NJ Fishing Regulations
Whale Creek Marina supports following the rules when fishing and boating. Below are links to the current New Jersey Department of Fish and Wildlife regulations, as well as the Saltwater Recreational Registry.
Please note, as of 2010 fishermen must be registered on both the federal and NJ registries! If you have a saltwater recreational fishing license or registration from any state (except Hawaii, Puerto Rico, or the U.S.V.I.), you are AUTOMATICALLY registered on the federal registry. The New Jersey registry is free and easy to do online.
- New Jersey State Size and Possession Limits
- 2019 New Jersey Marine Regulation Summary
- New Jersey Division of Fish and Wildlife
- New Jersey Marine Digest
- Federal Saltwater Angler Registry (automatically registered with fishing license)
- NJ Saltwater Recreational Registry (free to register - no $15 fee)
- NJ Saltwater Registry Info
2018 New Jersey Recreational Fishing Seasons, Minimum Size and Possession Limits
Regulations remain in effect until changed. For the most current regulations, go to NJFishandWildlife.com or call the marine fish “listen-only” information line at (609) 292-2083. Regulations in red are new this year. See Finfish Regulations for how to measure fish.
Species
American Eel
Open Season
No Closed Season
Minimum Length
9″
Harvest & Possession Limit (per person unless noted)
25
Species
Black Drum
Open Season
No Closed Season
Minimum Length
16″
Harvest & Possession Limit (per person unless noted)
3
Species
Black Sea Bass
Open Season
Season closed until 2018 regulations are finalized, anticipated May–June. See Finfish Regulations.
Minimum Length
N/A
Harvest & Possession Limit (per person unless noted)
N/A
Species
Bluefish (Snapper)
Open Season
No Closed Season
Minimum Length
None
Harvest & Possession Limit (per person unless noted)
15
Species
Cobia
Open Season
June 1-Sept. 30
Minimum Length
40″
Harvest & Possession Limit (per person unless noted)
1 fish per person; no more than 3 fish per vessel
Species
Cod
Open Season
No Closed Season
Minimum Length
21″
Harvest & Possession Limit (per person unless noted)
No Limit
Species
Haddock
Open Season
No Closed Season
Minimum Length
18″
Harvest & Possession Limit (per person unless noted)
No Limit
Species
Pollock
Open Season
No Closed Season
Minimum Length
19″
Harvest & Possession Limit (per person unless noted)
No Limit
Species
Red Drum
Open Season
No Closed Season
Minimum Length
18″
Harvest & Possession Limit (per person unless noted)
1, Not Greater than 27"
Species
River Herring
Open Season
No Open Season
Minimum Length
None
Harvest & Possession Limit (per person unless noted)
0
Species
Scup (Porgy)
Open Season
No Closed Season
Minimum Length
9″
Harvest & Possession Limit (per person unless noted)
50
Species
Shad - Delaware River & Tributaries
Open Season
No Closed Season
Minimum Length
None
Harvest & Possession Limit (per person unless noted)
6 (maximum of 3 American shad)
Species
Shad - All Other Marine Waters
Open Season
No Closed Season
Minimum Length
None
Harvest & Possession Limit (per person unless noted)
6 (no American shad may be harvested or possessed)
Species
Shark - Aggregate Large Coastal Group
Open Season
Jan. 1–May 14 and
July 16–Dec. 31
Minimum Length
54" Fork Length
Harvest & Possession Limit (per person unless noted)
One Shark (of any species, except prohibited species) per vessel per trip; plus one Atlantic sharpnose shark per person per trip (no minimum size); plus one bonnethead shark per person per trip (no minimum size).
Sharkb, c, †
Aggregate large coastal group†
Jan. 1–May 14 and
July 16–Dec. 31
54″ fork length
One Shark (of any species, except prohibited species) per vessel per trip; plus one Atlantic sharpnose shark per person per trip (no minimum size); plus one bonnethead shark per person per trip (no minimum size).
Hammerhead group†
78″ fork length
Non-blacknose small coastal group†
Blacknose group†
No Closed Season
None
Pelagic group†
No Closed Season
54″ fork length
Shortfin Mako†
No Closed Season
83″ fork length
Species
Shark - Hammerhead Group
Open Season
Jan. 1–May 14 and
July 16–Dec. 31
Minimum Length
78" Fork Length
Harvest & Possession Limit (per person unless noted)
One Shark (of any species, except prohibited species) per vessel per trip; plus one Atlantic sharpnose shark per person per trip (no minimum size); plus one bonnethead shark per person per trip (no minimum size).
