New Jersey Administrative Code
Title 7 - ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
Chapter 25 - DIVISION OF FISH AND WILDLIFE RULES
Subchapter 6 - 2022-2025 FISH CODE
Section 7:25-6.3 - Trout
Current through Register Vol. 56, No. 6, March 18, 2024
(a) Except as provided in 7:25-6.4, 6.5(a), 6.7 to 6.9, 6.19, 6.20 and (b)1 below, trout season shall commence 12:01 A.M. January 1 and extend to the pre-season closure. The trout season shall re-open on opening day and extend to include midnight December 31.
(b) Except as provided in 7:26-6.4, 6.5(a), and 6.7 to 6.9, (b)1 and (j) below, it shall be unlawful to fish for any species of fish during the pre-season closure in ponds, lakes, or those portions of streams that are listed herein for stocking.
(c) There shall be a nine-inch minimum size for Brook Trout, Brown Trout, Rainbow Trout, or hybrids and strains thereof except as designated for Brook Trout in (e)1 below, and within special regulation trout fishing areas, 7:25-6.4 to 6.9. Except within the Pequest River drainage, purchased Brown and Rainbow Trout less than the nine-inch minimum size limit may be possessed, strictly for use as bait, provided a receipt of purchase, dated within 14 days, and indicating the place of purchase is in possession and provided upon request. No trout species, purchased or otherwise obtained, may be used as bait within the Pequest River drainage.
(d) Except as designated for Trophy Trout Lakes, 7:25-6.8, the minimum size limit for Lake Trout shall be 15 inches with a daily bag and possession limit of two.
(e) Except as provided in special regulation trout fishing areas, 7:25-6.4 through 6.9, the daily possession limit for Brook Trout, Brown Trout, Rainbow Trout, or their hybrids and strains thereof is as follows:
(f) Except as provided in 7:25-6.4, 6.5(a), and 6.7, waters with listed stocking dates shall be closed to all fishing from 5:00 A.M. to 5:00 P.M. on listed dates; included in these waters are all feeder and tributary streams for a distance of 100 feet from the main channel.
(g) Except as provided in 7:25-6.4, 6.5(a), and 6.7, no person shall catch, take, kill or possess trout during the closed period (5:00 A.M. to 5:00 P.M.) on any of the waters listed for in-season closures.
(h) This subsection sets forth trout-stocked waters subject to in-season closures. Except as provided in 7:25-6.4, 6.5(a), and 6.7, these waters will be closed from 5:00 A.M. to 5:00 P.M. for stocking on the dates and at the locations indicated below. In the event of emergent conditions, the Division may suspend stocking of any or all of these waters.
(i) This subsection sets forth trout stocked waters for which no in-season closures will be in force. Road names referenced below, unless otherwise indicated, refer to the bridge where the road crosses the river. Municipal references are provided to assist in identifying the locations of upstream and downstream boundaries on streams and canals, to which pre-season stocking closures apply, and to describe general locations of ponds, lakes, and reservoirs. The municipal references are not intended to identify all municipalities through which the identified water passes.
