New Jersey Fishing Regulation

New Jersey state regulations are created in cooperation with the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission. Regulations are adminstered through the New Jersey Division of Fish and Wildlife. No license is required to fish for these species, but size, bag limits and open seasons are regulated. New Jersey regulations prohibit the cleaning or filleting at sea, of any fish having a minimum size limit.

The New Jersey Fishing Regulations, displayed in the New Jersey Fishing Poster are shown below.

Black Seabass

  • Size: 12.5 inches
  • Bag Limit: 25 fish
  • No Closed Season

Bluefish

  • Size: No Limit
  • Bag Limit: 15 fish
  • No Closed Season

Summer Flounder - Fluke

  • Size: 18 inches
  • Bag Limit: 8 fish
  • Season: May 23 - Sept 4

Winter Flounder

  • Size: 12 inches
  • Bag Limit: 10 fish
  • Season: March 23 - May 21

Striped Bass

  • Size: 28 inches
  • Bag Limit: 2 fish
  • Season: Delaware River Mar. 1 - Mar. 31 & June 1 - Dec. 31
  • Season: Atlantic 0-3 miles: no closed season.
  • Season: Atlantic >3 miles: no open season.
  • Season: All other marine waters: Mar. 1 - Dec. 31

Tautog

  • Size: 14 inches
  • Bag Limit: 4 fish Jan. 1 - Apr. 30
  • Bag Limit: 1 fish July 16 - Nov. 15
  • Bag Limit: 6 fish Nov. 16 - Dec. 31

Shark

  • Size: 48 inches total length
  • Size: 23 inches Alternate length
  • Bag Limit: 2 fish per vessel

Weakfish

  • Size: 13 inches
  • Bag Limit: 6 fish

American Eel

  • Size: 6 inches
  • Bag Limit: 50 fish

Black Drum

  • Size: 16 inches
  • Bag Limit: 3

Cobia

  • Size: 37 inches
  • Bag Limit: 2

Cod

  • Size: 21 inches
  • Bag Limit: No Limit

Haddock

  • Size: 21 inches
  • Bag Limit: No Limit

King Mackerel

  • Size: 23 inches
  • Bag Limit: 3 fish

Pollock

  • Size: 19 inches
  • Bag Limit: No Limit

Red Drum

  • Size: Minimum 18 inches - Maximum 27 inches
  • Bag Limit: 1 fish

Scup (Porgy)

  • Size: 9 inches
  • Bag Limit: 50
  • Season: Jan. 1 - Feb. 28 & July 1 - Dec. 31

Shad

  • Size: No Limit
  • Bag Limit: 6 fish

Spanish Mackerel

  • Size: 14 inches
  • Bag Limit: 10 fish