Recreational Surveys

Name: eRegulations
Price range: $

Three people standing on a rocky shoreline fishing with rods—dressed for cool weather, focused on surf fishing in a calm coastal inlet. — Anglers enjoy a day of shoreline fishing along a New Jersey coastal inlet. Shore-based fishing provides accessible, low-cost recreational opportunities for all ages while promoting conservation and sustainable harvest practices.

Image courtesy Ray Ringen

New Jersey Saltwater Recreational Registry Program (NJSRRP)

Recreational Saltwater Anglers

Before heading out to enjoy one of New Jersey's treasured resources, be aware of saltwater fishing requirements and regulations.

Register. It's free and required!

Sample 2025 NJ Saltwater Recreational Registry Program individual certificate showing angler information, registration ID, and validity dates issued by NJ Fish and Wildlife. — Sample 2025 New Jersey Saltwater Recreational Registry Certificate. All recreational anglers fishing in marine and tidal waters must register annually with the NJ Saltwater Recreational Registry Program to comply with state and federal fishing regulations.

The Saltwater Registry is meant to be a current contact list for mail and telephone surveys. Participation in the NJ Saltwater Recreational Registry Program (NJSRRP) is vital in achieving accurate recreational fishing estimates, helping to ensure healthy fisheries for generations to come and to better account for the contributions and impacts of saltwater anglers on coastal economies. Do your part to help maintain sustainable fisheries and join the thousands of other anglers who have already registered with the NJ Saltwater Recreational Registry Program.

Anyone 16 and older must register before saltwater fishing recreationally in New Jersey.
If 18 or older, a driver’s license, state issued id, passport, Visa or alike is required.
Anglers 18 or older must fill out the Child Support Certification form annually.
All for-hire owners and captains must register each recreational saltwater fishing vessel they own or run under their name. It is not necessary for one individual to register as both the captain and owner—once is sufficient.
Anglers are reminded that registrations expire at the end of each calendar year and must be renewed annually.

* For more information on the program, visit the NJ Saltwater Recreational Registry website or email the Marine Fisheries staff with questions.

Marine Fisheries: Recreational Surveys

Be Counted...

You may see NJDEP Fish & Wildlife interviewers at marine public access fishing sites conducting the Access Point Angler Intercept Survey (APAIS). The survey targets marine recreational anglers to obtain information about their fishing effort and catch. The more data collected, the more successful the survey becomes for estimating overall catch, which is an integral factor for managing fisheries.

Marine Fisheries staff are eager to speak with fishing clubs/groups about the importance of the APAIS. We rely heavily on our valued anglers, creating a joint effort to preserve the state’s natural resources. Invite us to a group meeting or event. Contact Maryellen Gordon via email. We look forward to meeting you!

NJDEP Fish & Wildlife staff continue to conduct the For-Hire Telephone Survey annually from March through December. Weekly calls are made to vessel operators regarding the previous week’s trips. This data is used to estimate fishing effort in the for-hire sector and is combined with APAIS data. 2,142 vessels were contacted averaging approximately 50 vessels per week with just over a 46.9% response rate during 2024.

If you’re not contacted directly while out fishing, you can still submit a quick online fishing report through the Recreational Saltwater Volunteer Angler Survey after each saltwater trip. Your reports have a real impact on how our oceans are managed.

APAIS Totals 2024
Month	Site Assignments	Charter Intercepts	Private/Rental Intercepts	Shore Intercepts	Total Intercepts
March	60	0	6	65	71
April	91	15	237	120	372
May	177	71	320	338	729
June	176	97	481	406	984
July	182	121	516	644	1,281
August	181	159	583	384	1,126
September	167	49	246	237	532
October	166	92	342	286	720
November	154	94	489	273	856
December	141	32	93	33	158
	1,495	730	3,313	2,786	6,829
*Out of 1495 assignments, NJ completed 1473. There were 22 assignments cancelled due to weather emergencies and/or lack of availability.

Child Support Certification Requirement

The Child Support Program Improvement Act requires NJDEP Fish & Wildlife to collect and maintain Social Security numbers and child support obligation certification for all license and registration applications. Certifications must be completed prior to a customer's first purchase each license year regardless of whether the purchase is made online or at a license agent. Saltwater Registrations are ONLY available online.

If your first purchase of the year is at a License Agent then the customer must be present to complete the Child Support Certification in person. The online child support certification allows an individual to complete the form from the privacy of their home. Once done, the certification remains valid for the calendar year in which the certification was completed. When the child support form is completed online the customer does not need to be present at the license agent for a purchase to be made on or for their behalf.

NJDEP Fish & Wildlife Website

Visit the NJDEP Fish & Wildlife Website to access saltwater fishing regulations, management updates, public hearing information, data collected from field surveys and more.