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Bield:Fish
Fish stocking schedule

Massachusetts fish stocking schedule 2026.

Stocking NowMassachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife

Massachusetts stocks over 500,000 trout annually in streams, ponds, and lakes statewide. The Swift River tailwater below Quabbin Reservoir is a year-round catch-and-release fishery and one of the most-fished trout waters in New England.

Official source

Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife Stocking Report

Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife publishes the authoritative Massachusetts stocking schedule — Weekly updates in Posted list format. For this week's actual stocking locations, dates, and volumes, view the official report directly.

View official Massachusetts stocking report

This page summarizes the Massachusetts stocking program for planning purposes. The agency report is the authoritative source — verify before any trip.

Primary stocked species in Massachusetts

Typical stocking pattern by species. Heavy fill marks primary stocking months; moderate fill marks possible stocking. Verify exact dates against the official report.

  • Rainbow TroutOncorhynchus mykiss
    JanJan — no stocking Rainbow Trout typical size: 9–12 inch catchable; some trophy fish 16+ inchesFebFeb — no stocking Rainbow Trout typical size: 9–12 inch catchable; some trophy fish 16+ inchesMarMar — heavy stocking Rainbow Trout typical size: 9–12 inch catchable; some trophy fish 16+ inchesAprApr — heavy stocking Rainbow Trout typical size: 9–12 inch catchable; some trophy fish 16+ inchesMayMay — heavy stocking Rainbow Trout typical size: 9–12 inch catchable; some trophy fish 16+ inchesJunJun — no stocking Rainbow Trout typical size: 9–12 inch catchable; some trophy fish 16+ inchesJulJul — no stocking Rainbow Trout typical size: 9–12 inch catchable; some trophy fish 16+ inchesAugAug — no stocking Rainbow Trout typical size: 9–12 inch catchable; some trophy fish 16+ inchesSepSep — heavy stocking Rainbow Trout typical size: 9–12 inch catchable; some trophy fish 16+ inchesOctOct — heavy stocking Rainbow Trout typical size: 9–12 inch catchable; some trophy fish 16+ inchesNovNov — heavy stocking Rainbow Trout typical size: 9–12 inch catchable; some trophy fish 16+ inchesDecDec — no stocking Rainbow Trout typical size: 9–12 inch catchable; some trophy fish 16+ inches
    Typical size: 9–12 inch catchable; some trophy fish 16+ inches
  • Brown TroutSalmo trutta
    JanJan — no stocking Brown Trout typical size: 9–14 inch catchable; trophy fish 18–24 inchesFebFeb — no stocking Brown Trout typical size: 9–14 inch catchable; trophy fish 18–24 inchesMarMar — heavy stocking Brown Trout typical size: 9–14 inch catchable; trophy fish 18–24 inchesAprApr — heavy stocking Brown Trout typical size: 9–14 inch catchable; trophy fish 18–24 inchesMayMay — heavy stocking Brown Trout typical size: 9–14 inch catchable; trophy fish 18–24 inchesJunJun — no stocking Brown Trout typical size: 9–14 inch catchable; trophy fish 18–24 inchesJulJul — no stocking Brown Trout typical size: 9–14 inch catchable; trophy fish 18–24 inchesAugAug — no stocking Brown Trout typical size: 9–14 inch catchable; trophy fish 18–24 inchesSepSep — heavy stocking Brown Trout typical size: 9–14 inch catchable; trophy fish 18–24 inchesOctOct — heavy stocking Brown Trout typical size: 9–14 inch catchable; trophy fish 18–24 inchesNovNov — heavy stocking Brown Trout typical size: 9–14 inch catchable; trophy fish 18–24 inchesDecDec — no stocking Brown Trout typical size: 9–14 inch catchable; trophy fish 18–24 inches
    Typical size: 9–14 inch catchable; trophy fish 18–24 inches
  • Brook TroutSalvelinus fontinalis
    JanJan — no stocking Brook Trout typical size: 8–11 inch catchableFebFeb — no stocking Brook Trout typical size: 8–11 inch catchableMarMar — heavy stocking Brook Trout typical size: 8–11 inch catchableAprApr — heavy stocking Brook Trout typical size: 8–11 inch catchableMayMay — heavy stocking Brook Trout typical size: 8–11 inch catchableJunJun — no stocking Brook Trout typical size: 8–11 inch catchableJulJul — no stocking Brook Trout typical size: 8–11 inch catchableAugAug — no stocking Brook Trout typical size: 8–11 inch catchableSepSep — heavy stocking Brook Trout typical size: 8–11 inch catchableOctOct — heavy stocking Brook Trout typical size: 8–11 inch catchableNovNov — heavy stocking Brook Trout typical size: 8–11 inch catchableDecDec — no stocking Brook Trout typical size: 8–11 inch catchable
    Typical size: 8–11 inch catchable
  • Lake TroutSalvelinus namaycush
    JanJan — no stocking Lake Trout typical size: 4–6 inch fingerling primarily; some yearling stockingsFebFeb — no stocking Lake Trout typical size: 4–6 inch fingerling primarily; some yearling stockingsMarMar — heavy stocking Lake Trout typical size: 4–6 inch fingerling primarily; some yearling stockingsAprApr — heavy stocking Lake Trout typical size: 4–6 inch fingerling primarily; some yearling stockingsMayMay — heavy stocking Lake Trout typical size: 4–6 inch fingerling primarily; some yearling stockingsJunJun — moderate stocking Lake Trout typical size: 4–6 inch fingerling primarily; some yearling stockingsJulJul — no stocking Lake Trout typical size: 4–6 inch fingerling primarily; some yearling stockingsAugAug — no stocking Lake Trout typical size: 4–6 inch fingerling primarily; some yearling stockingsSepSep — heavy stocking Lake Trout typical size: 4–6 inch fingerling primarily; some yearling stockingsOctOct — heavy stocking Lake Trout typical size: 4–6 inch fingerling primarily; some yearling stockingsNovNov — heavy stocking Lake Trout typical size: 4–6 inch fingerling primarily; some yearling stockingsDecDec — no stocking Lake Trout typical size: 4–6 inch fingerling primarily; some yearling stockings
    Typical size: 4–6 inch fingerling primarily; some yearling stockings

Notable Massachusetts programs

  • Catch and Release Areas
  • Year-Round Catch and Release on Swift River
  • Tiger Trout Stocking

State hatchery system

Massachusetts operates 5 state-run fish hatcheries supporting the stocking program.

Massachusetts urban fishing program

Massachusetts maintains a designated urban fishing program — typically frequent stockings of catfish, trout, and panfish in city ponds and lakes. These programs are designed to make fishing accessible to families and first-time anglers.

Massachusetts urban fishing program details →

Weekly stocking alerts for Massachusetts.

Bield: Fish reads Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife's stocking reports and alerts you when your saved waters are stocked. Set your county once and you'll know the day fish hit your home river.

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