Nearly 800 landlocked salmon, averaging more than 14 inches in length (but ranging up to 15.8 inches), were recently stocked in two Sussex County lakes by the NJDEP Division of Fish and Wildlife. The stocking is in addition to 1,000 salmon stocked earlier this year and continues a program begun in 2006. The salmon, averaging about a pound in weight, had been growing at the Hackettstown Hatchery since arriving in May; the Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife has been providing surplus fingerling salmon each year, free of charge, since the program's beginning. Wawayanda Lake was float-stocked with 550 salmon on November 20, and Lake Aeroflex was float-stocked with 225 salmon on November 21. The salmon have been grown on a high protein, pelleted diet, and recently received a supplemental feeding of fathead minnows to prepare them for release into the wild.

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In late May, 2013, 1000 salmon averaging 8.5 inches in length were float-stocked by Hackettstown Hatchery staff. Waywayanda Lake received 720 salmon, and 280 went to Lake Aeroflex.

In addition to the salmon already stocked this year, another 200 salmon remain at the hatchery for a future first time stocking at Tilcon Lake (Morris County). The lake will be designated a Holdover Trout Lake in 2014 (see www.njfishandwildlife.com/news/2013/fishcode_proposal.htm) to provide a trophy class salmon fishery there.

For more information on landlocked salmon in New Jersey, visit the Salmon in New Jersey page at www.njfishandwildlife.com/salmon.htm.