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 2014

 NJ Freshwater Fish Laws:
A summary for 2014

A Freshwater
LICENSE REQUIRED: You view pricing and buy your required license(s) directly from the NJFishandWildlife.com site
is required.

 Trout regulations being complex and varied, are posted as a .pdf file in the Additional Information Section.
It is unlawful to take or attempt to take any fish in fresh waters by any manner except in the manner commonly know as angling with handline or with rod and line, or as otherwise allowed by law. 
The season, size and creel limits for freshwater species apply to all waters of the state, including tidal waters.
RED text in regulations indicates a potential change for this year.

The list below is sorted by key words:
 
 It is unlawful to erect, permit the erection of, or maintain unlawful contrivances for taking fish.
Bait Fish
 See Baitfish Regulations
Bow & Arrow
 Carp, including bighead, common, grass and silver -- as well as eels, flathead catfish, both American and gizzard shad, snakeheads and suckers -- may be taken at any time by use of a bow and arrow (with line attached to the arrow) when in possession of a valid fishing license. See regulations for Delaware River and Greenwood Lake below. See also Spears
Creel Limit
 See Possession of fish
Dam
 It is illegal to draw off water or place screens in water without permission of the division.
It is illegal to construct a dam in any water of this state which is a runway for migratory fish without installing a fish ladder or other contrivance that permits fish to pass over the dam in either direction.
Report pollution or other offfenses to 877-WARNDEP or the Operation Game Thief line (800-222-0456)
Emergency Closure
 It is illegal to fish or attempt to catch or kill fish by any manner or means in any waters for which the Director of the Division of Fish, Game and Wildlife, upon approval by the Fish and Game Council, issues an Emergency Closure Notice (see NJFG&W for notification). Such notification is effective and /or rescinded immediately upon public notification. Emergency closures shall be based upon imminent threat to the well being of the fishery resources, and/or its users, and may include any exceptions to the total ban of fishing that the Director deems practical.
Explosives
 It is unlawful to use explosives to take fish.
Fish Ladders
 It is unlawful to fish, place any contrivance for the taking of fish, or attempt to catch or kill fish by any manner or means in any fish ladder, or with 100 feet (or as posted) of any fish ladder entrance or exit during the period of March 1 through June 30.
Fish Stocking
 A permit is required to stock fish or fish eggs into any water which has an inlet or outlet. It is ILLEGAL to stock carp or koi into any such waters at any time. See also permits.
Foul Hooking
 See Snagging
Frogs(bull & green)
& Snapping Turtles
See Turtle/Frog Regulations
Ice Fishing
Ice fishing shall be permitted whenever ice is present. Trout stocked areas may be fished only when the season is open. See NJF&G for trout season closures
A person while ice fishing may use not more than five devices for taking fish. The types of devices that may be used are:
     1. Ice supported tip-ups or lines with one single pointed hook attached, or one burr of 3 hooks that measure not more than 1/2 inch from point ot shaft.
     2. An artificial jigging lure with not more than one burr of three hooks that measure not more than 1/2 inch from point to point.
     3. An artificial jigging lure with not more than three single hooks measuring not more than 1/2 inch from point to shaft.
     4. An artificial jigging lure with a combination of the hook limitations described in 2 and 3 above.
Expressly prohibited are any devices with automatic hook setting capability. Natural bait may be used on the hooks of the artificial jigging lures. All devices that are not hand-held must bear the name and address of the user and cant be left unattended.
When ice is not present, open water regulations will be in effect. See Greenwood Lake
Carp and suckers may be taken with net under the ice. Suckers may be taken through the ice by means of hooks directly attached to rigid handle, the hooks not to exceed three in number, between December 1 and March 1.
 
