new 2026 trout stocking-fish limit

[Troutman]

MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF THE NJ FISH AND GAME COUNCIL
Central Region Office
Robbinsville, New Jersey November 12, 2025
Things to keep in mind for 2026… We are reducing the creel from 4 to 2 on rivers and streams from June 1 until the preseason closure. This should somewhat satisfy anglers who prefer we don’t stock when rivers are low and view it as “shooting fish in a barrel”, as more fish should be available for a longer period of time because the creel will be cut in half. We are also planning to permanently remove a few sections named earlier, as they are problematic due to low flows during many years. We are also adding 4,000 trout to the program next year, that will be used in lake and ponds and larger rivers that are less problematic under low flow years. Finally, we are looking to initiate instream habitat restoration projects that will increase the holding capacity for trout. All of these changes will improve the program and put us in a better position for future fall seasons.

[robtf]

I don't exactly see how reducing the creel limit address the perception of shooting fish in a barrel when water is low, but hey, I guess it's something. We down here in dixie don't have to worry about that since the cormorants take most of the trout.

[Rusty Spinner]

I don't exactly see how reducing the creel limit address the perception of shooting fish in a barrel when water is low, but hey, I guess it's something. We down here in dixie don't have to worry about that since the cormorants take most of the trout.

Lol, I struggled with that as well. Read it twice before I could figure it out and I had a heads up on this some time ago but couldn't discuss it. The habitat work is obviously something my firm would be interested in doing and I know the Division has asked those of us in the business our thoughts on some possible places to be restored/enhanced. The creel limit of taking them from 4 fish a day down to 2 on June 1st has been something TU has pursued for nearly as long as I have been involved with that org which is something like 30 years now. The idea being more trout will be around once warm summer temps end and we are back fishing the "normal" trout rivers and streams that the state stocks. I see these as two positives from an angler's perspective myself and strongly so for both. Our Fisheries team really "get it" when it comes to managing a complex fishery here in NJ with coldwater, warmwater and saltwater species, native and non throughout.

[robtf]

Makes sense, even in Monmouth county streams, if we had a cool spring and moderate June into July, the Brookies would spread out and hold for a surprisingly long time. Not sure any held over throughout the entire summer except perhaps near the spring seeps in the Manasquan. A couple of guys talked about some spring even on the upper reaches of the Hockhockson but most of those places were on private land a who knows whatever happened with development/ access by now. At any rate I stopped fishing for trout in Moco by mid June as saltwater took over available time, for the most part, except for trips up north usually for work, after which ( or before depending on schedule) hitting somewhere for a short session.

But I know you’re referencing the “real” trout streams and yes I do remember talking about of that reduced creek limit.

However, it was funny how it was worded

[Rusty Spinner]

Makes sense, even in Monmouth county streams, if we had a cool spring and moderate June into July, the Brookies would spread out and hold for a surprisingly long time. Not sure any held over throughout the entire summer except perhaps near the spring seeps in the Manasquan. A couple of guys talked about some spring even on the upper reaches of the Hockhockson but most of those places were on private land a who knows whatever happened with development/ access by now. At any rate I stopped fishing for trout in Moco by mid June as saltwater took over available time, for the most part, except for trips up north usually for work, after which ( or before depending on schedule) hitting somewhere for a short session.

But I know you’re referencing the “real” trout streams and yes I do remember talking about of that reduced creek limit.

However, it was funny how it was worded

By "real", I meant TM or TP streams and not NT streams. I should have been more clear.