Tiger Trout and New NJ Trout Fishing Regulations

Tiger trout from an NJ TCA

Summer trout fishing in the New Jersey area can be a delicate venture with low water and high temperature.  Warm water species such as bass and pickerel become a fun pursuit on a fly rod during the dog days of summer.  After a soaking rain, vibrance and life returns to a trout stream in the summer. Just as farmers, anglers, and conservationists say “Rain is a good thing”. On a late July evening after some rain, I caught my first wild tiger trout. 

Tiger trout are naturally occurring hybrids of brown trout and brook trout. Brook trout are one of the more delicate species of trout that require cooler water to thrive. Brook trout are the only true native trout species in the northeast and are also New Jersey’s state fish. This year New Jersey has modified their trout fishing regulations and there are a few important changes and additions to account for. The purpose of these regulations is to enhance wild and native trout populations.  Along with trout fishing regulations there are also several ongoing watershed improvement projects like dam removals and riverside tree planting.

NJ’s new regulations include the brook trout conservation zone, brook trout dominant wild trout streams, multiple wild trout species present streams, and wild brown trout enhancement streams among other modifications.  One of the most important changes to note is that in all catch and release sections barbless hooks MUST be used. For more information regarding New Jerseys updated trout fishing
regulations visit their website at (https://www.njfishandwildlife.com/pdf/2018/trtregs18.pdf)
​or pick up a copy of the 2018 NJ freshwater fishing digest.
 
​I believe this trout is an example of how proper regulation and conservation efforts can benefit a fishery.  
-Samuel Casqueira