Shellfish & Crab Information
A clamming license is now called a shellfish license and is required for harvesting of all species of benthic mollusks (with the exception of conchs, addressed in the commercial marine fisheries regulations), including, but not limited to, hard and soft clams, surf clams, oysters, bay scallops and mussels. Other specific commercial shellfish licenses exist such as surf clam dredge, Delaware Bay oyster dredge boat, and Delaware Bay licenses to harvest in Areas 1, 2 and 3.
Anyone engaged in any shellfish harvesting activity with someone holding a commercial shellfish license must also possess their own commercial shellfish license.
The senior shellfish license is a lifetime license.
For shellfishing regulations, see pages Marine Regulations: Mollusks & Crustaceans and State Size & Possession Limits. Prior to harvesting any shellfish, be certain to consult the Shellfish Growing Water Classification Charts published by DEP’s Bureau of Marine Water Monitoring, available at any shellfish license agent, state shellfish offices, online at http://www.nj.gov/dep/bmw/waterclass.htm or call the Bureau of Marine Water Monitoring at (609) 748-2000. Shellfish licenses are available for purchase online atwww.NJ.WildlifeLicense.com.
Shellfish License Fees
- Resident recreational shellfish:$10
Harvest limit of 150 shellfish (in aggregate) per day. Sale of catch prohibited. - Non-resident recreational shellfish: $20
Harvest limit of 150 shellfish (in aggregate) per day. Sale of catch prohibited. License valid only during the months of June, July, August and September. - Juvenile recreational shellfish: $2
For persons under 14 years of age. Subject to same restrictions as resident or nonresident adult recreational license holders. - Resident commercial shellfish: $50
Unlimited harvest. Shellfish may be sold only to certified dealers. - Non-resident Commercial Shellfish: $250
Unlimited harvest. Shellfish may be sold to certified dealers only. - Senior citizen recreational shellfish license:FREE ($2 application fee)
NJ residents age 62 years or older. Harvest limit, 150 shellfish (in aggregate) per day. Sale of shellfish prohibited. - Disabled veterans: Fish and Wildlife-certified disabled veterans are eligible for free shellfish license at any shellfish license agent location. For more information on how to become certified, call (908) 637-4125.
Crab Pot License Information
Crab Pot licenses are available at all agent locations:
Recreational Crab Pot/Trot Line Licenses and Non-Commercial Crab Dredge Licenses are available for purchase online at: www.NJ.WildlifeLicense.comor at any Fish and Wildlife-certified license agent including those license agents listed at right. For the most current list of Fish and Wildlife-certified license agents, go to NJFishandWildlife.com/agentlst.htm.
- Recreational crab pot/trot line license: $2
Harvest limit of one bushel per day. Refer to the shellfish regulations on Marine Regulations: Mollusks & Crustaceans for all recreational crabbing regulations. - Non-commercial crab dredge license: $15
Harvest limit of one bushel per day during the crab dredge season. Refer to the crab regulations on Marine Regulations: Mollusks & Crustaceans for all recreational crabbing regulations.
Terrapin Excluders and Biodegradable Panels Are Required on Chesapeake-Style Crab Pots
Users of non-collapsible, Chesapeake-style crab pots should be aware that all pots set in any body of water less than 150-feet wide at mean low tide or in any manmade lagoon MUST include diamondback terrapin excluder devices. In addition, all non-collapsible, Chesapeake-style crab pots set in any body of water MUST include biodegradable panels.
These crab pot modifications will help reduce the unintentional drowning of terrapins and allow for escapement of these and other species in the event that pots are lost or abandoned. Terrapin excluder devices must be no larger than 2-inch high by 6-inch wide and securely fastened inside each funnel entrance. Biodegradable panels must measure at least 6½-inchwide by 5-inch high and be located in the upper section of the crab pot. The panel must be constructed of, or fastened to the pot with wood lath, cotton, hemp, sisal or jute twine not greater than 3/16″ diameter, or non-stainless steel, uncoated ferrous metal not greater than 3/32″ diameter. The door or a side of the pot may serve as the biodegradable panel ONLY if it is fastened to the pot with any of the material specified above. Crabbers should be aware that ALL non-collapsible, Chesapeake-style crab pots MUST be licensed and marked with the gear identification number of the owner. For crab pot license information and regulations, see the regulations on Marine Regulations: Mollusks & Crustaceans and license agents below.
