Fishing Forum

Full Version: Fall Trout Stocking Set for October
You're currently viewing a stripped down version of our content. View the full version with proper formatting.
Detailed information about the fall trout stocking program has been
posted on the Division of Fish and Wildlife website. For the online
version, which includes links to other relevant pages, go to
http://www.njfishandwildlife.com/news/20...tock05.htm. The text
of the page follows below.

Fall Trout Stocking Set for October
September 7, 2005

The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection's Division of
Fish and Wildlife will stock nearly 50,000 trout in the state's major
trout waters from October 4 through 13.

The fall trout-stocking program is one of the most popular programs
offered by the Division of Fish and Wildlife. Anglers enjoy the
additional fish provided as well as the opportunity to fish the waters
of New Jersey during a beautiful time of year. Reduced fishing pressure
also adds to a more relaxed outdoors experience.

There are some significant changes to the fall stocking program that
are taking effect this year that anglers should be aware of. Listed
below are those changes.

* The stocking period has been shortened to a two-week period (the
third week of stocking has been eliminated).
* Surplus trout (averaging 5 to 6 inches) traditionally stocked
during the third week of fall stocking, were stocked months earlier to
free-up growing space in the Pequest Trout Hatchery raceways. This was
done as the hatchery transitions from the production of one-year old
trout for this fall, to larger, two-year old trout for the fall of
2006.
* Broodstock trout (approximately 1,000 three-year old rainbow
trout, averaging 17 to 18 inches) traditionally stocked during the
second and third weeks will now be stocked during the first and second
weeks of fall stocking.

The majority of the trout being stocked this fall are the standard
production, one-year old rainbow trout, averaging 9½ inches. However,
approximately 13 percent of this total (6,000) are larger, two-year old
brown and brook trout, averaging 14 to 15 inches. These larger trout
were reared to test the ability of the hatchery system to produce
two-year old trout for upcoming changes to the fall and winter stocking
programs next year.

This trial run was successful and the hatchery production cycle has
already been modified to produce these larger fish for next year's
program. Because the hatchery will rear the larger two-year old fish in
the same raceway space that has been used to produce the smaller
yearling trout, anglers can expect larger, but fewer trout in the fall
and winter of 2006. In the meantime, trout anglers venturing out this
fall will begin to experience the thrill of catching some of these big
trout, and those fall-stocked trout which elude anglers should still be
out there when opening day rolls around next April.

The 2005 fall trout-stocking schedule is at
www.njfishandwildlife.com/flstk05.htm.

Stocking dates may change and are subject to prevailing weather and
water conditions.

For the most updated information regarding fall trout stocking
conditions check the above page or call the Division's Trout Stocking
Hotline at 609-633-6765. The hotline is operational 24-hours a day,
seven days a week.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
[signature]