The recreational cobia regulations have been modified to a possession limit of 2 fish per vessel with a minimum size limit of 43 inches. The open season of January 1–December 31 remains unchanged.
New Jersey recreational marine regulations apply to all fish species when they are possessed in state waters or landed in New Jersey regardless of where they are caught. Saltwater anglers must comply with the requirements of the New Jersey Saltwater Recreational Registry Program.
Resource Information
Anyone who takes fisheries resources may be required to provide information on the species, number, weight or other information pertinent to management of resources. Anglers are encouraged to report all fishing activity after each trip. To share your fishing experiences and contribute to data collection, visit the NJDEP Fish & Wildlife Volunteer Angler Survey page.
Methods of Recreational Fishing
No person shall take, catch, kill or attempt to take, catch or kill any fish within the marine waters of the state by any means except in the manner commonly known as angling with hand line or rod and line unless specifically provided for by statute or regulation.
No license is required to take bait fish for personal use with the following gear:
Dip nets 24 inches diameter or less for taking Atlantic herring only for live bait. The taking or possession of river herring (alewife and blueback herring) is prohibited.
Bait seines 50 feet long or less.
Cast nets 20 feet in diameter or less.
Lift or umbrella nets four feet square or less.
Not more than five killipots.
Not more than two miniature fykes or pots for the taking of eels for bait.
Fish taken in this manner may not be sold or used for barter unless the angler is in possession of a commercial bait net license.
No person shall take or attempt to take fish by any means from the Deal Lake flume, Lake Takanassee spillway or Wreck Pond spillway on any Monday, Wednesday or Friday during the months of April and May.
Wanton Waste Prohibited
Fish of any species which are purposely killed shall become part of the angler’s daily possession limit and shall not be returned to the water from which they were taken. This does not apply to fish which are released alive and subsequently die, but does apply even to species without size/possession limits.
Spearfishing
Spearfishing may be conducted by means of a spear, harpoon or other missile while completely submerged in the marine waters of the state for any species, except lobster.
Persons who fish with a spear for species with size limits are reminded that it is their responsibility to ensure the fish meets the minimum size limits before being killed or injured.
Filleting
The filleting at sea of all fish with a size limit, or any species of flatfish, is prohibited except for summer flounder; see Summer Flounder. Anglers shall possess no parts of any fish caught on a previous fishing trip. Party boats may fillet fish at sea if they obtain a Special Fillet Permit available from NJDEP Fish & Wildlife’s Marine Resources Administration.
Fish Measurement
To measure fish correctly for size regulations, lay the fish flat and measure from the tip of the closed mouth to the longest part of the compressed tail. This method ensures accurate total length for compliance with New Jersey fishing regulations.
Prohibited Species
It is illegal to take, possess, land, purchase, or sell any of the following species:
The harvest of horseshoe crabs is prohibited. Possession of horseshoe crabs is also prohibited except for those individuals holding a scientific collecting permit for research and education and those fishermen that can provide suitable documentation that the horseshoe crabs in their possession were harvested outside of New Jersey.
Sea Turtles & Marine Mammals
It is illegal to intentionally molest, kill or possess sea turtles, including terrapins, or marine mammals, or to possess any part thereof.
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