The daily bag limit in New Jersey for brown, brook, and rainbow trout and their hybrids is four fish from June 1 through March 20 and six fish from April 9 through May 31. All fish must measure at least nine inches in length.  

In this article, we will review the New Jersey fishing regulations for 2024 as well as the trout fishing season. We will also cover the trout stocking schedule for New Jersey including when trout will be stocked in the fall and winter seasons.

New Jersey Fishing Regulations 2024

All anglers over the age of fifteen, whether resident or non-resident, must possess a valid New Jersey fishing license to fish in New Jersey state waters. Trout fishing regulations are put in place by the Division of Fish and Wildlife.

There are three large designations of trout waters: wild trout areas, conservation trout areas, and stocked trout areas. These three types of water bodies all have different regulations regarding seasons, size limits, and catch limits. Any waters outside of these fall under general regulations.

See the New Jersey Division of Fish and Wildlife website for full details on trout regulations.

Trout Season New Jersey 2024

The trout fishing season in New Jersey is generally open from April 9 to March 20 of the following year. From March 21 to April 8, trout are catch-and-release only. For trout-stocked waters, fishing for trout is not allowed during the off-season.

There are more specialized seasons for different bodies of water in New Jersey which can be found on the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection Division of Fish & Wildlife website.

New Jersey Trout Stocking Schedule

The New Jersey Division of Fish and Wildlife stocks trout throughout the state from the Pequest Trout Hatchery during the spring, fall, and winter, with the majority of the stocking occurring in the spring.

Fall Trout Stocking Schedule

Trout are stocked in the fall beginning on October 11 in 36 different lakes, streams, and ponds throughout the state. With over 20,000 large trout stocked, there is plenty of fishing until the following spring.

Winter Trout Stocking

Trout are stocked in the winter in New Jersey during the weekend of November 21 and 22 in 18 different ponds and lakes. With over 4,000 two year old trout stocked in these waters, the trout fishing is excellent throughout the winter.