The winning entrants in the NJ DEP Division of Fish and Wildlife's Native Fish Art and Writing Contest were honored at the Pequest Trout Hatchery and Natural Resource Education Center in Oxford, Warren County, on the opening day of trout season, April 10. The purpose of this annual contest is to encourage children in grades 4 through 7 to learn about native fish species, and the importance of natural resource conservation.

Department of Environmental Protection Commissioner Bob Martin was on hand to meet contest winners and their families as they enjoyed a morning of fishing at the Pequest Fishing Education Pond. After fishing, the winners of the contest received certificates and fishing equipment at an awards luncheon sponsored by the New Jersey Council of Trout Unlimited.

For more information on the contest, as well as a list of the winners and links to their artwork, visit http://www.njfishandwildlife.com/news/2010/fshartwinnrs10.htm on the division's website.

The most anticipated day on the New Jersey fishing calendar is the opening day of trout season. Anglers eagerly awaiting this year's opening day on Saturday, April 10 should check out a Star-Ledger video at http://videos.nj.com/star-ledger/2010/04/stocking_trout_in_new_jersey_l.html to see some of the 190,000 fabulous trout already waiting for them.

During April and May, nearly 600,000 trout will be stocked in 89 streams and 90 ponds and lakes throughout New Jersey. Some of the 26,000 two-pound to five-pound bruisers still out there from stockings in the fall and winter will be joined by another 6,000 big trout during the spring stocking season.

Nine ponds and small lakes will get an extra allocation of 30 to 50 trout that measure 16 inches to 19 inches and weigh 3 pounds to 5 pounds. Locations of the nine Bonus Broodstock Ponds and Lakes and spring trout stocking information for the entire state can be viewed at http://www.njfishandwildlife.com/trtinfo_spring.htm. Weekly in-season stocking information is also available by calling the Trout Stocking Hotline, (609) 633-6765.

There's a reason the number of New Jersey trout anglers has increased more than 21 percent during the past five years. It's because trout fishing has never been better in the Garden State, and we're working to keep it that way in 2010. Don't miss out this year; join the growing group of anglers who know the value and quality of New Jersey trout fishing.

In just minutes, you can be on your way to enjoying some time in the outdoors while experiencing the thrill of trout fishing in New Jersey. Simply visit http://www.njfishandwildlife.com to buy and print your fishing license and trout stamp online. License buyers have the satisfaction of knowing 100 percent of their money goes toward improving fishing in New Jersey and protecting the quality of the state's waters both for fish and people.

The NJ Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) is proposing amendments to N.J.A.C. 7:25-18 (Marine Fisheries) related to fisheries for Atlantic coastal sharks and smooth dogfish. The proposed amendments are necessary to comply with management measures mandated under the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC) Interstate Fishery Management Plan for Atlantic Coastal Sharks, which inlcudes smooth dogfish.

States included within the area covered by the ASMFC Management Plan for Atlantic Coastal Sharks are required to have recreational and commercial fisheries management measures, which are consistent with the plan. If the state does not maintain consistency, a Federally mandated moratorium may be imposed on the state's recreational and commercial shark fisheries.

The proposal was scheduled to be published in the New Jersey Register on April 5, 2010. Written comments on the proposed amendments may be submitted through June 4, 2010. There will be a public hearing on the proposed amendments following the Marine Fisheries Council meeting on Thursday, May 13, 2010 at 6:30 P.M. at the Galloway Township Public Library on 306 E. Jimmie Leeds Road, Absecon.

A copy of the proposed amendments is currently available from the DEP's website at http://www.nj.gov/dep/rules/notices/040510a.html and from LexisNexis Customer Service at (800) 223-1944 or http://www.lexisnexis.com/bookstore . Please be advised there may be a fee for obtaining a full copy of the proposal from some sources.

The NJ DEP Division of Fish and Wildlife has scheduled two training sessions for teachers who plan on starting a Trout in the Classroom (TIC) program in their school for 2010, or are interested in learning more about the program itself. The sessions will be held at the Pequest Trout Hatchery and Natural Resource Education Center in Oxford on April 20 and June 3, each beginning at 7:00 p.m.

Trout in the Classroom is an exciting science-based program that teaches children about the importance of coldwater conservation through a hands-on approach to learning.
Schools across New Jersey receive brook trout eggs in mid-October from the Pequest State Trout Hatchery, which they hatch and raise. During that time the students monitor the water quality, learn fish biology, anatomy and much more as part of a cross-curricular, hands-on format. At the end of the school year, the fish are released into approved trout streams.

A TIC Activity Guide is also included with the program, and is correlated to NJ State Science Core Curriculum Standards at the middle school level. Because of the TIC program's adaptability however, classes ranging from Kindergarten through college levels participate in the program. More than 14,000 students throughout New Jersey enjoy participating in the Trout in the Classroom program annually.

If you would like to get involved with TIC in your classroom for the 2010 - 2011 school year - this is the time! The program does not cost a lot to initiate or to maintain - approximately $1,200.00 is needed to purchase necessary equipment - and maintenance costs average approximately $50.00 a year after startup. Tanks must be set up and running by the middle of September, so schools interested in participating in the upcoming school year need to start planning now.

For more information about the program or to register for a training session, please contact NJ Trout in the Classroom Coordinator Jessica Griglak at (908)-637-4125 or by email at jessica.griglak@dep.state.nj.us.

Additional information about the TIC program in New Jersey can be found by visiting http://www.njfishandwildlife.com/tic.htm on the division's web site.