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Fall Trout Stocking
October 23, 2025
Yesterday was the last day of fall trout stocking! 20,580 2-year-old rainbow trout were stocked along with 950 3-year-old broodstock. The weather is cool, the scenery is stunning, and the fish are biting… Learn More
Fall trout stocking has become one of the most popular stocking programs offered by NJDEP Fish & Wildlife. Trout stocking will now begin Tuesday, October 13, 2026, and continue throughout the following two weeks.
NJDEP Fish & Wildlife will stock a total of approximately 29,000 two-year-old Rainbow Trout, averaging 14-16 inches over a three-week period. In addition to these trout, up to 1,000 Broodstock trout (three-year old rainbow trout, averaging 18-22 inches) are also stocked. Broodstock trout are mixed in with each truckload of fish.
All fall-stocked waters may be fished as soon as they are stocked (no “closed waters” during fall stocking).
Please Note: The stocking of Mill Pond has been suspended due to severe siltation that has built up over time and has been exacerbated by the increase in strong storm events in recent years. Fish that were allocated to Mill Pond will be stocked in North Hudson Park Lake and Verona Park Lake.
The stocking boundaries for streams are the same as in the spring (see the current Freshwater Fishing Digest for information).
Updates to the fall stocking program are posted as necessary.
See the Fall Trout Fishing Information page for details about this season’s stocking.
Updates
Big Flat Brook (Upstream of Rt. 206): Flows in this section of the Big Flatbrook are too low for trout stocking. The fish allocated for this section will be distributed downstream of Rt. 206 throughout the rest of the trout stocking locations.
Black River: Flow in the Black River is so low that trout will not be stocked anywhere in the river. These fish will be stocked in the South Branch of the Raritan River between the Red Mill Dam in Clinton Township and the confluence with the North Branch of the Raritan River.
Rockaway River: Flow in the Upper Rockaway River is too low for trout be stocked north of Dewey Ave.These fish will be stocked throughout the rest of the Rockaway River.
Wallkill River: No fish will be stocked upstream of the Passaic Street bridge. These fish will be spread out throughout the rest of the Wallkill River.
Waters and Trout Stocking Numbers
| Big Flat Brook 10/16 – 1,530 | Manasquan River 10/14 – 480 | Paulins Kill 10/14 – 1,580 | Rosedale Lake 10/22 – 210 |
| Black River – CANCELED DUE TO LOW FLOW | Mary Elmer Lake 10/21 – 210 | Pequest River 10/15 – 1,410 | Schadler’s Sand Wash Pond 10/22 – 160 |
| Colonial Lake 10/22 – 190 | Maurice River 10/21 – 180 | Pequest River TCA 10/15 – 210 | Speedwell Lake 10/21 – 230 |
| Crystal Lake 10/21 – 230 | Metedeconk River N/B 10/14 – 160 | Pohatcong Creek 10/16 – 1,010 | Swedesboro Lake 10/22 – 220 |
| Giampietro Park Pond 10/21 – 180 | Metedeconk River S/B 10/14 – 270 | Ramapo River 10/17 – 920 | Sylvan Lake 10/21 – 180 |
| Greenwich Lake 10/22 – 190 | Mill Pond – SUSPENDED | Raritan River N/B 10/14 – 940 | Toms River 10/14 – 260 |
| Grenloch Lake 10/21 – 180 | Musconetcong River 10/15 – 2,730 | Raritan River S/B 10/17 – 1,950 | Toms River TCA 10/14 – 100 |
| Hammonton Lake 10/21 – 230 | Musconetcong River TCA 10/15 – 150 | Raritan River S/B TCA Gorge 10/17 – 260 | Verona Park Lake 10/22 – 310 |
| Iona Lake 10/22 – 220 | North Hudson Park Lake 10/22 – 310 | Rockaway River 10/16 – 1,380 | Wallkill River 10/15 – 510 |
| Lower Echo Park Pond 10/21 – 180 | Oak Pond 10/21 – 180 | Roosevelt Park Pond 10/22 – 190 | Wanaque River 10/17 – 370 |
Map is subject to change. Check 2025 Stocking Schedule updates as stocking changes may be made.
