The 2023 State of Stocking
Every fish stocking event US state agencies reported in 2023, normalized into one dataset — totals by state and species, how the year compares to 2022, and the biggest movers.
7,581
stocking events
6
states reporting
20
species stocked
+3%
vs 2022
Agencies reported roughly 427,212,619 fish where a count was given — but only 100% of 2023 events include a quantity, so event counts are the reliable headline; treat fish totals as a floor.
Biggest increases vs 2022
Biggest decreases vs 2022
By state
| State | Events | Fish* | vs 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Washington | 3,221 | 170,550,402 | +1% |
| New York | 2,408 | 213,712,977 | +13% |
| Michigan | 1,039 | 26,037,218 | -7% |
| Montana | 910 | 16,911,822 | +2% |
| Connecticut | 2 | — | -33% |
| Maryland | 1 | 200 | +0% |
By species
| Species | Events | Fish* | vs 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brown Trout | 1,507 | 2,574,949 | +17% |
| Rainbow Trout | 1,220 | 5,626,112 | +9% |
| Brook Trout | 683 | 853,476 | -7% |
| Walleye | 293 | 235,466,313 | -6% |
| Steelhead | 168 | 5,897,389 | -9% |
| Cutthroat Trout | 161 | 408,139 | -23% |
| Kokanee | 142 | 8,575,325 | +21% |
| Lake Trout | 97 | 3,785,174 | -22% |
| Largemouth Bass | 53 | 142,516 | +1225% |
| Coho Salmon | 42 | 2,093,475 | +17% |
| Chinook Salmon | 35 | 1,961,495 | +35% |
| Muskellunge | 34 | 48,323 | -29% |
| Bluegill | 22 | 82,302 | +175% |
| Yellow Perch | 17 | 11,230 | -26% |
| White Sturgeon | 6 | 6,219 | +50% |
| Black Crappie | 3 | 1,900 | -63% |
| Channel Catfish | 3 | 11,471 | -73% |
| Sauger | 2 | 11,160 | +0% |
| Smallmouth Bass | 1 | 500 | — |
| White Crappie | 1 | 9,896 | — |
Other years
202720262025202420232022202120202019201820172016201520142013201220112010200920082007200620052004200320022001200019991998199719961995199419931992199119901989198819871986198519841983198219811980197919781977197619751974197319721971197019691968196719661965196419631962196119601959195819571956195519541953195219511950194919481947194619451944194319421941194019391938193719361935193419331932193119301929192819271926192519241923
Use this report. The full 2023 dataset is a free CSV download (CC BY 4.0): 2023 stocking events (CSV). *Fish totals cover only events reporting a count — see the methodology and how to cite.