Species
Shark - Non-Blacknose Small Coastal Group and Blacknose Group
Open Season
No Closed Season
Minimum Length
None
Harvest & Possession Limit (per person unless noted)
One Shark (of any species, except prohibited species) per vessel per trip; plus one Atlantic sharpnose shark per person per trip (no minimum size); plus one bonnethead shark per person per trip (no minimum size).
Species
Shark - Pelagic Group
Open Season
No Closed Season
Minimum Length
54" Fork Length
Harvest & Possession Limit (per person unless noted)
One Shark (of any species, except prohibited species) per vessel per trip; plus one Atlantic sharpnose shark per person per trip (no minimum size); plus one bonnethead shark per person per trip (no minimum size).
Species
Shark - Shortfin Mako
Open Season
No Closed Season
Minimum Length
83" Fork Length
Harvest & Possession Limit (per person unless noted)
One Shark (of any species, except prohibited species) per vessel per trip; plus one Atlantic sharpnose shark per person per trip (no minimum size); plus one bonnethead shark per person per trip (no minimum size).
Species
Smooth Dogfish
Open Season
No Closed Season
Minimum Length
None
Harvest & Possession Limit (per person unless noted)
No Limit
Species
Spanish Mackerel
Open Season
No Closed Season
Minimum Length
14"
Harvest & Possession Limit (per person unless noted)
10
Species
Striped Bass or Hybrid Striped Bass
Delaware River & Tributaries (Calhoun St. Bridge to Salem River & Tributaries)
Open Season
March 1-March 31
June 1-December 31
Minimum Length
one @ 28″ to < 43″ and one ≥ 43″
Harvest & Possession Limit (per person unless noted)
2
Species
Striped Bass or Hybrid Striped Bass
Delaware River & Tributaries (upstream of Calhoun St. Bridge)
Open Season
March 1-December 31
Minimum Length
One @ 28″ to < 43″ and One ≥ 43″
Harvest & Possession Limit (per person unless noted)
2
Species
Striped Bass or Hybrid Striped Bass
Atlantic Ocean (0–3 Nautical Miles from Shore)
Open Season
No Closed Season
Minimum Length
one @ 28″ to < 43″ and one ≥ 43″
Harvest & Possession Limit (per person unless noted)
2
Species
Striped Bass or Hybrid Striped Bass
Rivers Bays and Estuaries
Open Season
March 1-December 31
Minimum Length
one @ 28″ to < 43″ and one ≥ 43″
Harvest & Possession Limit (per person unless noted)
2
Species
Striped Bass or Hybrid Striped Bass
3–200 nautical miles (Federal Waters)
Open Season
Prohibited
Minimum Length
N/A
Harvest & Possession Limit (per person unless noted)
N/A
Species
Summer Flounder (Fluke)
Delaware Bay and Tributaries
Open Season
May 25-September 22
Minimum Length
17″
Harvest & Possession Limit (per person unless noted)
3
Species
Summer Flounder (Fluke)
Island Beach State Park, Shore Fishing
Open Season
May 25-September 22
Minimum Length
16″
Harvest & Possession Limit (per person unless noted)
2
Species
Summer Flounder (Fluke)
All Water Except as Above
Open Season
May 25-September 22
Minimum Length
18″
Harvest & Possession Limit (per person unless noted)
3
Species
Tautog (Blackfish)
Open Season
Jan 1- Feb 28 / April 1-April 30 / Aug 1-Nov 15 / Nov 16-Dec 31
Minimum Length
15″ (all dates)
Harvest & Possession Limit (per person unless noted)
4 / 4 / 1 / 5
Species
Winter Flounder
Open Season
March 1-December 31
Minimum Length
12″
Harvest & Possession Limit (per person unless noted)
2
Species
Blue Crab (Peeler or Shedder)
Open Season
No Closed Season
Minimum Length
3"
Harvest & Possession Limit (per person unless noted)
1 Bushel
Species
Blue Crab (Soft)
Open Season
No Closed Season
Minimum Length
3 1/2"
Harvest & Possession Limit (per person unless noted)
1 Bushel
Species
Blue Crab (Hard)
Open Season
No Closed Season
Minimum Length
4 1/2"
Harvest & Possession Limit (per person unless noted)
1 Bushel
Species
Lobster (Carapace Length)
Open Season
Click here to see Mollusks and Crustaceans Closed Seasons
Minimum Length
3 3/8"
Harvest & Possession Limit (per person unless noted)
6
Species
Hard Clam (License Required)
Open Season
No Closed Season
Minimum Length
1 1/2"
Harvest & Possession Limit (per person unless noted)
150