Federal Size & Possession Limits

New Jersey Saltwater Fishing

Regulations in red are new this year.

2020 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 (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	21″	10 per person per day
Striped Bass	NA	NA	No possession allowed in EEZ	Possession prohibited in federal waters (3–200 nm).
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 https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/topic/atlantic-highly-migratory-species or call (727) 824-5326.
Marlin, White	Year round	66″ lower jaw– fork length	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 https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/topic/atlantic-highly-migratory-species or call (727) 824-5399.
Marlin, Blue	Year round	99″ lower jaw– fork length	None
Roundscale Spearfish	Year round	66″ lower jaw– fork length	None
Sailfish	Year round	63″ lower jaw– fork length	None
Spearfish, Longbill	None	None	Prohibited
Tilefish, Blueline	May 1–Oct. 31	None	Private boat: 3 fish per person, per trip USCG uninspected for-hire vessel: 5 fish per person, per trip USCG inspected for-hire vessel: 7 fish per person, per trip	In effect from the Virginia/North Carolina border north.
Tilefish, Golden	Year round	None	8 per angler per trip	In effect from the Virginia/North Carolina border north.
Swordfish	Year round	47″ lower jaw– fork length if the head is naturally attached or 25″ cleithrum to caudal keel if the head has been removed.	For anglers: 1 per person, no more than 4 per vessel per trip. 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 https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/topic/atlantic-highly-migratory-species 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″ curved fork length and one trophy fish ≥ 73″ curved fork length per vessel per year	Limits can change during the season. Prior to departure, check https://hmspermits.noaa.gov or 888-USA-TUNA for up-to-date limits.
Tuna, Skipjack	Year round	None	None
Tuna, Yellowfin	Year round	27″ curved fork length	3 per person per trip
Sharks* Aggregate Large Coastal Group Pelagic Group Non-blacknose Small Coastal Group Hammerhead Group Blacknose Group	Year round	Aggregate Large Coastal and Pelagic: Shortfin Mako: Male: 71″ fork length Female: 83″ fork length All others 54″ fork length Hammerheads: 78″ fork length Other listed sharks: None	For non prohibited species: 1 authorized* shark/vessel/trip plus 1 Atlantic sharpnose and 1 bonnethead shark/person/trip	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.