Federal Size & Possession Limits
New Jersey
Saltwater Fishing
Regulations in red are new this year.
| 2018 Federal Recreational Fishing Regulations for Minimum Size, Possession Limits and Seasons | ||||
| See Finfish Regulations for how to measure fish. See Recreational Minimum Size, Possession Limits and Seasons (page State Size & Possession Limits) for state waters listings of species not included in these federal waters regulations (from 3–200nm). For federal regulation questions, please contact the National Marine Fisheries Service at (978) 281-9260, or go to www.nmfs.noaa.gov. | ||||
| Species | Season | Minimum Size | Possession Limit (number per angler per day unless otherwise specified) | Notes |
| Cod | Year round | 22″ | 10 per person per day | |
| Striped Bass | NA | NA | No possession allowed in EEZ | Possession prohibited in federal waters (3–200 nm). See Finfish Regulations and State Size & Possession Limits for NJ waters. |
| Dolphin (Mahi mahi) | Year round | None | 10 per day, not to exceed 60 per vessel, which ever is less — except on a charter or headboat, then 10 per paying passenger. | For current federal waters regulations (3–200nm), refer to www.nmfs.noaa.gov/sfa/hms/ or call (727) 824-5326. |
| Marlin, White | Year round | 66″ lower jaw– | None | Billfish require Highly Migratory Species (HMS) permit when fishing in federal waters (3–200 nm). For permits refer to https://hmspermits.noaa.gov or call (888) 872-8862. During any sanctioned billfish tournaments offering prize money, non-offset circle hooks are required for lures with natural bait or natural/artificial bait combos. All non-tournament billfish landings must be reported to NMFS within 24 hours, either online at https://hmspermits.noaa.gov or by calling (800) 894-5528. For current regulations refer to www.nmfs.noaa.gov/sfa/hms/ or call (727) 824-5399. |
| Marlin, Blue | Year round | 99″ lower jaw– | None | |
| Roundscale Spearfish | Year round | 66″ lower jaw– | None | |
| Sailfish | Year round | 63″ lower jaw– | None | |
| Spearfish, Longbill | None | None | Prohibited | |
| Tilefish, Blueline | Year round | None | 7 per angler per trip | In effect from the Virginia/North Carolina border north. |
| Tilefish, Golden | Year round | None | 8 per angler per trip | |
| Swordfish | Year round | 47″ lower jaw– | For anglers: 1 per person, no more than For charter vessels: 1 per paying passenger, no more than 6 per vessel per trip. For headboat vessels: 1 per paying passenger, no more than 15 per vessel per trip. | Swordfish, tuna and sharks require an HMS permit when fishing in federal waters (3–200 nm). For permits, refer to https://hmspermits.noaa.gov or call (888) 872-8862. All non-tournament swordfish landings must be reported to NMFS within 24 hours either online at https://hmspermits.noaa.gov or by calling (800) 894-5528. †Bluefin tuna are managed in two regions; Northern, extending north from the Great Egg Inlet and Southern extending south from Great Egg Inlet. Bluefin tuna retention limits may change throughout the season. Visit https://hmspermits.noaa.gov or call (888) 872-8862 or (978) 281-9260 for current information. All recreational bluefin tuna landings must be reported to NMFS within 24 hours either online at https://hmspermits.noaa.gov or by calling (888) 872-8862. For current federal waters regulations (3–200nm), refer to www.nmfs.noaa.gov/sfa/hms/ or call (301) 713-2347 for swordfish/sharks or (978) 281-9260 for tunas. |
| Tuna, Albacore (Longfin) | Year round | None | None | |
| Tuna, Bigeye | Year round | 27″ curved fork length | None | |
| Tuna, Bluefin† | Jan. 1–Dec. 31 or until season is closed. | 27″ to <73″ | Limits can change during the season. | |
| Tuna, Skipjack | Year round | None | None | |
| Tuna, Yellowfin | Year round | 27″ curved fork length | 3 per person per trip | |
| Sharks* Aggregate Large Coastal Group Hammerhead Group Non-blacknose Blacknose Group Pelagic Group | Year round | Aggregate Large Hammerheads: Other listed sharks: None | For non prohibited species: | See below for list of shark groups which MAY be kept or MUST be released. Swordfish, tuna and sharks require an HMS permit when fishing in federal waters (3–200 nm). For permits, refer to https://hmspermits.noaa.gov or call (888) 872-8862. Recreational fishermen (those that do not have a limited access commercial shark permit) can not sell, barter or trade any Atlantic shark or shark pieces. |
| Wahoo | Year round | None | 2 per person per day | For more information, contact the South Atlantic Fisheries Management Council at (843) 571-4366. |
| Wreckfish | July 1 – Aug. 31 | None | 1 per vessel per day | |
| *Shark Species That May Be Kept (Authorized Species): Aggregate Large Coastal Shark—blacktip, bull, lemon, nurse, tiger, spinner; Hammerhead Shark—scalloped hammerhead, smooth hammerhead, great hammerhead; Non-Blacknose Small Coastal Shark—Atlantic sharpnose, bonnethead, finetooth; Blacknose Shark—blacknose; Pelagic Shark—Shortfin mako, blue, porbeagle, oceanic whitetip and common thresher. Shark Species That MUST Be Released (Prohibited Species): Atlantic angel, basking, bigeye sand tiger, bigeye sixgill, bigeye thresher, bignose, Caribbean reef, Caribbean sharpnose, dusky, Galapagos, longfin mako, narrowtooth, night, sandbar, sand tiger, sevengill, silky, sixgill, smalltail, whale and white. Regulations concerning highly migratory species (HMS) such as tuna, swordfish, shark and billfish, are subject to change. Refer to www.nmfs.noaa.gov/sfa/hms/ for a list of complete federal regulations for highly migratory species. For questions/clarification of the federal highly migratory species regulations, contact the National Marine Fisheries Service at (301) 713-2347 or go to www.nmfs.noaa.gov. | ||||