The New Jersey DEP Division of Fish & Wildlife’s trout stocking programs provide Garden State anglers with many opportunities to fish for trout throughout the year. Under Fish and Wildlife’s spring stocking program, nearly 200 streams, ponds, and lakes throughout the state are stocked with 570,000 trout. The opening day of the trout season in April is greatly anticipated by anglers, who flock to these waters to fish for trout on this eventful day. To assess angler turnout on this important recreational day, angler counts and interviews are conducted on various trout-stocked waters. Information on angler participation and satisfaction is used to assess trout stocking and make program changes.

Trout measuring 9–12 inches are stocked in designated waters during the 3-week period just prior to Opening Day in April. Sprinkled in with these trout are some that are much bigger (14 – 19 inches). These big trout are called broodstock trout, or “breeders”, because they are mature fish that were spawned in the hatchery last fall. Fish and Wildlife also selects a handful of these waters and stocks them with very large numbers of broodstock. Dubbed Bonus Broodstock, this mini-program generates excitement by providing anglers with an exceptional opportunity to catch a big trout.

Fish and Wildlife evaluates angler turnout and success on Opening Day, but collecting this information over such a short period of time, for so many waters, is challenging. Since 2004 the Division’s Wildlife Conservation Corps (WCC) volunteers have provided a valuable service to Fish and Wildlife by assisting with the collection of data on Opening Day. Not only do the volunteers obtain much needed information regarding angler activity, their visible presence has also reaped several unexpected benefits.

For many anglers, this is often their first contact with a Division representative. Anglers are generally willing to provide information about their fishing experience, and many are pleased to see that Fish and Wildlife is taking an active role in managing the waterbody they are fishing. The WCC volunteers that participate have also had positive experiences, with several commenting that this was their first opportunity to assist the Division and they had fun doing it. A small contingent of volunteers continues to lend assistance each year to this worthwhile project.

The opening day of the 2008 trout season is Saturday, April 5 and the angler survey is conducted on this day from 8 - 11 a.m. Each volunteer is assigned a trout-stocked water and provided with written instructions on how to conduct the survey, data forms, and information about their assigned waterbody. Volunteers also are asked to submit digital pictures of anglers fishing, catching fish, and holding up their catch for display, as well as a panoramic view that would be indicative of the angler turnout. Photos will be selected and featured on the Division’s Web site.