Fall trout stocking:

[AndyS]

All waters traditionally stocked with trout in the fall will be stocked this year. That’s the good news.

But the Division of Fish and Wildlife won’t be stocking 20,000 two-year-old 14-16-inch rainbows and brookies and three-year-old broodstock stocked in rivers like they did in fall of 2013.

This fall they’ll stock yearling rainbows 25,000 averaging nine inches and no broodstock in popular 16 rivers. South Jersey gets nine-inchers and 300 broodstock averaging 20-inch-plus in 14 lakes and ponds and the Maurice River in South Jersey.

Principal Fisheries Biologist Chris Smith reported Tuesday to the Fish and Game Council about the 2014 fall trout anticipated stocking program. The numbers will be finalized later in the month, and stocking starts Oct. 7 in the rivers and Oct. 14, South Jersey.

[baetis]

In my humble opinion, they shouldn't even bother stocking the 9" fish. No meat on the fish and no fight. Let them grow for next fall.

Whatever happened with the sampling in the Gorge to see if the disease spread to rainbows?

[Capt. Lou]

No brood stock for north jersey streams ? Did I miss something ?
They should forget the yearlings !

[Almaink]

Another dumb move by F&G. Makes ya wonder who is minding the store over there.

[NorthJerzyG]

Thanks for the update!

Probably stocking whatever they can to avoid the "I paid for a stamp" outrage. Just let em fatten up over the winter and catch in the spring, lol.........

[Jigman13]

Something is better than nothing in the minds of most. I see nothing wrong with it so long as the fish are clean. The minimal pressure they receive in the late fall/winter will allow those fish to fatten up and grow some. Even if they didn't stock, there's still LOADS of trout in the primary rivers, anyway.

The purchase of trout stamps is heavily weighted towards the spring stocking and by mid- to late-May, the annual spring trout guys that fish for a few wknds are turning their efforts elsewhere. I would think less than 10% of the hoards that fish in the spring actually fish come autumn.

Almaink, I have to disagree with you on this, respectfully of course. The 25,000 fish they plan to stock will grow. They'll be a bit larger in April and they'll ideally have a bit more vigor after being in a wild environment for 6 months eating real food.