Shellfish and Non-Commercial Crab Pot License Agent
(For over-the-counter sales only.)
ATLANTIC COUNTY
Egg Harbor True Value, 208 N. Philadelphia Ave., Egg Harbor City (609) 965-0815
Fish Finder Marina, 3645 Atlantic-Brigantine Blvd., Brigantine (609) 457-5384
NJ Div. Fish and Wildlife, 360 Rt. 9 N (milepost 51), Port Republic.. (609) 748-2021
Zeus Sporting Goods, 6679 Black Horse Pike, Egg Harbor Twp. (609) 646-1668
CAMDEN COUNTY
Towne News, 81 So. Whitehorse Pike, Berlin (856) 768-9132
CAPE MAY COUNTY
Avalon Hodge Podge, 2389 Ocean Dr., Avalon (609) 967-3274
Belleplain Supply, 346 Handsmill Rd., Bellplain (609) 861-2345
Budd’s Bait & Tackle, 109 Fullingmill Rd., Villas (609) 886-6935
City of Ocean City, 861 Asbury Ave., Ocean City (609) 525-9328
Just Sports, 21 Mechanic St., Cape May Court House (609) 465-6171
Sea Isle Bait & Tackle, 4200 Park Rd., Sea Isle City (609) 263-6540 Smuggler’s Cove, 370 83rd St., Stone Harbor (609) 368-1700
Sterling Harbor Bait & Tackle,1020 W.Rio Grande Ave.,Wildwood(609) 729-1425
Two Chums Bait,Tackle and Boat, 375 – 43rd Pl., Sea Isle City (609) 263-2486
Upper Township, 2100 Tuckahoe Rd., Tuckahoe (609) 628-2805
Wal*Mart, 3159 Rt. 9S, Rio Grande (609) 465-7760
CUMBERLAND COUNTY
AIR’s Bait & Tackle, 222 Bridgeton Fairton Rd., Bridgeton (856) 451-1800
Delaware Bay Office, 1672 E. Buckshutem Rd., Millville (856) 785-0730
Shire Products, 389 S. Lincoln Ave., Vineland (856) 692-3646
GLOUCESTER COUNTY
Sportsman’s Outpost, 2517 Fries Mill Rd., Williamstown (856) 881-3244
HUDSON COUNTY
Caso’s Gun-A-Rama, 176 Danforth Ave., Jersey City (201) 435-5099
MIDDLESEX COUNTY
Auto Parts of Woodbridge, 108 Main St., Woodbridge (732) 634-6264
Sayreville Sportsman Shop, 52 Washington Ave., Sayreville (732) 238-2060
MONMOUTH COUNTY
Brielle Bait & Tackle, 800 Ashley Ave., Brielle (732) 528-5720
L & H Woods and Water, 2045 Rt. 35, Wall (732) 282-1812
The Bait Shop, 57 Main St., Bradley Beach (732) 361-8500
OCEAN COUNTY
American Sportsman, 857 Mill Creek Rd., Manahawkin (609) 597-4104
Bob Kislin’s, 1214 Rt. 37 East, Toms River (732) 929-9300
Downes Bait & Tackle, 287 Brennan Concourse, Bayville (732) 269-0137
Fish Bonz Bait & Tackle, 103 Lacey Rd., Forked River (609) 971-2928
Grizz’s Forked River B & T,232 N. Main St., Forked River (609) 693-9298
Lacey Marine, 308 Rt. 9, So., Forked River (609) 693-0151
Pell’s Fish & Sport Shop, 335 Mantoloking Rd., Bricktown (732) 477-2121
Pineland Sporting Goods, 959 W. Veterans Hwy., Jackson (732) 961-7248
Surf City Bait & Tackle, 317 Long Beach Blvd., Surf City (609) 494-2333
Tip’s Hardware, 218 Main St., West Creek (609) 296-3192
SOMERSET COUNTY
Efinger Sporting Goods, 513 W. Union Ave., Bound Brook (732) 356-0604
Regulations in red are new this year.
Purple text indicates an important note.
