Delaware River

Nicholas A. Tonelli

• 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 on 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. No more than three single hooks or three treble hooks per 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.
• Baitfish may be taken and possessed for personal use and are not to be bartered or sold.
• 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 boundary 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
  www.fw.delaware.gov/Fisheries/Pages/NewFishingLicense.aspx.
• A listing of fishing access locations along the Delaware River is available at Fish and Wildlife’s website, NJFishandWildlife.com, under Freshwater Fishing.
• Delaware River Basin Commission recreation maps are available for $25. An order form is available online at www.state.nj.us/drbc/recreation.htm.
• Information for the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area is available online at www.nps.gov/dewa.

The Delaware River is a boundary water shared by Pennsylvania and New Jersey with each state’s border generally following the centerline of the river. Although the majority of the fishing regulations enacted by both states are identical, there are some distinct differences. Anglers fishing this river must be aware of each state’s fishing regulations.

Regardless of an angler’s residency or point of boat launching, all are required to comply with the regulations of the state in which they are fishing. An angler fishing—or in possession of fish—between the centerline of the river and the New Jersey shoreline must comply with the New Jersey fishing regulations. An angler fishing—or in possession of fish—between the centerline of the river and the Pennsylvania shoreline must comply with the Pennsylvania fishing regulations.

The reciprocal agreement regarding fishing licenses remains in effect and anglers may continue to fish from shoreline to shoreline in the Delaware River between Pennsylvania and New Jersey using either state’s fishing license. Information on each state’s fishing regulations can be found at www.fishandboat.com and www.NJFishandWildlife.com. It is incumbent upon anglers to determine in which state they are currently fishing, taking into account that in areas where the river splits, such as around islands, the boundary is clearly and legally defined to one side of the island or another.

All anglers are reminded to comply with each state’s marine registry requirements when angling for or catching anadromous species such as striped bass, river herring or shad in the tidal portions of the Delaware River.