The following chart provides the seasonal minimum size and possession limitations for marine fishing in New Jersey waters and in the Atlantic Ocean off the New Jersey shoreline.
| Fish Species | Open Season | Minimum Length | Possession Limit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fish Species | Open Season | Minimum Length | Possession Limit |
| American Eel | Year Round | 9" | 25 per person |
| Black Drum | Year Round | 16" | 3 per person |
| Black Sea Bass | May 15 - June 22 | 12.5" | 10 per person |
| Black Sea Bass | July 1 - Aug 31 | 12.5" | 2 per person |
| Black Sea Bass | Oct 8 - Oct 31 | 12.5" | 10 per person |
| Black Sea Bass | Nov 1 - Dec 31 | 13" | 15 per person |
| Blackfish (Tautog) | Jan 1 - Feb 28 | 15" | 4 per person |
| Blackfish (Tautog) | Apr 1 - Apr 30 | 15" | 4 per person |
| Blackfish (Tautog) | Aug 1 - Nov 15 | 15" | 1 per person |
| Blackfish (Tautog) | Nov 16 - Dec 31 | 15" | 5 per person |
| Bluefish | Year Round | None | 15 per person |
| Cobia | June 1 - Sept 30 | 40" | 1 per person, maximum 3 per vessel |
| Cod Rivers, bay and estuaries Atlantic Ocean (0-3 nautical miles) | Year Round | 21" | No limit |
| Cod Atlantic Ocean (Federal Waters: 3-200 nautical miles) | Year Round | 23" | 10 per person |
| Fluke (Summer Flounder) Delaware Bay and tributaries | May 24 - Sept 21 | 17" | 3 per person |
| Fluke (Summer Flounder) Island Beach State Park (shore fishing) | May 24 - Sept 21 | 16" | 2 per person |
| Fluke (Summer Flounder) Other waters | May 24 - Sept 21 | 18" | 3 per person |
| Haddock | Year Round | 18" | No limit |
| Mahi Mahi | Year Round | None | 10 per person, not to exceed 60 per vessel |
| Marlin, Blue | Year Round | 99" lower jaw-fork | No limit * |
| Marlin, White | Year Round | 66" lower jaw-fork | No limit * |
| Pollock | Year Round | 19" | No limit |
| Red Drum | Year Round | 18" | 1 per person, not greater than 27" |
| River Herring | No Open Season | N/A | 0 |
| Sailfish | Year Round | 63" lower jaw-fork | No limit * |
| Scup | Year Round | 9" | 50 per person |
| Shad | Year Round | None | Delaware River & Tributaries: 6 per person (maximum 3 American Shad) All Other Waters: 6 per person (0 American Shad) |
| Shark Aggregate large coastal | Jan 1 - May 14 and July 16 - Dec 31 | Male: 71" fork length Female: 83" fork length | 1 shark per vessel (any species) |
| Shark Blacknose group | Year Round | 54" fork length | 1 shark per vessel (any species) |
| Shark Hammerhead group | Jan 1 - May 14 and July 16 - Dec 31 | 78" fork length | 1 shark per vessel (any species) |
| Shark Non-blacknose small coastal | Year Round | 54" fork length | 1 shark per vessel (any species) |
| Shark Pelagic group | Year Round | Male: 71" fork length Female: 83" fork length | 1 shark per vessel (any species) |
| Spanish Mackerel | Year Round | 14" | 10 per person |
| Spearfish, Longbill | No Open Season | N/A | 0 |
| Spearfish, Roundscale | Year Round | 66" lower jaw-fork | No limit * |
| Striped Bass (incl. Hybrid) Atlantic Ocean (0-3 nautical miles) | Year Round | 1 at 28-42.99" 1 at 43" or larger | 2 total per person |
| Striped Bass (incl. Hybrid) Atlantic Ocean (Federal Waters: 3-200 nautical miles) | Prohibited | N/A | 0 |
| Striped Bass (incl. Hybrid) Delaware River & Tributaries (Calhoun St bridge to Salem River & tributaries) | March 1 - March 31 and June 1 - Dec 31 | 1 at 28-42.99" 1 at 43" or larger | 2 total per person |
| Striped Bass (incl. Hybrid) Delaware River & Tributaries (upstream of Calhoun St bridge) | March 1 - Dec 31 | 1 at 28-42.99" 1 at 43" or larger | 2 total per person |
| Striped Bass (incl. Hybrid) Rivers, bay and estuaries | March 1 - Dec 31 | 1 at 28-42.99" 1 at 43" or larger | 2 total per person |
| Tilefish, Blueline | May 1 - Oct 31 | None | Private boat: 3 per person Charter boat: 5 per person |
| Tilefish, Golden | Year Round | None | 8 per person |
| Swordfish | Year Round | 47" lower jaw-fork | Private boat: 1 per person, maximum 4 per vessel ** Charter boat: 1 per person, maximum 6 per vessel ** |
| Tuna, Albacore (Longfin) | Year Round | None | No limit ** |
| Tuna, Bigeye | Year Round | 27" curved fork length | No limit ** |
| Tuna, Bluefin | Jan 1 - Dec 31 or until season closes | 27" to less than 73" curved fork | Varies through season ** Greater than 73" (One per year) |
| Tuna, Skipjack | Year Round | None | No limit ** |
| Tuna, Yellowfin | Year Round | 27" curved fork length | 3 per person ** |
| Wahoo | Year Round | None | 2 per person |
| Weakfish | Year Round | 13" | 1 per person |
| Wreckfish | July 1 - Aug 31 | None | 1 per vessel |
For sizes and limits on Mollusks and Crustaceans, visit the New Jersey Marine Digest website.
Downloadable PDF of New Jersey Limits.
* All non-tournament billfish, bluefin tuna, and swordfish landings must be reported to NMFS within 24 hours.
** Swordfish, tuna and shark fishing require an HMS permit when fishing in federal waters (3-200 nautical miles).
Prohibited Species
It is illegal to land, possess, sell or purchase the following:
| Shark Species | Fish Species | Other Species |
|---|---|---|
| Atlantic Angel | Alewife Herring | Diamondback Terrapin |
| Basking Shark | Atlantic Sturgeon | Female Crab with eggs |
| Big Eye Sixgill | Blueback Herring | Female Lobster with eggs |
| Big Eye Thresher | Longbill Spearfish | Female Lobster with "V" notched tail |
| Big Eye Sand Tiger Shark | Shortnose Sturgeon | Horseshoe Crabs |
| Big Eye Tiger Shark | Striped Bass (Federal Waters) | Sea Turtles |
| Bignose Shark | ||
| Caribbean Reef Shark | ||
| Caribbean Sharpnose | ||
| Dusky Shark | ||
| Galapagos Shark | ||
| Longfin Mako | ||
| Narrowtooth Shark | ||
| Night Shark | ||
| Sand Tiger Shark | ||
| Sandbar Shark | ||
| Sevengill Shark | ||
| Silky Shark | ||
| Sixgill Shark | ||
| Smalltail Shark | ||
| Whale Shark | ||
| White Shark |
This page is based on the regulations as posted by New Jersey Fish and Wildlife and Federal Recreational Fishing Regulations.
Last updated October 30, 2019.