1. | Atlantic County |
Birch Grove Park Ponds--Northfield | |
Hammonton Lake--Town of Hammonton | |
Heritage Pond--Absecon | |
2. | Bergen County |
Dahnert's Lake--Garfield | |
Hackensack River--Lake Tappan to Harriot Avenue, Harrington Park Borough | |
Hohokus Brook--Parsons Pond Rd., Franklin Lakes Borough/Mahway Twp. to Saddle River | |
Indian Lake--Little Ferry Borough | |
Mill Pond--(also known as Silver Lake) Park Ridge Borough | |
Pascack Brook--Woodcliff Lake dam to Emerson Rd., Harrington Park Borough | |
Potash Lake--Oakland | |
Saddle River--Lake Street, Upper Saddle River to West Century Rd., Fair Lawn | |
Tenakill Brook--Closter Borough, entire length | |
Whites Pond--Waldwick Borough | |
3. | Burlington County |
Crystal Lake--Willingboro Twp. | |
Laurel Pond--Mt. Laurel Twp. | |
Pemberton Lake - Pemberton Twp. | |
Pemberton Lake - Pemberton | |
Rancocas Creek, Southwest Branch --Mill Street Park to Rt. 70, Medford Twp. | |
Sylvan Lake - Burlington Twp. | |
4. | Camden County |
Gloucester City Pond--Gloucester | |
Haddon Lake - Audubon Borough | |
Oak Pond--Sicklerville, Winslow Twp. | |
Rowand Lake--Clementon Borough | |
5. | Cape May County |
Ponderlodge Pond - Villas, Lower Twp. | |
Tuckahoe Lake - Tuckahoe, Upper Twp. | |
6. | Cumberland County |
Cohansey River - Dam at Seeley's Pond to powerline above Sunset Lake, Upper Deerfield Twp. | |
Bridgeton | |
Giampietro Park Lake--Vineland | |
Mary Elmer Lake--Bridgeton | |
Maurice River--Willow Grove Lake dam to Sherman Avenue, Vineland | |
Shaw's Mill Pond --Down/Lawrence Twps. | |
South Vineland Park Pond-Vineland | |
7. | Essex County |
Branch Brook Park Lake--Newark | |
Diamond Mill Pond--Milburn Twp. | |
Rahway River W/Br--Campbells Pond to Essex St., Milburn Twp. | |
Verona Lake--Verona Twp. | |
8. | Gloucester County |
Greenwich Lake--Greenwich, Twp. | |
Grenloch Lake--Washington Twp. | |
Harrisonville Lake--Pilesgrove/South Harrison Twps. | |
Iona Lake--Franklin Twp. | |
Swedesboro Lake--(also known as Narraticon Lake) Swedesboro Borough | |
Westville Lake--Westville | |
9. | Hudson County |
North Hudson Park Lake--(also known as JJ Braddock Park Lake), North Bergen Twp. | |
West Hudson County Park Pond--Town of Harrison | |
10. | Hunterdon County |
Alexauken Creek--West Amwell Twp., entire length | |
Amwell Lake--East Amwell Twp. | |
Capoolong Creek--(also known as Cakepoulin Creek) Franklin Twp., | |
entire length | |
Delaware--Raritan Feeder Canal--source to Wilburtha Rd., Ewing Twp. (Mercer) | |
Hakihokake Creek--Little York-Mount Pleasant Rd, Little York, Alexandria Twp. to Delaware River | |
Lockatong Creek--Rt. 12 bridge, Kingwood Twp. to Delaware Raritan | |
Feeder Canal | |
Mannys Pond--Union Twp. | |
Mountain Farm Pond--Lebanon Twp. | |
Mulhockaway Creek--Pattenburg, source to Spruce Run Reservoir, Clinton/Union Twps. | |
Neshanic River--confluence of First and Second Neshanic Rivers to Route 514, Raritan Twp. | |
Nishisakawick Creek--Frenchtown/Alexandria Twp., entire length | |
Rockaway Creek--Readington Twp., entire length | |
Round Valley Reservoir--Clinton Twp. | |
Sidney Brook--Franklin/Union Twps., entire length | |
Spruce Run--Glen Gardner Borough/Lebanon Twp., entire length Stony Brook--See Mercer Co. | |
Wickecheoke Creek--Covered Bridge County Rt. 604, Sergeantsville to | |
Delaware River | |
11. | Mercer County |
Assunpink Creek--Assunpink Site 5 dam upstream of Rt. 130 Bridge | |
to Carnegie Rd., Hamilton Twp. | |
