RICHMOND, VA- the Department of Wildlife Resources (DWR) picked up nearly 22,000 3-inch muskie fingerlings from North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission's (NC WRC) Table Rock Fish Hatchery. These fish will be used to meet annual stocking allocations across Virginia. About 14,000 of the fish were stocked into a rearing pond at the Buller Fish Hatchery where they will be grown out to advanced fingerling size, which is approximately 10 inches.   

An additional 3,000 fingerlings were taken to the newly renovated Front Royal Hatchery for grow-out to advanced fingerling size. The advanced-sized fish will be stocked this fall. The remainder of the 3-inch fingerlings were stocked in existing muskie waters according to DWR's Muskellunge Management Plan. These bonus fish should help to enhance the muskie fishing opportunities in Virginia in the coming years. 

This abundance of muskie fingerlings was made possible through an ongoing cooperative effort between DWR and NC WRC. In February of this year, DWR collected seven adult muskie from the lower New River. These fish were taken to the NC WRC's hatchery for spawning and the fingerlings received this week are from that February collection effort. All muskie stocked into Virginia over the last several years are a result of this ongoing cooperation with North Carolina. 

For more information on DWRs fish hatcheries, please visit: dwr.virginia.gov/fishing/fish-stocking/state-hatcheries/