmmm, Manville, Bridgewater, Bound Brook, Piscataway on the Raritan river

No need, those areas hold sea runs

[Dave B.]

Originally Posted by thmyorke1

Did they state where they'll be stocking them or is it just a heads up for the end of the season?

They'll be going in along with the regular stockings on whatever waters are still being stocked.
Nearly every year the folks at the Pequest hatchery exceed their production target for the spring season so the surplus fish are distributed along with the regular stockings during the last 2-3 weeks of the spring stocking season. There are a few reasons they hold off until the end of the spring stocking schedule. Among them are they want to be sure they have sufficient fish to complete the spring schedule as well as to hold for the fall stocking in case some unforeseen event takes place at the hatchery. As well the last 2 weeks of stocking have the lowest allocation numbers so there's actually room on the trucks for additional fish without risking mortality losses due to overloading.

They have been doing these surplus stockings for a long time but they only began publicizing them last year. The folks at Pequest have the production process so finely tuned that they have been exceeding the design capacity for the facility almost since it went online, all without sacrificing either quantity or quality. It was a major undertaking to convert the production schedule to accommodate the change to 2 year old fish for the fall/winter stocking programs some tears ago but they pulled It off without a hitch. Definitely a skilled and dedicated group there, as well as the folks at Hackettestown but that's a story for another thread.

[thmyorke1]

Originally Posted by Dave B.

They'll be going in along with the regular stockings on whatever waters are still being stocked.
Nearly every year the folks at the Pequest hatchery exceed their production target for the spring season so the surplus fish are distributed along with the regular stockings during the last 2-3 weeks of the spring stocking season. There are a few reasons they hold off until the end of the spring stocking schedule. Among them are they want to be sure they have sufficient fish to complete the spring schedule as well as to hold for the fall stocking in case some unforeseen event takes place at the hatchery. As well the last 2 weeks of stocking have the lowest allocation numbers so there's actually room on the trucks for additional fish without risking mortality losses due to overloading.

They have been doing these surplus stockings for a long time but they only began publicizing them last year. The folks at Pequest have the production process so finely tuned that they have been exceeding the design capacity for the facility almost since it went online, all without sacrificing either quantity or quality. It was a major undertaking to convert the production schedule to accommodate the change to 2 year old fish for the fall/winter stocking programs some tears ago but they pulled It off without a hitch. Definitely a skilled and dedicated group there, as well as the folks at Hackettestown but that's a story for another thread.

Thanks Dave!

[Dave B.]

Originally Posted by thmyorke1

Thanks Dave!

Heck, don't thank me. Thank the dedicated professionals in our Div. of F&W! Without all of their hard work we would most surely have one hell of a lot fewer angling opportunities in our state! I'm just glad to be able to help share the info they provide, along with being able to help out on many various projects and activities through the WCC program.

[thmyorke1]

Originally Posted by Dave B.

Heck, don't thank me. Thank the dedicated professionals in our Div. of F&W! Without all of their hard work we would most surely have one hell of a lot fewer angling opportunities in our state! I'm just glad to be able to help share the info they provide, along with being able to help out on many various projects and activities through the WCC program.

Hah, I'm well aware of the work they do. After all these licenses don't just cost this much for no reason