Freshwater Fishing In NJ

NJ Freshwater Laws NJ Freshwater Sizes/Limits
Additional NJ Regulations/Information
Basic Tackle Fishing Areas
NJ Licence Info Freshwater Fishing Links
Additional Info Available directly from the NJ Fish Game & Wildlife Website, and in the printed Freshwater Digest available at our store. Trout regulations being complex and varied, are posted as a .pdf file in the Additional Information Section.

UPDATED FOR 2012

2012 BAITFISH REGULATIONS
This is not the full law. Consult the Division of Fish and Wildlife for further details. All persons are remindd that the statutes (Title 23), code and regulations are the legal authorities. RED text in regulations indicates a change for this year. See Below. This is regarding freshwater ONLY.
Baitfish Species
The following are defined as baitfish by New Jersey Statute: Alewife (anadromous and land-locked forms), blueback herring, golden shiner, banded killifish, mummichog, spotkin killifish, rainwater killifish, American brook lamprey, fathead minnow, bluntnose minnow, stonecat, tadpole madtom, margined madtom, all shiners, daces minnows, chubs and the American eel.

In the Delaware River between New Jersey and Pennsylvania, alewife and blueback herring (andromous and land-locked forms) are regulated as food fish with a one-day possession limit of 10 in aggregate.

**2012 Due to serious declines in river herring numbers, the taking of alewife and blueback herring is anticipated to be prohibited in NJ beginning January 1, 2012. Be sure to check fish and wildlife website www.njfishandwildlife.com
  • Herring is officially CLOSED: http://www.njfishandwildlife.com/news/2012/herring-tog_regchange.htm
    •
    Season Location Minimum Size Daily Limit
    Open Year Round
    Exception: Season closed
    March 19 thru June 15
    on trout stocked waters and special regulation trout areas    		 statewide (freshwaters) No minimum size
    Exception:
    American eel: 6"    		 35 per day, species combined
    Herring is officially CLOSED:
    http://www.njfishandwildlife.com/news/2012/herring-tog_regchange.htm
    Notes:
  • Any person with a valid fishing license or those entitled to fish without a license may take baitfish in freshwaters.
  • Possession limit is one day's limit, regardless of the intent to use these fish.
  • Baitfish may be taken from the freshwaters of the state in numbers greater than 35 per day, in lakes over 250 acres, under a special permit issued by the Division at its discretion (with the exceptions as shown above for herring.
  • BAITFISH ARE NOT TO BE BARTERED OR SOLD from the Delaware River


    • Contact (908) 236-2118 for application information.
    RED text in regulations indicates a potential change for this year. Consult their website at www.njfishandwildlife.com, watch for news releases or call the southern fisheries office at 856-629-4950.
    Means of Take (gear) Gear Dimensions & Limits
    Seine Not over 50 feet long, in ponds and lakes of over 100 acres, and in all other waters with a seine not over 30 feet in length, or half the width of the stream at the point of use, whichever is less.
    Exception: In trout-stocked waters and special regulation trout areas a seine may not be more than 10 feet in length and 4 feet in depth.
    Minnow trap Not larger than 24" in length with a funnel mouth no greater than 2" in diameter.
    Umbrella Net No greater than 3.5 feet square.
    Dip Net Not more than 24 inches in diameter; may be used only for alewife or blueback herring
    Cast Net No greater than 8 feet in diameter; may be used only in streams that are not trout-stocked or special regulation trout areas (may not be used in lakes).
    Hook and line Maximum of 9 single hooks or 3 hooks with three burrs per contrivance on all waters except the Delaware River where only 3 single hooks are permited.
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