New Jersey Division of Fish & Wildlife
New Jersey
Saltwater Fishing
State of New Jersey
Philip D. Murphy, Governor
Sheila Y. Oliver, Lieutenant Governor
Department of Environmental Protection
Catherine R. McCabe, Commissioner
Division of Fish and Wildlife
Dave Golden, Acting Director
Paulette Nelson, Assistant Director
Joe Cimino, Administrator, Marine Fisheries Administration
Vacant, Chief, Marine Fisheries
Jeff Brust, Research Scientist, Marine Fisheries
Russ Babb, Chief, Shellfisheries
Al Ivany, Chief, Information and Education
Sean Cianciulli, Chief, Law Enforcement
Lisa Barno, Chief, Freshwater Fisheries
Jason Hearon, Chief, Land Management
Carole Stanko, Chief, Wildlife Management
John Heilferty, Chief, Endangered and Nongame Species
Cindy Kuenstner, Editor
New Jersey Division of Fish and Wildlife is a professional, environmental organization dedicated to the protection, management and wise use of the state’s fish and wildlife resources.
The Digest is available at coastal license agents, bait and tackle shops and Fish and Wildlife offices. Information may be reprinted with permission. Subscriptions are not available.
This Digest is designed and produced by J.F. Griffin Publishing, LLC; www.jfgriffin.com.
Partial funding for the Digest is provided by the Federal Aid in Sport Fish Restoration Program.
Cover photo: Black sea bass (photo courtesy of Captain Corey Pietraszek).
New Jersey Fish and Wildlife Councils
Marine Fisheries Council
Richard N. Herb, Acting Chair
James Alexis
Dr. Eleanor Ann Bochenek
Warren Hollinger
John J. Maxwell
Sergio Radossi
Joe Rizzo
Robert R. Rush, Jr.
Fish and Game Council
Frank Virgillio, Acting Chair
Phillip Brodhecker
Joe DeMartino
Jim DeStephano
Agust Gudmundsson
Dr. Rick Lathrop
Jeffrey A. Link
Robert Pollack
Loren Robinson
Ken Whildin
Atlantic Coast Shellfish Council
John J. Maxwell, Chair
Walter L. Johnson, III, Vice Chair
Delaware Bay Shellfish Council
Warren Hollinger, Chair
Stephen J. Fleetwood, Vice Chair
Richard Malinowski
Wildlife Rehabilitators
Advisory Committee
Diane Nickerson, Chair
Phillip Brodhecker
Giselle Chazotte-Smisko
Carol Dragland
Heather Freeman
Tracy Leaver
Dr. Nicole Lewis
Dr. Erica Miller
Dr. Jennifer Norton
Michael O’Malley
Waterfowl Stamp
Advisory Committee
Robert VonSuskil, Chair
Peter Bacinski
Joseph DeMartino
Mike Kantor
Scott Paterson
Mike Shanahan
Jim A. Shissias
Dr. Lenore Tedesco
Ken Whildin
Endangered and Nongame
Species Advisory Committee
Dr. Rick Lathrop, Chair
Dr. James Applegate
Dr. Barbara Brummer
Dr. Joanna Burger
Dr. Emile DeVito
Howard Geduldig
Dr. Erica Miller
Dr. David Mizrahi
Jane Morton-Galetto
Dr. Howard Reinert
James Shissias
Where to Write Us
New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, Division of Fish and Wildlife
MC 501-03 • P.O. Box 420 • Trenton, NJ 08625-0420 • NJFishandWildlife.com
New Jersey Division of Fish and Wildlife
Our Mission
To protect and manage the state’s fish and wildlife to maximize their long-term biological, recreational and economic value for all New Jerseyans.
Our Goals
• To maintain New Jersey’s rich variety of fish and wildlife species at stable, healthy levels and to protect and enhance the many habitats on which they depend.
• To educate New Jerseyans on the values and needs of our fish and wildlife and to foster a positive human/wildlife co-existence.
• To maximize the recreational and commercial use of New Jersey’s fish and wildlife for both present and future generations.
Hotlines
New Jersey Fish and Wildlife
Report Marine, Shellfish and Finfish Violations
(609) 748-2050 or call the 24-hour DEP Hotline: 877-WARNDEP
Violators of the Marine Fisheries laws are subject to a $30 per fish or $300 to $3,000 fine.
Federal Marine Fisheries Contacts
NOAA Fisheries
Enforcement Hotline
24-hour non-emergency tipline (800) 853-1964
NOAA Fisheries Office of Law Enforcement — Northeast Enforcement Division HQ
(978) 281-9249
Federal Fisheries Law Enforcement Field Offices
Wall: (732) 280-6490
Northfield: (609) 415-2941
Sedge Island Natural Resource Education Center Programs — Summer 2019
- Sedge Island Fishing Experience:
A 4-day 3-night marine fishing intensive program. Open to students going into grades 8 and 9 in the fall of 2019. - Barnegat Bay Field and Research Experience: A 6-day 5-night program focused on conducting field research. Open to high school students.
- Sedge Island Field Experience: A 4-day 3-night program that has students work alongside biologists in the salt marsh field. Open to students going into grades 7, 8 and 9 in the fall of 2019.
- Bay to Bowl: A 3-day 2-night program open to adults interested in harvesting food from the bay and learning how to prepare and cook it.
For more details, dates and cost visit NJFishandWildlife.com/sedge.htm
or contact Karen Byrne at
Karen.Byrne@dep.nj.gov.
Law Enforcement
Law Enforcement and Regulation Information Contact a New Jersey Division of Fish & Wildlife Law Enforcement office that serves the county where you hunt or fish.
- Northern Region — (908) 735-8240
(Bergen, Essex, Hudson, Hunterdon, Morris, Passaic, Somerset, Sussex, Union and Warren counties) - Central Region — (609) 259-2120
(Burlington, Mercer, Middlesex, Monmouth and Ocean counties) - Southern Region — (856) 629-0555
(Atlantic, Camden, Cape May, Cumberland, Gloucester and Salem counties) - Marine Region — (609) 748-2050
(coastal and bay areas) - To report violations anonymously
call Operation Game Thief —
(855) OGT-TIPS
Operation Game Thief
Report Abuse of our Outdoor Heritage!
1-855-OGT-TIPS
24 Hours a Day, Seven Days a Week
The person who poaches, pollutes habitat and abuses public land tarnishes the image of sportsmen and robs us of our fish and wildlife
as well as tax and license dollars. You can make a difference.
Call OGT to report:
- Negligent use of firearms
- Over the limits for game and fish
- Commercial exploitation of fish and wildlife
- Pollution of habitat, dumping on state land
- Destruction of signs and state property
- Illegal killing, taking or possession of any wildlife
It’s Free. It’s Confidential.
You May Be Eligible for a Reward.
Funded by the New Jersey State Federation of Sportsmen’s Clubs.
Designed to encourage sportsmen to report poaching and wildlife crimes.
Attention Boaters
Keep Our Water Clean—
Use Pumpouts
Ready To Serve Boaters! Visit marina pumpout facilities or contact one of the pumpout boats. A complete listing of operational pumpout facilities at marinas and detailed information on the pumpout boats can be found at NJBoating.org.
Proper maintenance and operation of your on-board toilet and holding tank are critical to ensure they function properly.
- Always use sufficient water when flushing
- Use toilet paper designed for use in marine/RV systems
- Have your marina inspect your onboard toilet system to make sure it is operating properly