Red text in regulations indicates a change for this year. Green text denotes proposed regulation changes anticipated to be in effect later in 2011. Purple text indicates an important note.
State Size and Possession Limits
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2011 New Jersey Recreational Fishing Seasons, Minimum Size and Possession Limits (Regulations in red are new this year.) |
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Species |
Open Season |
Minimum Length |
Harvest & Possession Limit (per person unless noted) |
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American Eel |
No Closed Season |
6″ |
50 |
|
Black Druma |
No Closed Season |
16″ |
3 |
|
Black Sea Bassa |
June 4th-Oct 11th |
12.5″* |
25 |
|
Bluefish |
No Closed Season |
None |
15 |
|
Cobia |
No Closed Season |
37″ |
2 |
|
Cod |
No Closed Season |
21″ |
No Limit |
|
Haddock |
No Closed Season |
21″ |
No Limit |
|
King Mackerel |
No Closed Season |
23″ |
3 |
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Pollock |
No Closed Season |
19″ |
No Limit |
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Red Drum |
No Closed Season |
18″ |
1 not greater than 27″ |
|
River Herring |
No Closed Season |
None |
35 |
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Scup (Porgy) |
Jan. 1–Feb. 28 July 1–Dec. 31 |
9″ |
50 |
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Shad |
No Closed Season |
None |
6 |
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Shark (b,c) |
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Large coastal group† |
Jan. 1–May 14 July 16–Dec. 31 |
54″ fork length |
>One Shark (of any species, except prohibited species) per vessel per trip; plus one Atlantic sharpnose shark per person per trip (no minimum size); plus one bonnethead shark per person per trip (no minimum size). |
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Small coastal group† |
No closed season |
None |
|
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Pelagic group† |
No closed season |
54″ fork length |
|
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Smooth Dogfish |
No Closed Season |
None |
No Limit |
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Spanish Mackerel |
No Closed Season |
14″ |
10 |
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Striped Bass or Hybrid Striped Bass |
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Delaware River & tributaries** (Calhoun St. bridge to Salem River & tributaries) |
March 1–March 31 and June 1–Dec. 31 |
28″ |
2 |
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Delaware River & tributaries** (upstream of Calhoun St. bridge) |
March 1–Dec. 31 |
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Atlantic Oceand (0–3 nautical miles from shore) |
No Closed Season |
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Rivers, bay and estuaries |
March 1–Dec. 31 |
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3–200 nautical miles (federal waters) |
Prohibited |
– |
0 |
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Summer Flounder |
May 7–Sept. 25 |
18″ |
8 |
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Tautog |
Jan. 1–April 30 |
14″ |
4 |
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May 1–July 15 |
– |
0 |
|
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July 16–Nov. 15 |
14″ |
1 |
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Nov. 16–Dec. 31 |
14″ |
6 |
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>Weakfish |
No Closed Season |
13″ |
1 |
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Winter Flounder |
March 23–May 21 |
12″ |
2 |
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Note: No species of fish with a minimum size limit listed above may be filleted or cleaned at sea (except striped bass if fillet is at least 28″ long). Party boats licensed to carry 15 or more passengers may apply for a permit to fillet the above species, except striped bass, at sea. See Summer Flounder, page 12. |
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Blue Crab |
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peeler or shedder |
No Closed Seasone |
3″ |
1 bushel |
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soft |
No Closed Seasone |
3½” |
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hard |
No Closed Seasone |
4½” |
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Lobster (carapace length) |
No Closed Season |
33/8″ |
6 |
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Hard Clam (license required) |
No Closed Season |
1½” |
150 clams |
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a Regulation changes possible during 2011. b Not including dogfish; see description under Sharks. c See list of Prohibited Species. d Atlantic Ocean greater than three miles from shore: harvest and possession prohibited. e Unless using non-collapsible, Chesapeake-style crab pots. See sections on crab pots. *Excluding tail filaments. (See illustration** See Closed Seasons for specifics of springtime non-offset circle hook requirements. |
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