Experts share their top trout fishing spots in NJ ahead of opening day – New Jersey Herald

No matter the weather, dedicated anglers will head to their favorite fishing spots on Saturday, the official start of the New Jersey 2021 trout season.

Trout fishing is allowed nearly all year long, but the second Saturday in April is a special day for anyone who loves the activity.

Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the state’s Division of Fish and Wildlife implemented an accelerated trout stocking schedule that will enable fish and anglers to spread out in advance of opening day.

The Division of Fish and Wildlife reared and stocked half a million rainbow trout at its Pequest Trout Hatchery in Warren County that have been released into a large number of streams, rivers and lakes for the first day.

A trout angler casts for trout in the Flatbrook in Sandyston Township in this February, 2018 file photo.

Trout season officially opens at 8 a.m. said Department of Environmental Protection acting Commissioner Shawn LaTourette.

By stocking fish earlier in the season and allowing only catch-and-release in most areas in the weeks leading up to opening day, the trout “have already had time to spread out themselves,” LaTourette said. “I encourage anglers young and old, experienced and novice, to take full advantage of our quality stocking program,” he said.

An additional 70,000 to 75,000 trout will be stocked during the week of May 10, according to Division officials. Most of the trout stocked will average 10½ inches in length and there will be no in-season closures on any waters.

From April 10 to May 31, the minimum legal catch size will be 9 inches with a daily limit of six trout in most trout waters.

Scott Farrar of Hawthorne caught a rainbow trout and threw it back in the Ramapo River as fishing season opened in 2020.

Beginning June 1 and continuing through March 20, 2022, the daily limit will drop to four trout, but the catch size will remain the same. 

There will be no bonus broodstock stocking this year due to the accelerated stocking program. 

However, approximately 6,000 broodstock about 2 or 3 years old, ranging in size from 14 inches to 26 inches and weighing up to 7 pounds, will be stocked this spring in waters across the state that are suitable for fish of that size and that do not conflict with management goals.

An employee of the Division of Fish and Wildlife stocks trout in the Paulinskill River in Blairstown in this file photo.

“Fishing has never been better, and word is spreading about the quality of the trout we stock,” said Dave Golden, director of the Division of Fish and Wildlife. “Every New Jersey county has waters that are stocked with trout, which means that excellent fishing opportunities and access to great places to fish are always close to home.”

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The folks at the New Jersey Division of Fish and Wildlife, who oversee fishing and its licenses, were asked to discuss their own favorite spots for trout fishing. These are their answers.

Best spots in NJ to fish for trout

  • Dave Golden, director of the division, recommends Tuckahoe Lake in Cape May County for serious anglers, but his favorite place is Ponderlodge Pond located in the Villas in Lower Township, Cape May County. “Both locations are great places to take the kids,” he said.
  • Lisa Barno, assistant director of the division, said serious anglers will like Ken Lockwood Gorge between Califon and High Bridge in Hunterdon County and the Toms River in Ocean County. She prefers Ken Lockwood Gorge, “because it’s a beautiful stretch of river and there are plenty of wild fish to catch.” She also recommends the South Branch of the Raritan River, downstream of Clinton at Hunts Mill Park. “I spent many hours fishing there and it’s close to home, so it’s easy to sneak in an hour or two of fishing,” she explained.
  • Shawn Crouse, the supervising fisheries biologist, recommends the South Branch of the Raritan River from Middle Valley to Long Valley. “There is lots of water to discover, lots of wild fish, and it’s stocked,” is his reason. His personal favorite, however, is Pohatcong Creek in Warren County “It’s also not too big, not too small, and a country road with few houses on it parallels the stream for miles.”
  • Ross Shramko, senior fisheries biologist also points to the Ken Lockwood Gorge for serious anglers but said his personal favorite is the South Branch of the Raritan River in the center of the state. “It has a wide variety of fishing opportunities, big browns, catch and release, and has lots of stocked fish available,” he said. “It also is big enough to fly-fish easily and has areas of solitude.”
  • Lisa Barno, who heads the division’s “Hooked on Fishing, Not on Drugs” program, and Crouse said the best spot for trout fishing for children is Verona Park Pond in Essex County. Barno said “it’s a great treasure and beautiful park with lots of amenities. It’s also a great place for family fishing.” They also suggested Pohatcong Creek, because it’s small, and has a concentrated pool where “it’s easy to sight fish.”
Scott Farrar of Hawthorne on the first day of trout fishing in 2020 with a rainbow trout he threw back in the Ramapo River.

For spring trout fishing information visit njfishandwildlife.com/trtinfo_spring.htm.

Rules and regulations regarding freshwater fishing in New Jersey can be found in the 2021 Freshwater Fishing Digest at njfishandwildlife.com/digfsh.htm. 

In addition to a fishing license, anyone age 16 or older must also obtain a Trout Stamp to fish for trout. Anglers may purchase these at nj.wildlifelicense.com/ or through license agents. For a list of agents, visit njfishandwildlife.com/agentlst.htm.