2026 regulation year
New Jersey Lake trout 2026 — Season, Bag Limit, Size Rules
Salvelinus namaycush
Last updated
New Jersey is one of the few East Coast states south of New England with a self-sustaining lake trout fishery — and only two NJ waters support one. Round Valley Reservoir (Hunterdon County, 2,350 acres, 180 ft deep — NJ's deepest lake) and Merrill Creek Reservoir (Warren County, 650 acres pump-storage, 225 ft maximum depth) are deep enough to maintain the cold oxygenated hypolimnion that lake trout require. Both lakes also produce trophy brown trout up to 15+ lb. NJ stocks Round Valley with landlocked Atlantic salmon as well — a triple-coldwater-species reservoir that is unique on the Atlantic seaboard south of Maine. Standard NJ rule: 15-inch minimum + 2 fish per day on lake trout in both reservoirs. Ice fishing is permitted on both lakes in winter; deep-jigging + downrigger trolling are the standard summer techniques.
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Season
Open year-round Year-round on both Round Valley + Merrill Creek; ice fishing permitted in winter.
Bag & possession
- Daily bag
- 2 / day combined trout including lake trout (Round Valley + Merrill Creek)
- Possession
- 4 in possession
Size, slot, trophy rules
- Size
- 15 in min lake trout; only NJ waters with self-sustaining lake trout
- Trophy rule
- Both lakes produce trophy brown trout to 15+ lb alongside lake trout; Round Valley also stocks landlocked Atlantic salmon
Gear restrictions
- Trout Stamp ($11 resident / $21 non-resident) required
- Merrill Creek Reservoir: artificial-lures-only on listed reaches
- Ice fishing permitted in winter on both lakes
- Deep-jigging + downrigger trolling standard summer technique
Named water-body overrides
Where statewide rules differ on specific New Jersey waters:
Round Valley Reservoir
15 in min, 2 / day combined; landlocked Atlantic salmon also stocked
Merrill Creek Reservoir
15 in min, 2 / day combined; artificial-lures-only listed reaches
Official source
New Jersey Division of Fish & Wildlife (freshwater) + NJ Marine Fisheries Administration (saltwater) publishes the authoritative 2026 New Jerseyfishing regulations. Always verify the current rule before fishing — emergency closures and in-season changes can override what's published here.
The lake trout rules on this page are sourced from New Jersey Division of Fish & Wildlife (freshwater) + NJ Marine Fisheries Administration (saltwater)'s official lake trout regulation page.
Visit official New Jersey fishing regulations →
Emergency-order channel
Lake trout closures, slot-limit changes, and harvest pauses are posted to New Jersey Division of Fish & Wildlife's emergency-order feed — check it before any New Jersey trip during the active season.
Frequently asked questions
- When is lake trout season in New Jersey?
- New Jersey keeps lake trout open to fishing year-round for the 2026 regulation year — there is no closed season, though the daily bag and size limits below still apply every day.
- What is the New Jersey bag limit for lake trout?
- The New Jersey daily bag limit for lake trout is 2 / day combined trout including lake trout (Round Valley + Merrill Creek). The possession limit is 4 in possession. Some named waters set a different limit — check the water-body overrides above.
- What size lake trout can you keep in New Jersey?
- The New Jersey size rule for lake trout is 15 in min lake trout; only NJ waters with self-sustaining lake trout. Trophy rule: Both lakes produce trophy brown trout to 15+ lb alongside lake trout; Round Valley also stocks landlocked Atlantic salmon.
- Do you need a license to fish for lake trout in New Jersey?
- Yes. New Jersey requires a valid fishing license to fish for lake trout, with the usual exemptions for young children, state free-fishing days, and some senior or disabled-veteran categories. A license is valid only in the state that issued it, so non-residents need a New Jersey license — compare resident and non-resident New Jersey fees on the state regulations page below.
- Are there gear restrictions for lake trout in New Jersey?
- Yes. In New Jersey, lake trout fishing carries these gear rules: Trout Stamp ($11 resident / $21 non-resident) required; Merrill Creek Reservoir: artificial-lures-only on listed reaches; Ice fishing permitted in winter on both lakes; Deep-jigging + downrigger trolling standard summer technique.
- Do specific New Jersey waters have different lake trout rules?
- Yes. 2 named New Jersey waters carry rules that override the statewide lake trout regulation, including Round Valley Reservoir, Merrill Creek Reservoir. See the named water-body overrides above for the exact rule on each.