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North Branch Raritan River is a public river in Somerset County, New Jersey, managed by New Jersey DEP Division of Fish and Wildlife. You can fish it on a New Jersey freshwater fishing licence (plus a Trout Stamp for trout); bank access is at NJDEP boat ramps, Wildlife Management Area frontage and trout-stocking access points. New Jersey has no blanket streambed-access law; away from a public access point, wading or bank fishing may cross private property, so check current signage or ask permission. Public access confirmed via NJDEP special-regulation water.
New Jersey trout-stocked with in-season closures.
It runs roughly 15 miles through the Central Jersey region. Anglers here mostly fish for rainbow trout, brown trout, brook trout. Live flow and gauge height come from the North Branch Raritan River at South Branch NJ USGS station shown below. The nearest other mapped waters on PiscaMaps are Raritan River (North Branch) and Bedminster Pond.
Species from PiscaMaps water-type profiles, NJDEP Fish & Wildlife trout-stocking records and hand research.
Night fishing: No statewide night-fishing closure in New Jersey on most waters; some park ponds and reservoirs have their own posted hours, and trout-stocked waters have specific in-season closures around stocking days (check the current stocking schedule).
Boats: Most New Jersey trout streams and Pine Barrens rivers are waded or floated by canoe or kayak; only the Delaware and the tidal lower reaches take larger boats.
Bank & bivvy camping: You can fish this water on a New Jersey freshwater fishing licence (plus a Trout Stamp for trout); bank and boat access is at NJDEP boat ramps, Wildlife Management Area frontage and trout-stocking access points — check current signage, as bank ownership and access rights vary by reach.
Tackle: A New Jersey Trout Stamp is required in addition to your fishing licence to fish for or possess trout here; trout water follows seasonal and in-season-closure rules, and several reaches are fly-fishing-only or catch-and-release — check the current NJ Freshwater Fishing Digest.
Loading live flow & gauge height…
Live from USGS gauge 01400010 — North Branch Raritan River at South Branch NJ. Full gauge data →
Anyone 16 to 69 needs a New Jersey freshwater fishing licence — the resident annual is about $22.50, the non-resident annual about $34. A Trout Stamp (about $10.50 resident / $20 non-resident) is required in addition to fish for or possess trout. New Jersey residents 70 and older and anyone under 16 fish free. Buy from NJ Fish & Wildlife at nj.gov/dep/fgw. A New Jersey freshwater fishing licence (plus a Trout Stamp for trout) covers this water — it carries a NJDEP special fishing regulation (wild-trout, catch-and-release, conservation or trophy designation).
Every water carries species, bank & boat access, current regulations and live water conditions — and members get Swim Mapper, Catch Logger and Trip Planner. It's the only US map with a dedicated carp-water layer.
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