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The 2023 pre-season stocking closure starts this week! The majority of our local rivers will be closed to fishing until 8 am on April 8th.
Here's a summary, but this is NOT all-inclusive. Check the regulations before you go fishing, if you're heading somewhere that isn't listed on this page. Stop in the shop for a free copy of the 2023 Freshwater Fishing Digest (digital copy here), or there's more information on the NJDFW website here.
If you want to keep fishing, we can take guide trips out on private water that remains open throughout the closure, and our guides can show you the best parts of the public sections of river that remain open! Book here.
General river closing schedule:
- Opening day is April 8 at 8 am.
- Stocked waters are closed from March 20th at 8 am through April 8th at 8 am.
- All non-stocked waters are catch & release only.
- Prior to opening day, you may fish the Point Mountain TCA, the Ken Lockwood Gorge, and non-stocked wild trout streams.
- Point Mountain is a TCA that allows year-round fishing; however, no live bait or bait scent is allowed, and all fishing is catch-and-release.
- The Ken Lockwood Gorge is a designated Catch-and-Release Area. Fishing is allowed year-round; however, no live bait or bait scent is allowed, barbless hooks must be used, and a total of 3 hook points is the maximum allowed.
- Wild trout streams include Hickory Run and the South Branch from Budd Lake to the dam 200' above Rt 517 in Long Valley. No live bait or bait scent is allowed, barbless hooks are required, and no more than 3 hook points in total.
Additional regulations:
- After opening day, the South Branch is closed on Tuesdays until 5 pm, the Paulinskill is closed on Thursdays until 5 pm, and the Musky, Flat Brook, and Pequest are closed on Fridays until 5 pm.
- Delaware River opening day is April 1st. Additional regulations apply.
- Brook trout are catch & release, always, wherever they are caught. (Our entire area is located within the Brook Trout Conservation Zone.)
- Additional regulations for TCAs (Point Mountain), Catch-and-Release Areas (KLG), wild trout streams (Hickory Run, South Branch from Budd Lake to Rt 517 in Long Valley) apply. See TCA/KLG regulations above. For wild trout streams, no live bait or bait scent, barbless hooks are required, and no more than 3 hook points in total.
- Additional regulations apply to the Delaware River.