new regulations

[Troutman]

FISHING REGULATIONS UPDATE: New Freshwater Fishing Regulations will go into effect February 17. The new rules are designed to provide more angling opportunities and to simplify the regulations, while providing adequate protection of our fisheries resources.
Major changes include:
• Removal of the traditional preseason closure on all trout-stocked lakes and ponds; the preseason closure will remain in effect on all rivers and streams.
• Opening Day of trout season is now established as the second Saturday in April.
• 23 new small ponds will be stocked with trout.
• The daily creel limit of 6 trout per day will remain in effect from Opening Day through May 31. The limit for the rest of the year will be reduced from 4 to 2.
• Lake Trout regulations have been changed to allow for more harvest at Round Valley and Merrill Creek Reservoirs, and there is no closed season.
• Round Valley and Merrill Creek Reservoirs are now managed under the Lunker Bass regulation set.
• 11 native species have been added to the Endangered, Threatened, and Special Concern list.
Freshwater fishing regulations can be found in the 2026 Freshwater Fishing Digest: https://dep.nj.gov/njfw/digests/freshwater-fishing/

[Rusty Spinner]

FISHING REGULATIONS UPDATE: New Freshwater Fishing Regulations will go into effect February 17. The new rules are designed to provide more angling opportunities and to simplify the regulations, while providing adequate protection of our fisheries resources.
Major changes include:
• Removal of the traditional preseason closure on all trout-stocked lakes and ponds; the preseason closure will remain in effect on all rivers and streams.
• Opening Day of trout season is now established as the second Saturday in April.
• 23 new small ponds will be stocked with trout.
• The daily creel limit of 6 trout per day will remain in effect from Opening Day through May 31. The limit for the rest of the year will be reduced from 4 to 2.
• Lake Trout regulations have been changed to allow for more harvest at Round Valley and Merrill Creek Reservoirs, and there is no closed season.
• Round Valley and Merrill Creek Reservoirs are now managed under the Lunker Bass regulation set.
• 11 native species have been added to the Endangered, Threatened, and Special Concern list.
Freshwater fishing regulations can be found in the 2026 Freshwater Fishing Digest: https://dep.nj.gov/njfw/digests/freshwater-fishing/

Can't believe it took us about 20 years to get the creel limit lowered to 2 trout after June 1, but we finally did it. All those anglers that wait until cool temps hit in late August or in September that want to get back in rivers like the Musky or Pequest or others to fish should now have more fish present as most anglers are C&R only or predominantly.

[Troutman]

FISHING REGULATIONS UPDATE: New Freshwater Fishing Regulations will go into effect February 17. The new rules are designed to provide more angling opportunities and to simplify the regulations, while providing adequate protection of our fisheries resources.
Major changes include:
• Removal of the traditional preseason closure on all trout-stocked lakes and ponds; the preseason closure will remain in effect on all rivers and streams.
• Opening Day of trout season is now established as the second Saturday in April.
• 23 new small ponds will be stocked with trout.
• The daily creel limit of 6 trout per day will remain in effect from Opening Day through May 31. The limit for the rest of the year will be reduced from 4 to 2.
• Lake Trout regulations have been changed to allow for more harvest at Round Valley and Merrill Creek Reservoirs, and there is no closed season.
• Round Valley and Merrill Creek Reservoirs are now managed under the Lunker Bass regulation set.
• 11 native species have been added to the Endangered, Threatened, and Special Concern list.
Freshwater fishing regulations can be found in the 2026 Freshwater Fishing Digest: https://dep.nj.gov/njfw/digests/freshwater-fishing/

Can't believe it took us about 20 years to get the creel limit lowered to 2 trout after June 1, but we finally did it. All those anglers that wait until cool temps hit in late August or in September that want to get back in rivers like the Musky or Pequest or others to fish should now have more fish present as most anglers are C&R only or predominantly.

I myself welcome the lower creel limit. but not excided about the no preseason closure. that invites poachers imo

[Rusty Spinner]

FISHING REGULATIONS UPDATE: New Freshwater Fishing Regulations will go into effect February 17. The new rules are designed to provide more angling opportunities and to simplify the regulations, while providing adequate protection of our fisheries resources.
Major changes include:
• Removal of the traditional preseason closure on all trout-stocked lakes and ponds; the preseason closure will remain in effect on all rivers and streams.
• Opening Day of trout season is now established as the second Saturday in April.
• 23 new small ponds will be stocked with trout.
• The daily creel limit of 6 trout per day will remain in effect from Opening Day through May 31. The limit for the rest of the year will be reduced from 4 to 2.
• Lake Trout regulations have been changed to allow for more harvest at Round Valley and Merrill Creek Reservoirs, and there is no closed season.
• Round Valley and Merrill Creek Reservoirs are now managed under the Lunker Bass regulation set.
• 11 native species have been added to the Endangered, Threatened, and Special Concern list.
Freshwater fishing regulations can be found in the 2026 Freshwater Fishing Digest: https://dep.nj.gov/njfw/digests/freshwater-fishing/

Can't believe it took us about 20 years to get the creel limit lowered to 2 trout after June 1, but we finally did it. All those anglers that wait until cool temps hit in late August or in September that want to get back in rivers like the Musky or Pequest or others to fish should now have more fish present as most anglers are C&R only or predominantly.

I myself welcome the lower creel limit. but not excided about the no preseason closure. that invites poachers imo

Good luck stopping poaching! As a famous singer dating a famous football player once said (to paraphrase), "poachers gunna poach, poach, poach, poach, poach...."

[Pete]

I myself welcome the lower creel limit. but not excided about the no preseason closure. that invites poachers imo

To me opening ponds and lakes makes sense.
When the trout rivers and streams are closed, many of us resort to bass, pickerel, and panfish.

[robtf]

Down here in south Jersey, it’s always a race at the ponds/lakes to outfish the cormorants LOL

[Bubba Zinetti]

Rusty posted"Can't believe it took us about 20 years to get the creel limit lowered to 2 trout after June 1, but we finally did it."
I would rephrase that to read: "I can't believe it ONLY took 20 years..."
I agree with this sentiment, hopefully it will mean more trout available in the fall.

[Rusty Spinner]

Rusty posted"Can't believe it took us about 20 years to get the creel limit lowered to 2 trout after June 1, but we finally did it."
I would rephrase that to read: "I can't believe it ONLY took 20 years..."
I agree with this sentiment, hopefully it will mean more trout available in the fall.

Agreed! And some of those fish will carry right through winter is what anglers want.