Colonial Lake--Lawrence Twp. | |
Delaware--Raritan Canal--Mulberry Street, Trenton, to Alexander St., | |
Princeton | |
Delaware--Raritan Feeder Canal--(See Hunterdon Co.) | |
Rosedale Lake--Hopewell Twp. | |
Stony Brook--Hopewell Twp., entire length | |
12. | Middlesex County |
Hook's Creek Lake--Cheesequake State Park, Old Bridge Twp. | |
Ireland Brook--500 ft. upstream of Riva Ave to Farrington Lake, North Brunswick Twp. | |
Lake Papaianni--Edison Twp. | |
Lawrence Brook--Davidson's Mill Pond dam to 2nd RR Bridge (Raritan Railroad) below Main St., Milltown Borough | |
Manalapan Lake--Monroe Twp. | |
Roosevelt Park Pond--Edison Twp. | |
13. | Monmouth County |
Echo Lake--Howell Twp. | |
Englishtown Mill Pond--(also known as Weamaconk Lake) Englishtown Borough | |
Franklin Lake-West Long Branch Borough | |
Garvey's Pond--Middletown Twp. | |
Hockhockson Brook--Rt. 18, Colts Neck Twp. to Garden State Parkway bridge (northbound), Tinton Falls Borough | |
Holmdel Park Pond--Holmdel Twp. | |
Mac's Pond--Manasquan Borough | |
Mingamahone Brook--Birdsall Rd. to Manasquan River, Howell Twp. | |
Mohawk Pond--Red Bank Borough | |
Shark River--Hamilton, Route 33, Wall Twp., to Remsen Mill Rd., Neptune/Wall Twp. | |
Spring Lake--Spring Lake Borough | |
Topanemus Lake--Freehold Twp. | |
Yellow Brook--Heyers Mill Rd. to Muhlenbrink Rd., Colts Neck Twp. | |
14. | Morris County |
Black River--Route 206 Chester, to the posted Black River Fish and Game Club property at the lower end of Hacklebarney State Park. Beaver Brook--Rockaway Twp/Borough, entire length | |
Burnham Park Ponds (Upper and Lower)--Town of Morristown | |
Drakes Brook--Mt. Olive/Roxbury Twps., entire length | |
Hibernia Brook--Rockaway Twp., entire length | |
India Brook--Mountainside Ave. to Rt. 24, Mendham Borough | |
Lake Hopatcong--Hopatcong/Jefferson/Mt. Arlington/Roxbury | |
Lake Musconetcong--Netcong Borough/Roxbury Twp./Stanhope Borough | |
Mt. Hope Pond--Rockaway Twp. | |
Passaic River--Black Brook confluence to Rt. 24, Chatham Borough | |
Pequannock River--(See Passaic Co.) | |
Passaic River--White Bridge Rd. to Rt. 24, Chatham Boro | |
Pompton River--(see Passaic Co.) | |
Russia Brook--Ridge Rd. to Lake Swannanoa, Jefferson Twp. | |
Speedwell Lake--Town of Morristown | |
Whippany River--Tingley Rd., Morris Twp., to Ridgedale Ave., Town of Morristown | |
15. | Ocean County |
Lake Shenandoah--Ocean County Park, Lakewood Twp. | |
Pohatcong Lake--Borough of Tuckerton | |
Prospertown Lake--Jackson Twp. | |
16. | Passaic County |
Barbour Pond--Woodland Park Borough | |
Clinton Reservoir--Newark Watershed, West Milford Twp. | |
Green Turtle Lake--Long Pond Iron Works State Park, West Milford Twp. | |
Oldham Pond--North Haledon Borough | |
Pequannock River--Route 23, Smith Mills to Paterson-Hamburg Turnpike, | |
Pompton Lakes/Riverdale Boroughs | |
Pompton River--confluence with Ramapo River to NY Susquehanna R.R. bridge, Wayne Twp. Ramapo River - Pompton Lake dam to confluence with Pompton River | |
Ringwood Brook--State line to Sally's Pond, Ringwood State Park, Ringwood Borough | |
Sheppard Lake--Ringwood State Park, Ringwood Borough | |
17. | Salem County |
Harrisonville Lake--Pilesgrove/South Harrison Twps. | |
Maurice River--Willow Grove Lake dam to Sherman Avenue, Vineland | |
Schadler's Sand Wash Pond--Carneys Point Twp. | |
18. | Somerset County |
Lamington River--Rt. 523 (Lamington Rd.), Bedminster Twp. to Raritan River N. Br. | |
Middle Brook, E/Br.--Bridgewater/Warren Twps., entire length | |