Licenses
 See Licenses
Permits 
(in addition to license fees)
Water lowering $2.00 Lebanon Fisheries Lab 908/236-2118
Fish Stocking $2.00 Lebanon Fisheries Lab 908/236-2118
Baitfish Collecting $2.00 Lebanon Fisheries Lab 908/236-2118
Triploid Grass Carp $2.00 Lebanon Fisheries Lab 908/236-2118
Fish Tagging $2.00 Lebanon Fisheries Lab 908/236-2118
Turtle & Frog Collecting $2.00 Trenton Office 609/292-1599
Eel Weirs $2.00 Trenton Office 609/292-1599
Scientific Collecting $22.00 Trenton Office 609/292-1599
Pollution
 It is unlawful to directly or indirectly pollute waters of the state. Report pollution or other offfenses to 877-WARNDEP or the Operation Game Thief line (800-222-0456)
Possession of fish
  • "Possession" refers to all fish, alive or dead, under the control of the angler.
  • Only one daily creel creel limit of any fish species may be in possession. Additional fish may be caught once the creel limit is reached if immediately returned to the water unharmed.
  • Seperate Stringers or buckets must be used for each anglers catch.
  • Boats may contain only the combined daily creel limit of any fish for each legal angler on board.
    		•
    Potentially Dangerous Fish
    		 The possession or release of live, potentially dangerous fish is prohibited. These species include Asian swamp eel, bighead, grass (diploid) and silver carp, brook stickleback, green sunfish, flathead catfish, oriental weatherfish, snaekhead and warmouth.
    Anglers MUST destroy these species if encountered while fishing and are directed to submit specimin(s) or photos to a Fish and Wildlife Bureau of Freshwater Fisheries biologist for verification.
    IDENTIFICATION INFORMATION: http://www.state.nj.us/dep/fgw/aquatic_invasives.htm
    To reach a biologist, call (908) 236-2118 for north Jersey or (856) 629-4950 for south Jersey. These non-native species are likely to cause environmental harm to the state's fisheries resources by outcompeting preferred game species.
    Multiple hooks
    		 It is unlawful to possess or use any fishing device with more than nine hooks in total, or more than three treble hooks. When fishing from the shoreline, no more than three fishing rods, handlines or combination thereof maybe used. See also Delaware River
    Nets & Seines
    		 It is unlawful to use cast nets in freshwater lakes or trout stocked waters, but they can be used under certain conditions. See BAITFISH Regulations for additional information.
    Sale of fish
    		 It is illegal to sell any freshwater fish species except under commercial permits as prescribed in the Fish and Game Code. It is illegal to sell striped bass. Artificially propagated trout, if properly tagged, may be sold for food.
    Set Lines
    		 It is unlawful to use set lines.
    Snagging
    		 It is unlawful to foul hook or snag any species of fish. This does not apply to fish taken through the ice during the ice fishing season.
    Spear Fishing
    		 It is unlawful to spear fish in fresh waters in NJ 
    Exception: Delaware River (see Boundary Waters)
    Stocking fish
    		 A permit is required to stock fish or fish eggs into any waters of the state, public or private, at any time. An application may be obtained. See Permits.
    Striped Bass It is illegal to take, catch or kill any striped bass from or in any fresh waters of this state by means of a net of any description or by any method other than angling with a hook and line.
    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.  Stripers may not be taken or possessed during the closed seasons shown in sizes and limits section.
    See Sizes/Limits
    See the Striped Bass Bonus Fish Progam
    Tagging of fish
    		 No person may tag or mark and release a fish without first obtaining a special permit issued by the Division at is discretion. Fish stocking permits will be accepted as an alternative to this permit. This requirement does not apply to tags issued by the Division. See Permits for application information.
    Trespass
    		 A fishing license doesn't authorize trespass on private property. Permission first must be obtained from the landowner.
    Trout
    		 See NJ Fish and Game Website for Complete Trout seasons and limits information, or pick up a copy of the Freshwater Digest at our store.
    BASIC Info: (this is not complete listing)
    The trout season for 2012 begins at 8:00 a.m., April 7. See the Additional Info Page for additional information.
    No person between the ages of 16 and 69, inclusive, shall take, attempt to take, possess or kill trout without a valid fishing license and trout stamp.
    Only one creel limit of trout may be in possession. Trout may be caught once the creel is reached if they are immediately returned to the water unharmed. Separate stringers or buckets must be used for each person's catch; two people may not share a stringer or a bucket. On board containers in boats may only contain the combined daily creel limit for each legal angler on board.
    Size limits and creel limits on species other than trout are in accordance with statewide regulations. See Sizes/Limits.
    The division reserves the right to suspend stocking when emergency conditions prevail.
    Waste of fish
    		 Fish of any species, which are purposely killed, will become part of the fisherman's daily bag limit and must be removed from the waters they were taken from, as well as any adjacent lands, and either used or otherwise properly disposed of. This does NOT apply to fish that are released while still alive.
    BOUNDARY WATERS
    Delaware River and Greenwood Lake info Below
    See also the Additional Info Page

