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NJ Saltwater Reg. Summary
2010 Summary of Marine Fish & Shellfish Regulations
This is not the full law. Consult the Division of Fish and Wildlife for further details. All persons are reminded that the statutes, code and regulations are the legal authorities. Red text in regulations indicates a change for this year.
Vol. May 2010             REGULATIONS             2010 Marine Issue

New Jersey regulations apply to all fish species when they are possessed in state waters or landed in New Jersey regardless of where they are caught.
Resource Information
Anyone who takes fisheries resources may be required to provide information on the species, number, weight or other information pertinent to management of resources.
Methods of Fishing
No person shall take, catch, kill or attempt to take, catch or kill any fish within the marine waters of the State by any means except in the manner commonly known as angling with hand line or rod and nd line unless specifically provided for by statute or regulation.
Wanton Waste Prohibited
Fish of any species which are purposely killed shall become part of the angler's daily possession limit and shall not be returned to the water from which they were taken. This does not apply to fish which are released alive and subsequently die.
Spear Fishing
Spear fishing can be conducted by means of a spear, harpoon or other missile while completely submerged in the marine waters of the state for any purposes, except lobster.
Persons who fish with a spear for species with size limits are reminded that it is their responsibility to ensure the fish meets the minimum size limits before being killed or injured.
Prohibited Species
It is illegal to take, possess, land, purchase, or sell any of the following species:
    Atlantic Sturgeon                      Shortnosed Sturgeon
    Basking Shark                            Whale Shark
    Big eye Sand Tiger Shark         White Shark
    Sand Tiger Shark
    SEE Shark Regulations Page
Sea Turtles and Marine Mammals
It is illegal to intentionally molest, kill or possess sea turtles or marine mammals, or to possess any part thereof.
Finfish
Filleting
The filleting at sea of all fish with a size limit is prohibited. Party boats may fillet fish at sea if the obtain a Special Fillet Permit. Applications may be obtained from the Marine Fisheries Administration. (See also Summer Flounder)
Black Sea Bass
The minimum size limit for black sea bass is 12.5 inches inches measured along the midline from the snout to the end of the central portion of the tail, not to include the tail filaments.Open season of May 22 to Sept. 12.
Bluefish
The possession limit for bluefish is 15 fish. Bluefish taken with hook and line may be sold only from June 16 through August 7 and only if the harvester is in possession of a valid commercial bluefish permit issued for his or her vessel by the National Marine Fisheries Service (978-281-9370). Any harvester in possession of a valid commercial bluefish permit may possess more than 15 bluefish per day but only during the commercial season of June 16 through August 7.
Black drum
PENDING CHANGES FOR BLACK DRUM DURING 2010 The minimum size limit for black drum is 16 inches in total length and the daily possession limit is 3 fish. There is no closed season for black drum.
Red drum
The red drum possesion and size limits are one fish no less than 18 inches and not greater than 27 inches.
Shark
The minimum size limit for any species of shark, except dogfish (see note below) is 54 inches total length. Limit 1/Boat/Day For updates, vist their website at www.njfishandwildlife.com/saltwater.htm or call the 24-hour marine fish information number at 609-292-2083
SEE Shark Regulations Page For Detailed information on prohibited and fishable species, regulations, permits, etc.
Striped Bass
(includes Hybrid Striped Bass)
The possession limit for striped bass/hybrid striped bass is two fish. Two fish 28 inches or greater Anglers participating in the Striped Bass Bonus Program (click link for additional info) may possess an additional striped bass at 28 inches or greater.
It is illegal to take, catch or kill any striped bass form or in any marine waters of this state, by means of a net of any description, or by any methods other than angling with a hook and line or by spear fishing.
It is illegal to possess any striped bass, or parts of a striped bass from which the head and/or tail has been removed (other than while in preparation or being served as food), which is less than the legal minimum size.
Harvest and possession of striped bass from federal waters (outside 3 miles) is prohibited.
Sale of striped bass in N.J. is prohibited.

Closed seasons
No person may take, attempt to take, or have in possession any striped bass from the following closed waters:

Jan. 1- Feb.28--All waters except the Atlantic Ocean from 0-3 miles offshore. All inlets and bays are delineated from ocean owaters by a Colregs Demarcation line.
April 1-May 31--Delaware River & Bay and their tributaries from the upstream side of the U.S. Route 1 bridge downstream to and including the Salem River and its tributaries.
*  The use of non-offset circle hooks will be required to reduce striped bass bycatch mortality while fishing with natural bait during the striped bass spawning area closure withing the Delaware River and its tributaries. This restriction will not apply to hook sizes smaller than size 2.  *
 Summer Flounder (Fluke)
The possession and minimum size limit for summer flounder is 6 fish at 18 inches and open season from May 23 to September 4. Anglers may fillet one legal-sized summer flounder from their daily possession limit catch for use as bait. This carcass, commonly known as the rack, shall be kept intact so it can be measured for compliance with the minimum size limit. No parts of any summer flounder caught on a previous fishing trip shall be in possession; only fish just caught on this outing.
