The eagerly anticipated spring trout season is the official launch of the fabulous year-round trout fishing opportunities that now exist in New Jersey. The stocking trucks began rolling from the Pequest Trout Hatchery on March 23, and more than 180,000 trout will be waiting for New Jersey anglers on opening day.
To help anglers get the trout information they need, the NJDEP's Division of Fish and Wildlife has posted extensive information about the 2009 Trout Fishing Season on its Web site. The information includes weekly stocking schedules, trout allocations by water and day stocked, fishing access locations, regulations and highlights for 2009. The information is posted in a new and easier to read format and can be accessed at
http://www.njfishandwildlife.com/trtinfo_spring.htm.
Most trout stocked waters are closed to fishing from March 23 until opening day on April 11. However, Trout Conservation Areas are not closed during the pre-season period and provide anglers great trout fishing opportunities when most other trout-stocked waters are closed. Only artificial lures may be used in Trout Conservation Areas. Trout caught in any of these waters during this period must be released immediately. Note that fishing is not permitted on Seasonal Trout Conservation Areas from 12:01 a.m. to 8 a.m. on April 11, 2009.
Be ready for opening day or try fishing a Trout Conservation Area now. In just minutes, you can buy and print a fishing license and trout stamp online at
http://www.wildlifelicense.com/nj/ .
Trout fishing has never been better in New Jersey. Don't miss out this year.