Passaic River--See Morris Co. | |
Peapack Brook--Peapack-Gladstone Borough, entire length | |
Raritan River--confluence of Raritan River N. Br. and S. Br. to Rt. 206 Bridge, Hillsborough Twp./Somerville Borough | |
Rock Brook--Hillsborough/Montgomery Twps., entire length | |
Spooky Brook Park Pond--Franklin Twp. | |
19. | Sussex County |
Alm's House Pond--Frankford Twp. | |
Andover Junction Brook--Andover Borough, entire length | |
Big Flat Brook, Upper--Sawmill Pond, High Point State Park, Montague Twp. to 100 ft. above Crigger Rd., Stokes State Forest, Sandyston Twp. | |
Blue Mountain Lake--Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area, Walpack Twp. | |
Clove Brook--Junction of Route 23 and Mt. Salem Rd. to Route 565 source to Clove Acres Lake, Wantage Twp. | |
Culver's Creek--Frankford Twp., entire length | |
Dry Brook--Branchville Borough/Frankford Twp., entire length | |
Franklin Pond Creek--Hamburg Mountain Wildlife Management Area, Hardyston Twp/Franklin Borough, entire length | |
Glenwood Brook--Glenwood Lake dam to New York State line | |
Lake Aeroflex--Andover Borough | |
Lake Hopatcong--Hopatcong/Mt Arlington Boroughs, Jefferson/Roxbury Twps. | |
Lake Musconetcong--Netcong/Stanhope Boroughs/Roxbury Twp. | |
Lake Ocquittunk--Stokes State Forest, Sandyston Twp. | |
Little Flat Brook--Sandyston Twp., entire length | |
Little Swartswood Lake--Hampton Twp. | |
Lubbers Run--Byram Twp., entire length | |
Neldon Brook--Stillwater Twp., entire length | |
Papakating Creek--George Hill Rd., Frankford Twp. to Route 565, Lewisburg | |
Papakating Creek, W. Br.--Wantage Twp., entire length | |
Pond Brook--Stillwater Twp., entire length | |
Sawmill Pond--High Point State Park, Montague Twp. | |
Silver Lake--Hamburg Mountain Wildlife Management Area, Hardyston Twp. | |
Stony Lake--Stokes State Forest, Sandyston Twp. | |
Swartswood Lake--Stillwater Twp. | |
Wallkill River--Lake Mohawk Dam to Route 23, Hardyston Twp. | |
Wawayanda Creek--Vernon Twp., entire length | |
Wawayanda Lake--Vernon Twp. | |
20. | Union County |
Green Brook--Route 527, Berkeley Heights Twp., to Route 22, Scotch Plains Twp. | |
Lower Echo Lake--Mountainside Borough | |
Milton Lake--Rahway | |
Nomahegan Park Lake--Cranford Twp. | |
Passaic River - (see Morris Co.) | |
Rahway River--I-78 Bridge, Springfield, to Lawrence St. (Route 514), Rahway | |
Seeleys Pond--Berkeley Heights Twp. | |
Warinanco Park Lake--Roselle Borough | |
21. | Warren County |
Beaver Brook--Silver Lake Dam to Pequest River, White Twp. | |
Blair Creek--Bass Lake dam, Hardwick Twp. to Blair Lake, Blairstown Twp. | |
Blair Lake--Blairstown Twp. | |
Brookaloo Swamp--Hope Twp., entire length | |
Buckhorn Creek--Harmony Twp., entire length | |
Columbia Lake --Knowlton Twp. | |
Furnace Brook--Oxford Twp., entire length | |
Furnace Lake--Oxford Twp. | |
Honey Run--Knowlton-Hope Township Line to Beaver Brook, Hope Twp. | |
Jacksonburg Creek--Blairstown Twp., entire length | |
Lopatcong Creek--Route 519, Harmony Twp. to South Main Street, Phillipsburg | |
Merrill Creek Reservoir--Harmony Twp. | |
Mountain Lake--Liberty Twp. | |
Pohatcong Creek--source to Route 31, Washington Twp. | |
Pophandusing Creek--White Twp., entire length | |
White Lake--Hardwick Twp. |
(j) Private fishing clubs located within the upstream and downstream limits of trout stocked rivers identified in (h) and (i) above, may fish for trout during the pre-season closure provided: