Rockaway River Fishing Guides
A hard-working northern New Jersey trout river below Boonton Reservoir, with wild browns in the gorge and a commuter town on both banks.
Guides on the Rockaway River
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About the Rockaway River
The Rockaway is the trout river that northern New Jersey anglers actually fish, and the reach below the Boonton Reservoir is its best-known water. The release out of the reservoir moderates the summer temperature and keeps flow in a river that would otherwise run low and warm through a Morris County August, which is why trout hold here through the year rather than merely surviving the spring stocking. It is genuinely a tailwater in effect, in the middle of one of the most densely populated counties in the country.
Brown trout are the fish worth planning around, and a meaningful share of them are wild rather than stocked – the Rockaway has a naturally reproducing population that the state manages accordingly, with special regulation reaches carrying gear and harvest restrictions. Rainbows and brookies are stocked and add to the spring fishing. Smallmouth and largemouth bass occupy the slower, warmer sections downstream, and American eels are present throughout and still surprise people.
The gorge below Boonton is the signature water – a steep, boulder-strewn reach dropping through hemlock and rock where the river looks and fishes like something a long way from a turnpike exit. It is tight, technical, and hard to wade at anything but low flow. The reaches above and below are gentler and more forgiving, and the whole river is better fished in short sections than walked end to end.
Anglers must read the current regulations before fishing here rather than assuming statewide rules, because New Jersey manages several distinct reaches on this river with different requirements. Access is via town parks, county open space and informal paths; parking is the practical constraint rather than permission. The river rises fast after rain, and the gorge in particular is no place to be on a rising gauge.
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Access
Below the Boonton Reservoir - the gauge reach and the top of the release water.
Boonton Gorge - the signature boulder water, steep walk-in access.
Grace Lord Park, Boonton - developed park access with paths to the river.
Route 46 crossings - roadside access on the middle reach.
Mountain Lakes area - access on the lower river.
Hibernia and Rockaway Borough - upper river access above the reservoir.
Pine Brook - the bottom of the run toward the Passaic confluence.
Seasons
Spring: stocking, high water and the busiest fishing of the year.
Summer: the release keeps the gorge fishable while lesser rivers go warm and low.
Fall: wild brown trout colour up and move, and the pressure drops right off.
Winter: cold but fishable in mild spells, with the deeper pools holding fish.
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Questions
What is the current flow on the Rockaway River?
As of Sep 17, 5:00 am, the USGS gauge Rockaway River below Reservoir at Boonton NJ reads 72 cfs. Conditions update every 15 minutes.
What species can you catch on the Rockaway River?
Anglers target American Eel, Brook Trout, Brown Trout, Largemouth Bass, Rainbow Trout, Smallmouth Bass on the Rockaway River in New Jersey.
Where can you access the Rockaway River?
Below the Boonton Reservoir - the gauge reach and the top of the release water. Boonton Gorge - the signature boulder water, steep walk-in access. Grace Lord Park, Boonton - developed park access with paths to the river. Route 46 crossings - roadside access on the middle reach. Mountain Lakes area - access on the lower river. Hibernia and Rockaway Borough - upper river access above the reservoir. Pine Brook - the bottom of the run toward the Passaic confluence.
When is the best time to fish the Rockaway River?
Spring: stocking, high water and the busiest fishing of the year. Summer: the release keeps the gorge fishable while lesser rivers go warm and low. Fall: wild brown trout colour up and move, and the pressure drops right off. Winter: cold but fishable in mild spells, with the deeper pools holding fish.
Where are the fishing regulations for the Rockaway River?
Regulations change by season and section. Read the current rules on the New Jersey agency site: https://dep.nj.gov/njfw/fishing/freshwater/regulations-and-permits/