| Vol. May REGULATIONS 2012 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:
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 |
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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 Measured along the midline from the snout to the end of the central portion of the tail, not to include the tail filaments. Recreational Season: See Saltwater Regulations for current size & limits |
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Bluefish 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. Recreational Season: See Saltwater Regulations for current size & limits |
Black Drum Recreational Season: See Saltwater Regulations for current size & limits |
Red Drum Recreational Season: See Saltwater Regulations for current size & limits |
Shark For updates, vist their website at www.njfishandwildlife.com/saltwater.htm or call the 24-hour marine fish information number at 609-292-2083 For Detailed information on prohibited and fishable species, regulations, permits, etc: Recreational Season: See Saltwater Regulations for current size & limits |
Striped Bass (includes Hybrid Striped Bass) Anglers participating in the Striped Bass Bonus Program (click link for additional info) may possess an additional striped bass. |
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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. * Recreational Season: See Saltwater Regulations for current size & limits |
Summer Flounder (Fluke) 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. Recreational Season: See Saltwater Regulations for current size & limits |
Tautog (Blackfish) Recreational Season: See Saltwater Regulations for current size & limits |
Weakfish (Gray & Spotted Seatrout) Recreational Season: See Saltwater Regulations for current size & limits |
Winter Flounder Recreational Season: See Saltwater Regulations for current size & limits |
Additional Marine Fishing Regulations Recreational Season: See Saltwater Regulations for current size & limits |
| National and NJ Saltwater Angler Registry Program |
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NEW JERSEY LAUNCHES FREE ANGLER REGISTRY Anglers Must Register In NJ Or Face Fines Of Up To $3,000 (**May be subject to change) According to the state DEP website: WHO NEEDS TO REGISTER? NOTE: Anglers with a valid registration with the National Saltwater Angler Registry or have a valid license from another exempted state are required to register (for free) with the NJ Saltwater Recreational Registry Program. Registration with NJ will exempt you from having to register with the National Saltwater Angler Registry. Individual saltwater anglers ages 16 and older MUST register if ANY of the following criteria are met:
Recreationally fish in the marine and fresh tidal waters of the State of New Jersey Recreationally fish in marine waters outside the State of New Jersey but land the catch in New Jersey
OR Carry individuals who engage in recreational fishing in the marine waters outside the State of New Jersey but land their catch in New Jersey Please visit the following links for more information. Main NJSRRP Page FAQ Section Individual Registration Start Page At this time, registration is FREE and can only be done ONLINE. There is no phone number to call to complete the registration. |
| 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 |
| New York Licence Requirement |
| New York's marine fishing license has been suspended. New York is offering a free registry to all marine anglers. Visit http://www.dec.ny.gov/permits/54950.html |
| Bait Fish |
No license is required for the taking of baitfish for personal use in saltwater with the following gear:
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 |
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American Lobster
See file: http://www.scottsbt.com/fishids/regsrecs/files/lobster_reg2012.pdf |
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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
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) |
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