Friday, October 30, 2020

New Jersey: Muskie Fingerlings Stocked in 9 Waters

Staff from the Hackettstown State Fish Hatchery recently completed this year's stocking of fall fingerling (10") and yearling (12") muskellunge in nine waters:

Fall Fingerlings (10")

Echo Lake Reservoir 532
Furnace Lake 100
Greenwood Lake 3,000
Mercer Lake 522
Mountain Lake 109
   

Spring Holdover Yearlings (12")

DOD Lake 180
Lake Hopatcong 2,685
Little Swartswood Lake 150
Monksville Reservoir 760
   

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