IE: no pre-prepared fluke bellies salted in a jar - you can only use a freshly caught fish on the day you are out fishing.
Tautog (Blackfish)
The minimum size limit for tautog is 14 inches.
FOUR fish limit January 1 through April 30
A ZERO fish limit May 1 through July 15
A ONE fish limit July 16 through November 15
and a SIX fish limit November 16 through December 31.
Weakfish (Gray & Spotted Seatrout)
The possession and minimum size limit for weakfish is 1 fish at least 13 inches in length.
Winter Flounder
The minimum size limit for winter flounder is 12 inches. For winter flounder the open season is March 23 to May 21. The possession limit is 2 fish per angler per day.
Additional Marine Fishing Regulations
See size/limit reference tables.
Delaware Fishing License Requirement
A Delaware fishing license is now required for anglers aged 16 and over fishing the Delaware River and Delaware Bay between the upstream tip of Artificial Island and the Delaware-Pennsylvania state line. In that section of the river, the Delaware state boundary extends to the New Jersey shoreline. When fishing from shore in New Jersey along that section of the river, a Delaware fishing license is not required. Delaware fishing license information can ge found at http://www.fw.delaware.gov/fisheries/pages/newfishinglicense.aspx
Bait Fish
No license is required for the taking of baitfish for personal use in saltwater with the following gear:
  1. Dip nets 24" in diameter or less for the taking of herring for live bait.
  2. Bait seines 50 feet long or less.
  3. Cast nets 20 feet in diameter or less.
  4. Lift or umbrella nets four feet square or less.
  5. Not more than five (5) killipots.
  6. Not more than two miniature fykes or ports for the taking of eels for bait.
Fish taken in this manner may not be sold or used for barter unless a commercial bait net license is in possession.
No person shall take more than 35 alewife or blueback herring in aggregate per day by hook and line or the above listed gear.
No person shall take or attempt to take fish by any means from the Deal Lake flume, Lake Takanasse spillway or Wreck Pond spillway on any Monday, Wednesday or Friday during the months of April and May.
Crustaceans
American Lobster
The legal possession size of whole lobsters, measured from the rear of the eye socket along a line parallel to the center line of the body shell to the rear of the body shell, shall be not less than
3 3/8 inches nor greater than 5 1/4 inches.
Lobster parts may not be possessed at sea or landed.
The possession limit is 6 lobsters per person. No person shall possess any lobster with eggs attached or from which eggs have been removed or any female lobster with a v-notched tail. (illustrated below)
The use of spears, gigs, gaffs or other penetrating devices as a method of capture for lobsters is prohibited. A license is required for the use of ports or traps for the capture of lobsters.
* Lobsters taken recreationally may not be sold or offered for sale.
Contact the Bureau of Marine Fisheries at 609-748-2020.
Blue Claw Crabs
  1. As of 2006, the state is gathering information on blue claw crabs and requests all crabbers fill out voluntary form.
    See their website: http://www.state.nj.us/
    Link to form: http://www.state.nj.us/dep/fgw/pdf/crabrptform.pdf
  2. Crabs may be taken recreationally with hand lines, manually operated collapsible traps or scoop nets without a license. A non-commercial crab pot license is required for the use of not more than two (2) non-collapsible Chesapeake-style crab pots or two (2) trot lines to harvest crabs.
  3. It is illegal to harvest or possess more than one bushel of crabs per day per person or offer for sale any crabs without having in your possession a valid commercial crabbing license.
  4. Minimum size of crabs - See Regulations page
  5. All female crabs with eggs attached and all undersized crabs shall be returned to the water immediately.
  6. Recreational trot lines shall not exceed 150 feet in length with a maximum of 25 baits.
  7. All pots and trot lines shall be marked with the identification number of the owner.
  8. All crab pots must be tended at least once every 72 hours.
  9. No floating line may be used on any crab pot or crab pot buoy.
  10. No crab pot shall be placed in any area that would obstruct or impede navigation or in any creek less than 50-feet wide.
  11. Only the owner, his agent or a law enforcement officer may raise or remove contents of a legally set fishing device.
  12. Crabs taken with a bait seine may be retained for personal use only if the fisherman possesses a bait net license, and may not be bartered or sold unless the fisherman possesses a commercial crab license.
  13. No crabs may be harvested from the Newark Bay Complex. For more information see the state website for information on health advisories. Visit NJFGW Website.
  14. Crab Pot licence seasons:
      Delaware Bay and tributaries--
      April 6 to Dec. 4;
      All other waters--March 15 to Nov. 30.

      The following waters are closed to the use of crab pots and trot lines:
      Cumberland Co.: Cohansey River and creeks named Back, Cedar, Nantuxent, Fortesque, Oranoken, and Dividing
      Cape May Co.: West and Bidwell Creeks and the Cape May Canal
      Atlantic Co.: Hammock Cove (Dry Bay)
      Ocean Co.: on East shore of Barnegat Bay, that area of Sedge Islands Wildlife Management Area enclosed by a line drawn from the northern bank of Fishing Creek on Island Beach State Park to the northern tip of the Sedge Island (Hensler Island), then south from point to point along the western side of the Sedge Islands WMA and terminating on the most southwestern point of Island Beach State Park.
