The 2018 State of Stocking
Every fish stocking event US state agencies reported in 2018, normalized into one dataset — totals by state and species, how the year compares to 2017, and the biggest movers.
7,975
stocking events
4
states reporting
21
species stocked
-3%
vs 2017
Agencies reported roughly 442,727,360 fish where a count was given — but only 100% of 2018 events include a quantity, so event counts are the reliable headline; treat fish totals as a floor.
Biggest increases vs 2017
Biggest decreases vs 2017
By state
| State | Events | Fish* | vs 2017 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Washington | 3,325 | 163,052,405 | -3% |
| New York | 2,596 | 243,370,043 | -2% |
| Michigan | 1,284 | 30,282,498 | +5% |
| Montana | 770 | 6,022,414 | -21% |
By species
| Species | Events | Fish* | vs 2017 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brown Trout | 1,741 | 3,488,607 | +0% |
| Rainbow Trout | 1,086 | 5,235,732 | -11% |
| Brook Trout | 816 | 853,728 | +3% |
| Walleye | 324 | 257,258,992 | -8% |
| Steelhead | 199 | 6,540,603 | -13% |
| Cutthroat Trout | 164 | 358,019 | -13% |
| Lake Trout | 147 | 3,676,917 | -3% |
| Kokanee | 103 | 8,039,366 | -36% |
| Muskellunge | 41 | 544,409 | +32% |
| Largemouth Bass | 36 | 52,516 | -23% |
| Coho Salmon | 28 | 1,564,010 | -28% |
| Chinook Salmon | 22 | 1,620,061 | +10% |
| Yellow Perch | 20 | 20,800 | +43% |
| Black Crappie | 12 | 5,402 | +20% |
| Northern Pike | 11 | 532,502 | +57% |
| Smallmouth Bass | 10 | 15,847 | +400% |
| Bluegill | 9 | 13,340 | -10% |
| White Sturgeon | 7 | 2,254 | -61% |
| Channel Catfish | 5 | 7,725 | -58% |
| Sauger | 5 | 481,100 | +400% |
| Redear Sunfish | 3 | 2,435 | +50% |
Other years
202720262025202420232022202120202019201820172016201520142013201220112010200920082007200620052004200320022001200019991998199719961995199419931992199119901989198819871986198519841983198219811980197919781977197619751974197319721971197019691968196719661965196419631962196119601959195819571956195519541953195219511950194919481947194619451944194319421941194019391938193719361935193419331932193119301929192819271926192519241923
Use this report. The full 2018 dataset is a free CSV download (CC BY 4.0): 2018 stocking events (CSV). *Fish totals cover only events reporting a count — see the methodology and how to cite.