    Delaware River
  • New Jersey and Pennsylvania fishing licenses are both recognized when fishing the Delaware River from a boat or either shoreline. This applies to the main stem of the river only.
  • Anglers may launch a boat from either shore and return, may have in possession any fish which may be legally taken according to the regulations of the state where the landing is made.
  • No more than three rods, each with one line, or two hand lines, or one of each, may be used. Not more than 3 single hooks or 3 burrs of hooks (treble hooks) may be used on each line.
  • To protect spawning striped bass, from the Calhoun Street bridge near trenton downstream to the Commodore Barry Bridge at Bridgeport, non-offset circle hooks must be used when using bait with a #2 sized hook or larger, from April 1 to May 30.
  • Spears (not mechanically propelled) and bow and arrows may be used to take carp, catfish, shad and suckers except within 825 feet of an eel weir. A valid fishing license is required. See Also: Spear Fishing
  • Baitfish may be taken and possessed for personal use and are not to be bartered or sold. See Also Baitfish Regulations.
  • A Delaware fishing license is now required for anglers aged 16 and over fishing the Delaware Bay and Delaware River between the upstream tip of Artificial Island and the Delaware-Pennsylvania state line. In that section of the river, the Delaware state boundry extends to the New Jersey shoreline. However, 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 be found at http://www.fw.delaware.gov/Fisheries/Pages/NewFishingLicense.aspx.

    • See sizes & limits: American shad
    See sizes & limits Trout The trout season for the Delaware River extends from April 15 through September 30 with no minimum size limit and a daily bag of 5 trout. 
    See sizes & limits: Striped Bass
  • A listing of fishing access locations along the Delaware River is available online.
  • Information for the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area is available online at www.nps.gov/dewa


    • Greenwood Lake

  • New York and New Jersey licenses are legal anywhere on the lakeor along the shoreline.
  • Fishing is permitted 24 hours a day.
  • In compliance with New York regulations, only certified virus-free baitfish may be transported to, or used on, the portion of Greenwood Lake owned by the State of New York. Anglers are urged to use only certified virus-free baitfish when fishing any portion of Greenwood Lake.
  • Bow and arrow fishing for carp, suckers, herring , catfish and eels is permitted. A valid fishing license is required.
  • No more than five tip-ups and two hand-held devices. All devices that are not hand held must be plainly marked with the name and address of the angler.
    • Additional information is availabel at the New York DEC's Division of Fish, Wildlife and Marine Resources Web site at www.dec.ny.gov.

    Report pollution or other offenses to 609-292-7172 
    Operation Game Thief Line 800-222-0456

    LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICES:
    Northern Region: Bergen, Essex, Hudson, Hunterdon, Morris, Passaic, Somerset, Sussex, Union and Warren counties
    ........................................................................................908-735-8240
    Central Region: Burlington, mercer, Middlesex, Monmouth and Ocean counties
    ........................................................................................609-259-2120
    Southern Region: Atlantic, Camden, Cape May, Cumberland, Gloucester and Salem counties
    ........................................................................................609-629-0555
    SeeNJ Fish and GameWebsite for additional information and contacts.
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