  15. The Division will issue a non-commercial crab dredge license for the harvest of not more than one bushel of crabs during the crab dredge season. Crabs so taken may not be sold or offered for barter. There is a fee of $15.00 for this non-commercial crab dredge license. Call the Marine Fisheries Administration at 609-748-2040.
Notice: All non-collapsible Chesapeake-style crab pots must be constructed to include a biodegradable panel designed to create and opening to allow crabs and other organisms to escape if the pot is lost or abandoned. All Non-collapsible Chesapeake-style crab pots set in any manmade lagoon or any water body less than 150 feet wide must also include a turtle excluder device inside all pot entrance funnels.
To see 1998 Law: Go to  Bio-Degradable Doors and Turtle Extruders---NJ Fish & Game Page (Scott's Bait and Tackle:  We carry traps and turtle excluders to comply with the 1998 law.)
Horseshoe Crabs
The harvest of horseshoe crabs is prohibited. Possesion of horseshoe crabs is also prohibited except for those individuals holding a scientific collection permit for research and education and those fisherman that can provide suitable documentation that the horseshoe crabs in their possession were harvested outside the state of New Jersey.
 Mollusks (Shellfish)
  1. All persons must be licensed to harvest any shellfish. Shellfish means any species of benthic mollusks (except conch) including hard clams, soft clams, surf clams, mussels and oysters.
  2. It is illegal to harvest shellfish from condemned waters, even for bait purposes. It is also illegal to harvest shellfish including surf clams from beaches adjacent to water classified as condemned. Shellfish water classification charts are available from license agents, any state shellfish office or Marine Police Station. Charts are updated annually.
  3. Shellfish harvesting is prohibited before sunrise, after sunset and on Sundays.
  4. Harvesting of shellfish on public grounds is restricted to the use of hand implements.
  5. It is illegal to harvest shellfish from leased grounds. These grounds are delineated by stakes or buoys set by the lease holder. Charts of the leases may be examined at the Nacote Creek or Bivalve Shellfish Offices during regular business hours.
See additional information in the license section of this website. Hard Clams
  1. No holder of any recreational shellfish license may take more than 150 clams per day. Only certified shellfish dealers may purchase clams from commercial harvesters.
  2. A non-resident recreational shellfish license is valid only during the months of June, July, August and September.
  3. Anyone engaged in any shellfish harvesting activity with someone holding a commercial shellfish license must also possess their own commercial shellfish license.
  4. It is illegal to dredge shellfish. Hand implements are the only legal harvest method.
  5. The minimum size of hard clams that may be harvested is 1-1/2 inches in length. Clams less than 1-1/2 inches in length must be immediately returned to the bottom from which they were taken. Specific seasons, regulations and size limits exist for oyster beds in Great Bay, Delware Bay, plus the Mullica, Great Egg Harbor and Tuckahoe riers. Check with the nearest shellfish office (Nacote Creek or Delaware Bay) for these detailed regulations.
  6. It is illegal to harvest shellfish on Sunday except on the seasonal waters of the Navesink and Shrewbury Rivers between November 1 and April 30.
  7. Shells taken in the process of harvesting oysters must be culled from the live oysters and returned immediately to the area from which they were taken.
See additional information in the license section of this website. Commercial Shellfish License
  1. Shellfish may be sold only to certified dealer. All persons selling shellfish commercially must tage each container listing date of harvest, name and address of the harvester and the waters from which the shellfish were harvested.
  2. It is illegal to dredge shellfish on public grounds. All harvesting on public grounds is restricted to the use of hand implements.
  3. Shells taken in the process of harvesting oysters must be culled from the live oysters and returned immediately to the area from which they were taken.
  4. The minimum size of hard clams that may be harvested is 1-1/2 inches in length. Clams less than 1-1/2 inches in length must be immediately returned to the bottom from which they were taken. Specific seasons, regulations and size limits exist for oyster beds in Great Bay, Delware Bay, plus the Mullica, Great Egg Harbor and Tuckahoe riers. Check with the nearest shellfish office (Nacote Creek or Delaware Bay) for these detailed regulations.
  5. The minimum size of hard clams that may be harvested is 1-1/2 inches in length. Clams less than 1-1/2 inches in length must be immediately returned to the bottom from which they were taken. Specific seasons, regulations and size limits exist for oyster beds in Great Bay, Delware Bay, plus the Mullica, Great Egg Harbor and Tuckahoe riers. Check with the nearest shellfish office (Nacote Creek or Delaware Bay) for these detailed regulations.
  6. It is illegal to harvest shellfish on Sunday except on the seasonal waters of the Navesink and Shrewbury Rivers between November 1 and April 30.
See additional information in the license section of this website.
See Also:
NJ Saltwater Regulations
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