Saturday is Free Fishing Day

Published on October 14, 2020

Try Out Fishing in Waters Just Stocked with Trout

Saturday is Free Fishing Day, when adults can fish the Garden State's public waters without a fishing license or a trout stamp. Youngsters under the age of 16 never need a license.

Thanks to the Hackettstown and Pequest State Fish Hatcheries, anglers can try their luck for some of the 28,000 stocked rainbow trout, plus walleye, northern pike, muskies and hybrid striped bass, which top the list of big, hard-fighting fish. Recently created reservoirs provide some of the best angling potential in the northeast. Incredible runs of anadromous fish like American shad and striped bass provide hot angling along the entire stretch of the Delaware River. At no time in the history of our state has there been more or better fishing opportunities for both cold water and warm water fish. Learn more at the state Fish and Wildlife website.

Young anglers also are invited to participate in Saturday's fishing derby sponsored by HOFNOD - Hooked on Fishing Not on Drugs. Morris County's event will be held in Rockaway Township. You must register to participate by emailing Paul.minenna@gmail.com. For more HOFNOD derbies around the state, visit the website.

Free fishing day participants can take advantage of these stocked waters. Out-of-staters are welcome to participate. Aside from the one-day license reprieve, all other state regulations, including size and daily catch limits, remain in effect. For more information, visit the Division of Fish and Wildlife website.

For those in search of the perfect fishing hole, the Division offers a publication entitled Places to Fish. This handy booklet lists only those waters with ample populations of desirable species in worthwhile sizes as well as areas that guarantee public access.

More helpful links from NJ Division of Fish and Wildlife are below:

• Freshwater Fishing Page - Lots of helpful links!
• Places to Fish - Ponds, Lakes and Reservoirs
• Places to Fish - Rivers and Streams
• Accessible Sites for People with Disabilities
• Fishing Access to NJ Trout Waters - Alphabetical Listing
• Fishing Access to NJ Trout Waters - Listed by County
• Pequest Fishing Programs
• Commercial (Pay for) Fishing Preserves in New Jersey
• Warmwater Fish in NJ
• Hook-A-Winner Program
• Freshwater Fishing Digest - Rules and management information
• License Information
• Where to buy a fishing license and get local information - license agents!

For further information about fishing in New Jersey, contact the Pequest Trout Hatchery and Natural Resource Education Center at 908-637-4125 ext. 0.

Enjoy fishing New Jersey!