Rainbow Trout regulations in New Jersey

Trout · Freshwater · 2026 season

Is it a keeper? A rainbow trout is a keeper today if it measures at least 9 inches, with a daily limit of 2.

Rainbow Trout size limit, season and daily limit

Where	Season	Size limit	Daily limit
Trout-stocked rivers & streams (general regulation)	January 1 – March 22, April 11 – December 31	9 inch minimum	2 (Jan 1–Mar 22); 6 (Apr 11 8 a.m.–May 31); 2 (Jun 1–Dec 31). Closed Mar 23–Apr 11 8 a.m.
Lakes & ponds (general regulation)	Open year-round	9 inch minimum	2 (Jan 1–Apr 11 8 a.m.); 6 (Apr 11 8 a.m.–May 31); 2 (Jun 1–Dec 31)
Wild Trout Streams and Wild Brown Trout Enhancement Streams	April 11 – September 15	9 inch minimum	2 brown or rainbow trout combined; catch & release Sep 16–Apr 11
Native Brook Trout Streams	April 11 – September 15	No minimum size	2 brown or rainbow trout combined
Trophy Trout Lakes: Merrill Creek Reservoir, Round Valley Reservoir	Open year-round	15 inch minimum	2 combined
Holdover Trout Lakes: Clinton Res., Lake Aeroflex, Lake Wawayanda, Sheppard Lake, Tilcon Lake, White Lake	Open year-round	9 inch minimum	2 (Jan 1–Apr 11 8 a.m.); 4 (Apr 11 8 a.m.–May 31); 2 (Jun 1–Dec 31)
Delaware River	April 18 – October 15	No minimum	5 trout (all species)

Notes

Opening day is the second Saturday in April (Apr 11, 2026 at 8 a.m.).
Trout stamp required in addition to a fishing license (ages 16–69).
In-season stocking-day closures 5 a.m.–5 p.m. apply to listed stocked waters.
Trout Conservation Areas: 15 inch, 1 fish (6 fish/9 inch Apr 11–May 24 in Seasonal TCAs); Catch and Release Areas: no possession.

Exact NJDEP Fish & Wildlife wording

Season: General trout seasons (see zones)
Size: 9 inches (general); 15 inches Trophy Trout Lakes; none on Native Brook Trout Streams
Limit: 2 / 6 / 2 by period combined; 2 combined Trophy lakes; 2/4/2 Holdover lakes
Trout-stocked rivers & streams (general regulation) — as printed: “General Trout Fishing Regulations for Brook, Brown & Rainbow Trout (and their hybrids and strains) RIVERS & STREAMS (PRESEASON CLOSURE REMAINS IN EFFECT) January 1–March 22 | 9 inches | 2* ; March 23–April 11 at 8 a.m. | Fishing prohibited on trout stocked rivers and streams. ; April 11 at 8 a.m.–May 31 | 9 inches | 6* ; June 1–Dec. 31 | 9 inches | 2* ... LAKES & PONDS (NO LONGER CLOSED DURING PRESEASON) January 1–April 11 at 8 a.m. | 9 inches | 2 ; April 11 at 8 a.m.– May 31 | 6 ; June 1–December 31 | 2 ... *ALL BROOK TROUT CAUGHT WITHIN THE BROOK TROUT CONSERVATION ZONE MUST BE IMMEDIATELY RELEASED UNHARMED. ... WILD TROUT STREAMS (MULTIPLE WILD TROUT SPECIES PRESENT) | Rainbow Trout | 9” | April 11 at 8 a.m. to Sept. 15 Catch and Release at all other times, year-round | 2 Brown or Rainbow Trout combined ... TROPHY TROUT LAKES Merrill Creek Reservoir | Brown & Rainbow Trout (and their hybrids) and Landlocked Atlantic Salmon | Open year-round | 15 inches | 2 combined ... HOLDOVER TROUT LAKES ... Brown & Rainbow Trout and their hybrids | Jan. 1–April 11 at 8 a.m. | 9 inches | 2 ; April 11 at 8 a.m.–May 31 | 9 inches | 4 ; June 1–Dec. 31 | 9 inches | 2”

Source: NJDEP Fish & Wildlife, captured 2026-10-04 (2026 season).

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More trout

Brook Trout Brown Trout Lake Trout Landlocked Atlantic Salmon

About the rainbow trout

Fresh-water species of fish

The rainbow trout is a species of trout native to cold-water tributaries of the Pacific Ocean in North America and Asia. The steelhead is an anadromous (sea-run) form of the coastal rainbow trout (O. m. irideus) or Columbia River redband trout (O. m. gairdneri) that usually returns to freshwater to spawn after living two to three years in the ocean.

Text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0. Regulations on this page come from NJDEP Fish & Wildlife, not Wikipedia.

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Frequently asked

What is the size limit for Rainbow Trout in New Jersey?

9 inch minimum in New Jersey state waters.

How many Rainbow Trout can you keep per day in New Jersey?

2 (Jan 1–Mar 22); 6 (Apr 11 8 a.m.–May 31); 2 (Jun 1–Dec 31). Closed Mar 23–Apr 11 8 a.m..

When is Rainbow Trout season in New Jersey?

January 1 – March 22, April 11 – December 31.

Is my Rainbow Trout a keeper today?

A rainbow trout is a keeper today if it measures at least 9 inches, with a daily limit of 2.