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New Jersey

Freshwater Fishing

Freshwater Fishing

Size, Season & Creel Limits

Certain waters are closed to fishing for all species from March 18 to April 6, 2024 at 8 a.m. because of trout stocking. Refer to General Trout Information and Trout Fishing for complete lists and exceptions. Regulations in red are new this year. For Delaware River and Greenwood Lake, see Delaware River Regulations and Greenwood Lake Regulations.

Season

Location

Minimum Size

Daily Limit

Largemouth & Smallmouth Bass

Jan. 1–April 14

April 15–June 15 Catch & Release only (all waters)

June 16–Dec. 31

12 inches

15 inches

15 inches

Northern Pike, Tiger Musky, Muskellunge*

Open year round

March 20–May 20 are Catch & Release only for Echo Lake Reservoir, Mercer Lake, Mountain Lake, Monksville Reservoir

Northern Pike: 24 inches

Tiger Musky & Muskellunge: 40 inches

Tiger Musky & Muskellunge: 44 inches

Chain Pickerel and Redfin Pickerel

Open year round

15 inches

Walleye

Jan. 1–Feb. 28

March 1–April 30 Catch & Release only

May 1–Dec. 31

18 inches

Striped Bass (freshwater only)

March 1–Dec. 31

One @ 28" to a maximum of 31"

Hybrid Striped Bass (freshwater only)

Open year round

16 inches

March 1–Dec. 31

One @ 28" to a maximum of 31"

American Shad

Open Year Round

Season Closed in all other fresh waters

Channel Catfish

Open year round

12 inches

Crappie (Black and White)

Open year round

8 inches

Sunfish and All Other Species with No Specified Creel Limits

Open year round

No minimum size

Sunfish: 7 inches

Yellow Perch:No minimum size

Sunfish: 7 inches

Banded, Blackbanded, BlueSpotted and Mud Sunfish

Closed

Protected

Freshwater Baitfish (See Baitfish for complete description of gear types and restrictions)

Open year round

Exceptions In trout stocked waters baitfish may only be taken with hook and line: from April 6 to June 15, or in waters open to fishing during the pre-season closure, from March 18 to June 15.

No minimum

Exception
American Eel: 9 inches