With three weeks of trout stocking still to go this spring, there's still plenty of great opportunities to fish in any of the state's 180 designated trout stocked waters. Nearly 475,000 trout have been stocked thus far, and over the next three weeks another 96,000 trout will be released into 60 of these waters.

Little rain has fallen since the trout season opener on April 5, and fishing conditions have been nearly ideal. As temperatures begin to warm and the opening day excitement begins to fade, savvy anglers know that May is one of the best months ...

The data is linked from http://www.njfishandwildlife.com/deer.htm#harvests where visitors will find a great deal of information about New Jersey's deer herd and its management.

ASMFC Withdraws New Jersey Tautog Noncompliance Finding

Washington, DC - ASMFC Chair George D. Lapointe has notified the Secretaries of Commerce and the Interior that the Commission has withdrawn its noncompliance finding for the State of New Jersey with regards to its tautog management program. New Jersey notified the Commission on March 25, 2008 that it has implemented management measures that achieve a 25.6 percent reduction in exploitation as required by Addenda IV and V of the Interstate Fishery Management Plan for Tautog. The measures, which include recreational bag limits, and season closures for both the recreational and ...

The 2008 Freshwater Fishing Digest is now available online at http://www.njfishandwildlife.com/digfsh.htm . The Digest is also available at all license agent locations. A list of license agents can be viewed at http://www.njfishandwildlife.com/agentlst.htm . Trout season opens on April 5. Fishing licenses are available at agent locations or they can be purchased and printed at home at the following link: https://www3.wildlifelicense.com/nj/start.php

The NJ DEP Division of Fish and Wildlife will host a Freshwater Fisheries Forum on Saturday, March 1 at the Batsto Village Visitors Center in Wharton State Forest, Burlington County. The forum will begin at 10 am.

The forum will provide an opportunity for anglers to learn about freshwater fisheries research and management, culture and recreational angling in New Jersey, and to share their views and recommendations. Division biologists will be on hand to answer questions

Pre-registration is not required but is appreciated, and will help ensure that all attendees can be accommodated. Pre-register by calling 856-629-4950 or ...

The Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) announces the implementation of new regulations for the harvest of weakfish. These regulations were adopted to remain in compliance with the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission’s (ASMFC) Interstate Fishery Management Plan (FMP) for Weakfish.

In January, 2007, the ASMFC Weakfish Management Board (Board) approved Addendum II to Amendment 4 of the FMP in an attempt to control expansion of weakfish fisheries. Under Addendum II, the states of Massachusetts through North Carolina were required to implement a six fish creel limit at their current size limit for the recreational fishery. ...

With this stable source of funding, the Division of Fish and Wildlife now has the opportunity to expand how these areas can be used for public enjoyment. As we develop our plan for these 122 areas, we are interested in hearing from you, the users of these public lands. To help us in this decision making, we are asking you to please take a few moments to complete an on-line survey at http://www.njfishandwildlife.com/wmasurvey08.htm . Please fill out a separate survey for each WMA that you use. Thank you in advance for assisting the Division in this important capital improvement activity.

New Jersey's Hunters and Anglers Have a Significant Impact on the Economy
Spending $1 Billion a Year

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- New Jersey's 562,000 hunters and anglers are among the most prominent and influential of all demographic groups, spending more than $1 billion a year on hunting and fishing, according to a new report.

The new report, "Hunting and Fishing: Bright Stars of the American Economy ~ A force as big as all outdoors," spotlights the immense impact hunters and anglers have on the economy at the national and state level.

The NJ DEP Division of Fish and Wildlife's popular Fall Trout Stocking Program began Tuesday, October 2, with streams in the northern and central portion of the state being stocked. By the end of next week 20,000 brook, brown, and rainbow trout averaging 14 to 16 inches, and weighing 1½ - 2 pounds, will have been distributed in 16 streams and 16 lakes and ponds statewide.

Due to low water flows, some changes in stocking are anticipated. As of today, changes are planned for the Black River which will not be stocked; the Lamington River will be stocked instead. Also, the South Branch of the Raritan River will only be stocked downstream of the Rt. 513/Rt. 517 bridge in Long Valley.

For more information on the fall stocking, as well as the stocking schedule and any other changes, visit http://www.njfishandwildlife.com/trtinfo_fall.htm on the division's Web site.