October 29, 2020
Staff from the Hackettstown State Fish Hatchery recently completed this year's stocking of fall fingerling (10") and yearling (12") muskellunge in nine waters:
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Fall Fingerlings (10")
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| Echo Lake Reservoir |
532 |
| Furnace Lake |
100 |
| Greenwood Lake |
3,000 |
| Mercer Lake |
522 |
| Mountain Lake |
109 |
|
|
|
|
Spring Holdover Yearlings (12")
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| DOD Lake |
180 |
| Lake Hopatcong |
2,685 |
| Little Swartswood Lake |
150 |
| Monksville Reservoir |
760 |
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They start out small
Click to enlarge
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But they grow large
Click to enlarge
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The Fall Fingerlings were hatched April 1, 2020, growing to 10 inches in 6.5 months. By fall 2021 they should be 16-18 inches, approximately 24 inches by fall 2022, and 30 inches after four years of growth. Beyond that age growth slows with many variables coming into play, including available forage base and sex (males are always smaller than females). A large male can be 40 inches and 15 pounds whereas females can reach 50 inches and 35 pounds.
All Hackettstown Hatchery fish are fed live forage before they are stocked so they acclimate to feeding in the wild.
Unlike some other states (e.g. the PA Fish and Boat Commission recently changed to only holdover Spring stocking to grow a bigger fish) we are stocking muskies in both spring and fall. Our and other states' stocking programs are constantly evaluated for success, so changes aren't surprising.
New Jersey's stocking sizes and rates are recommended by Bureau of Freshwater Fisheries regional biologists to create and maintain fisheries. Angler feedback has been mostly positive - please send comments on our programs to staff at NJFWFISH@dep.nj.gov.
MORE INFORMATION
Muskellunge Information (Includes Stocking Summaries)
Focus on Fishing: Muskellunge
Muskellunge Distribution Map
Muskies, Inc. (national)
Chapter 22 Muskies Inc.
Penn-Jersey Chapter 50 Muskies Inc.
