N.J. Admin. Code § 7:25-6.3

Current through Register Vol. 56, No. 24, December 18, 2024

Section 7:25-6.3 - Trout

(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.

1. Lake Hopatcong, Morris/Sussex County; Lawrence Brook, from Davidson's Mill Road bridge downstream to Farrington Lake dam, Middlesex County; Mountain Lake, Warren County; Swartswood Lake, Sussex County; Shenandoah Lake, and Prospertown Lake, Ocean County, will remain open to angling year-round. Trout taken during the pre-season closure must be returned to the water immediately and unharmed.

(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:

1. All Brook Trout caught within the Brook Trout Conservation Zone, regardless of size, shall be immediately released unharmed.

2. A person shall not take, kill or have in possession, in one day, more than four in total during the period extending from January 1 to the pre-season closure.

3. A person shall not take, kill or have in possession, in one day, more than six in total from opening day until May 31.

4. A person shall not take, kill or have in possession, in one day, more than four in total from June 1 until December 31.

(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.

1. Each Monday during the in-season stocking period.

i. Manasquan River--Route 9, Howell Twp. downstream to Allenwood-Lakewood Rd. (Rt. 21), Wall Twp.

ii. Metedeconk River, N. Br.--Aldrich Rd. Bridge to Ridge Avenue, Howell/Lakewood Twp.

iii. Metedeconk River, S. Br.--Bennetts Mills dam to twin wooden foot bridge, opposite Lake Park Boulevard, on South Lake Drive, Lakewood Twp.

iv. Rockaway River--Longwood Lake dam, Jefferson Twp. to Boonton Reservoir (also known as Jersey City Reservoir), Town of Boonton.

v. Toms River--Ocean County--Route 528, Jackson, Twp., to confluence with Maple Root Branch and Route 70 to County Route 571, Toms River/Manchester Twps.

2. Each Tuesday during the in-season stocking period.

i. Pohatcong Creek--Route 31, Washington Twp. to Delaware River.

ii. Raritan River, S. Br.--Mill dam located 200 feet upstream from Schooleys Mountain Rd. (Rt. 517), Long Valley to Raritan River N. Br.

3. Each Wednesday during the in-season stocking period.

i. Raritan River, N. Br.--Peapack Rd., Far Hills Borough/Bedminster Twp. to Raritan River S. Br.

4. Each Thursday during the in-season stocking period.

i. Paulinskill River and E. Br. and W. Br.--Limecrest Railroad Spur Bridge on E. Br., Sparta Twp., and Warbasse Junction Rd., Route 663, on W. Br., Lafayette Twp., to Columbia Lake.

ii. Ramapo River--State line to Pompton Lake, Oakland.

5. Each Friday during the in-season stocking period.

i. Big Flat Brook--100 ft. above Crigger Rd., Stokes State Forest, Sandyston Twp. to Delaware River.

ii. Musconetcong River--Lake Hopatcong dam to Delaware River including all main stem impoundments, but excluding Lake Musconetcong, Netcong Borough.

iii. Pequest River--Pequest Rd., Green Twp. to Delaware River.

iv. Wanaque River--Greenwood Lake dam, West Milford, Twp. to Wanaque Reservoir dam, Wanaque Borough and section from Wanaque Avenue Bridge, Pompton Lakes Borough to Pequannock River, excluding Wanaque Reservoir and Monksville Reservoir.

(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:

1. Fishing is restricted to section(s) of the trout stocked river where the club leases or owns both sides of the river;

2. All fish, including trout, are immediately released unharmed;

3. Club property boundaries are clearly marked along the river;

4. The club obtains Fish Stocking Permit(s) for the stocking of trout;

5. By March 1, of each year, the club submits a letter indicating the intent to fish during the pre-season closure to the Bureau of Freshwater Fisheries PO Box 394 Lebanon, NJ 08833. The letter shall include the following enclosures:

i. A map of the club property clearly depicting sections of the river that the club owns or leases on both sides of the river where catch and release will take place; and

ii. A copy of all Fish Stocking Permits issued to the club the previous year.

N.J. Admin. Code § 7:25-6.3

Amended by 48 N.J.R. 1290(a), effective 6/20/2016

Amended by 50 N.J.R. 801(b), effective 2/5/2018