Trout season is here: Report tagged trout

April 02, 2024| Environment, Recreation

By: Holly Odgers

Trout season officially opens at 8 am on Saturday, April 6, marking the true start of spring for many anglers. Stocked with thousands of trout by both the New Jersey Division of Fish & Wildlife and the Knee Deep Club, Lake Hopatcong provides excellent fishing for all ages.

As a reminder, anyone ages 16 to 69 must obtain a New Jersey fishing license and trout stamp to fish for trout. These can be purchased on Fish & Wildlife’s website or through a licensed agent like Dows Boat Rental in Lake Hopatcong, Lakes End Marina in Landing, and Ramsey Outdoor Store in Succasunna.

The 2023 stocking schedule and trout allocations, including updates and changes, can be found on Fish & Wildlife’s spring trout webpage. Freshwater fishing regulations, including size and catch limits, can be found in the 2023 NJ Freshwater Fishing Digest.  Trout fishing info from Fish & Wildlife https://dep.nj.gov/njfw/fishing/freshwater/trout-fishing-information/

Report Tagged Trout

Lake Hopatcong has also been stocked with tagged brown trout as part of a multi-year study to track trout survival rates and how those rates correlate with the overall health of the lake. The study is being run by the Lake Hopatcong Foundation, Lake Hopatcong Commission, and the Knee Deep Club.

When you catch a tagged trout, take note of the color of the tag, measure your catch, and, if possible, take a photo of the trout with the tag (to help maintain the health of the fish, please wet your hand before handling).  After you have safely released the trout, report your catch through the form at LHCtrout.com. Paper forms are also available at Dow’s Boat Retail (145 Nolan’s Point Rd, Lake Hopatcong) or Lake’s End Marina (91 Mt Arlington Blvd, Landing).

If you choose to keep the fish, please report your catch and turn the tag(s) in at Dow’s Boat Retail, Lake’s End Marina, or mail them to the Knee Deep Club (PO Box 404, Lake Hopatcong NJ 07849).

At the end of each year of the three-year study, five participants will be randomly selected to receive a $100 Visa gift card, generously donated by Live the Lake NJ.  To be eligible for prizes, you must report your catch through the form and include a photo of the fish with the tag or turn the tag in at one of the locations mentioned above.

Protect Our Waters

In addition to following fishing regulations, there are many things anglers can do to help protect Lake Hopatcong and waterbodies around the state to ensure they remain healthy for years to come. These include:

• Properly dispose of trash and fishing line. Litter can be harmful to fish and wildlife, and fishing line can pose a serious threat to birds and other animals.
• Use non-toxic fishing gear. This prevents the introduction of harmful chemicals into the water, which can harm aquatic life and contaminate the water supply.
• Always CLEAN, DRAIN, and DRY watercraft, gear, and footwear when moving from one waterbody to another. This is important to prevent the transport of aquatic invasive species, which can disrupt ecosystems, limit our ability to recreate, diminish our fishing opportunities, and degrade the waters we enjoy.