2023 New Jersey Marine Fishing Limits

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.  NJ Recreational Size Limits.

Fish SpeciesOpen SeasonMinimum LengthPossession Limit
American EelYear Round9"25 per person
Black DrumYear Round16"3 per person
Black Sea BassMay 17 - June 1912.5"10 per person
Black Sea BassJuly 1 - Aug 3112.5"1 per person
Black Sea BassOct 1 - Oct 3112.5"10 per person
Black Sea BassNov 1 - Dec 3112.5"15 per person
Blackfish (Tautog)Jan 1 - Feb 2815"4 per person
Blackfish (Tautog)Apr 1 - Apr 3015"4 per person
Blackfish (Tautog)Aug 1 - Nov 1515"1 per person
Blackfish (Tautog)Nov 16 - Dec 3115"5 per person
Blue Crab, HardMar 15 - Nov 304.5"1 Bushel
Bluefish (Snapper)Year RoundNone3 per person
5 per person from charter vessel
Clam, HardYear Round1.5"150 Clams
No harvest on Sunday
Shellfish license required
CobiaYear Round37"1 per vessel
CodYear Round21"No limit
Cod
Atlantic Ocean (Federal Waters: 3-200 nautical miles)
Year Round21"10 per person
Flounder, Summer (Fluke)
Delaware Bay and tributaries
May 2 - Sept 2717"3 per person
Flounder, Summer (Fluke)
Island Beach State Park (shore fishing)
May 2 - Sept 2716"2 per person
Flounder, Summer (Fluke)
Other waters
May 2 - Sept 272 @ 17" to less than 18" and 1 @ 18" or greater3 per person
Flounder, WinterMar 1 - Dec 3112"2 per person
HaddockYear Round18"No limit
Mahi MahiYear RoundNone10 per person, not to exceed 60 per vessel, whichever is less. Unless paying charter, then 10 per paying passenger
Marlin, BlueYear Round99" lower jaw-forkNo limit *
Marlin, WhiteYear Round66" lower jaw-forkNo limit *
PollockYear Round19"No limit
Red DrumYear Round18" - 27"1 per person, not greater than 27"
River HerringNo Open SeasonN/A0
SailfishYear Round63" lower jaw-forkNo limit *
Scup (Porgy)Aug 1 - Dec 3110"30 per person
ShadYear RoundNone6 Combined
No more than 2 America Shad in Delaware Bay, River & Tributaries.
0 American Shad in all other waters
Shark, Aggregate large coastalJan 1 - May 14 and
July 16 - Dec 31
Male: 71" fork length
Female: 83" fork length
1 shark per vessel (any species)
Shark, Blacknose groupYear Round54" fork length1 shark per vessel (any species)
Shark, Hammerhead groupJan 1 - May 14 and
July 16 - Dec 31
78" fork length1 shark per vessel (any species)
Shark, Non-blacknose small coastalYear Round54" fork length1 shark per vessel (any species)
Shark, Pelagic groupYear RoundMale: 71" fork length
Female: 83" fork length
1 shark per vessel (any species)
Spanish MackerelYear Round14"10 per person
Spearfish, LongbillProhibitedN/A0
Spearfish, RoundscaleYear Round66" lower jaw-forkNo limit *
Striped Bass (incl. Hybrid)
Atlantic Ocean (0-3 nautical miles)
Year Round28" - less than 38"1 per person
Striped Bass (incl. Hybrid)
Atlantic Ocean (Federal Waters: 3-200 nautical miles)
ProhibitedN/A0
Striped Bass (incl. Hybrid)
Delaware River & Tributaries (Calhoun St bridge to Salem River & tributaries)
March 1 - March 31
and June 1 - Dec 31
28" - less than 38"1 per person
Striped Bass (incl. Hybrid)
Delaware River & Tributaries (upstream of Calhoun St bridge)
March 1 - Dec 3128" - less than 38"1 per person
Striped Bass (incl. Hybrid)
Rivers, bay and estuaries
March 1 - Dec 3128" - less than 38"1 per person
Tilefish, BluelineMay 1 - Oct 31NonePrivate boat: 3 per person
USCG uninspected charter: 5 per person
USCG inspected charter: 7 per person
Tilefish, GoldenYear RoundNone8 per person
SwordfishYear Round47" lower jaw-forkPrivate boat: 1 per person, maximum 4 per vessel **
Charter boat: 1 per person, maximum 6 per vessel **
Tuna, Albacore (Longfin)Year RoundNoneNo limit **
Tuna, BigeyeYear Round27" curved fork lengthNo limit **
Tuna, BluefinJan 1 - Dec 31 or
until season closes
27" to less than 73" curved forkVaries through season **
Greater than 73" (One per vessel per year)
Tuna, SkipjackYear RoundNoneNo limit **
Tuna, YellowfinYear Round27" curved fork length3 per person **
WahooYear RoundNone2 per person
WeakfishYear Round13"1 per person
WreckfishJuly 1 - Aug 31None1 per vessel
Fish SpeciesOpen SeasonMinimum LengthPossession Limit

For sizes and limits on Mollusks and Crustaceans, visit the New Jersey Marine Digest website.
Downloadable PDF of 2023 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 SpeciesFish SpeciesOther Species
Atlantic AngelAlewife HerringDiamondback Terrapin
Basking SharkAtlantic SturgeonFemale Crab with eggs
Big Eye SixgillBlueback HerringFemale Lobster with eggs
Big Eye ThresherLongbill SpearfishFemale Lobster with "V" notched tail
Big Eye Sand Tiger SharkShortnose SturgeonHorseshoe Crabs
Big Eye Tiger SharkStriped Bass (Federal Waters)Sea Turtles
Bignose SharkMako 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 April 1, 2023.