NJ trout season opens this Saturday!

All trout-stocked waters have been stocked for this Saturday's 8:00 a.m. opening of trout season. The 2015 season is expected to provide superb trout fishing opportunities New Jersey anglers have grown to expect and appreciate.

More than 180,000 trout have been stocked in 88 streams and 90 ponds and lakes throughout the state.

By the time stocking concludes in May nearly 600,000 trout will have been stocked. The vast majority of the fish will be 18 months old, average 10.5 inches and weigh about a half pound.

However, some of the stocked trout will trump their brethren. In addition to the young fish, most of the waters receiving trout will also become home to broodstock trout, fish between 2.5 and 3.5 years old and weigh between 3 to 7 pounds.

These large, mature fish were used to obtain and fertilize eggs for the breeding program at the Pequest Trout Hatchery. Now there's a chance they will become some angler's dream come true.

And some anglers will have a better chance than others depending on where they fish. As part of the Broodstock Bonus Program, the division stocks a higher number of these fish in none or 10 selected ponds or lakes every year.

These bodies of water receive three to five times more broodstock fish than they would normally get. The division calculates a few anglers will experience the catch of a lifetime with these unusually large fish.

Ten waters were picked for 2015 and three of the selected sites are in South Jersey.

• Oak Pond in Camden County

• Sylvan Lake in Burlington County

• Ponderlodge Pond in Cape May County

If you're going to go after one of these big rainbows, remember to get a license. All anglers between 16 and 70 must have a license, plus a trout stamp if they're fishing for trout.

For more on New Jersey's trout stocking locations, visit 2015 Spring Trout Allocations.

To purchase a fishing license, visit NJ Fishing and Hunting License.

Fishing licenses purchased using the state's site are issued as a PDF document to be printed on your own computer system; they are not mailed.

Those wanting a license on durable, waterproof paper can obtain them at any license agent, visit NJ License Agents.

The Division of Fish and Wildlife has jaw tagged more than 1,000 trout as part of the spring trout stocking program in New Jersey waters every spring since 1998.

The fish are distributed throughout the state and in 2014, rainbow trout have been tagged for both pre-season and in-season release.If you are a lucky angler who lands one of these fish, send your name, address, fish tag number and location of catch to:

Hook a Winner Program

Pequest Trout Hatchery

605 Pequest Road

Oxford, NJ 07863

In recognition of your catch you will be mailed a certificate and award patch.

Reach Adam Monacelli at amonacelli@gannett.com or follow @CP_AdamM on Twitter.