2021 NJ trout season changes :

[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]

Originally Posted by 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.

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 (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?

[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!

[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.