NJ Fishing Regulations: NJDEP Limits & Seasons

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NJDEP rules checked • August 12, 2026

New Jersey fishing rules: know whether your line is in a lake, trout stream, bay or ocean

New Jersey regulations change sharply by water type. A largemouth bass, trout, striped bass or fluke can have a different season, size, bag limit or license requirement depending on exactly where you are fishing.

2026 freshwater changes Trout seasons Bass & walleye limits Fluke zones Striped bass Delaware River
What’s open now? Freshwater limits Marine limits
August 12, 2026 status

New Jersey marine fisheries anglers are checking right now

Marine seasons can change during the year. These status cards reflect the regulations reviewed for August 12, 2026; verify NJDEP again before departure.

OPEN

Summer flounder / fluke

Through Sept. 25

General waters: 3 fish at 18 inches. Delaware Bay and Island Beach State Park exceptions apply.

OPEN

Black sea bass

1 fish • 12.5″

The one-fish summer segment runs June 22 through September 22.

OPEN

Tautog / blackfish

1 fish • 15″

August 1 through November 15 segment.

OPEN

Bluefish

5 or 7 fish

Five for private/shore anglers; seven on qualifying federally permitted party/charter vessels.

CLOSED NOW

Scup / porgy

Reopens Sept. 1

When open: 30 fish at 10 inches under the 2026 state table.

CLOSED NOW

Atlantic cod

Reopens Sept. 1

Listed 2026 state season: Jan. 1–May 31 and Sept. 1–Dec. 31; 5 fish at 23 inches.

OPEN

Weakfish

1 fish • 13″

No closed season listed.

OCEAN 0–3 NM

Striped bass

1 fish • 28–31″

Federal waters beyond 3 nautical miles remain closed to harvest.

Four regulatory lanes

Choose the water before choosing the limit

1

Freshwater lake or pond

Start with statewide freshwater limits, then check Lunker Bass, Trophy Muskie, northern-pike and lake-specific exceptions.

2

Trout river or stream

Stocking closures, trout season, conservation zones, artificial-lure areas and special brown-trout rules can apply.

3

Tidal / marine water

Fluke, striped bass, tautog, sea bass, bluefish and other marine species use their own seasons, size limits and registry rules.

4

Boundary water

Delaware River and Greenwood Lake have reciprocal-license and water-specific regulations that differ from ordinary NJ waters.

New for 2026

NJDEP freshwater changes that materially affect a 2026 trip

TROUT ACCESS

Lakes & ponds stay fishable before Opening Day

NJDEP removed the traditional preseason fishing closure on trout-stocked lakes and ponds, providing additional fishing days before Opening Day.

Stocked rivers and streams still retain a preseason closure.

TROUT CREEL

Two trout after May 31

The spring six-fish limit applies Opening Day through May 31. Beginning June 1 the ordinary daily trout limit becomes two.

BASS

Round Valley & Merrill Creek added as Lunker Bass waters

These reservoirs now use the Lunker Bass rule: 15-inch minimum and three black bass combined per day.

MANAGEMENT UPDATE

Lake-trout harvest rules revised

NJDEP revised lake-trout regulations at Round Valley and Merrill Creek and removed the prior closed-season framework.

NJDEP’s February 17, 2026 freshwater rule package also updated threatened/endangered/special-concern fish classifications and several water-specific regulations. For named waters, use the current regulation rather than an older saved digest.
Freshwater license

Who needs a New Jersey fishing license?

NJ resident 16–64 $22.50

Annual freshwater fishing license.

NJ resident 65–69 $12.50

Senior resident annual fishing license.

Nonresident annual $34.00
Nonresident 7-day $19.50
Nonresident 2-day $9.00
Resident trout stamp $10.50
Nonresident trout stamp $20.00
NJ resident age 70+ Exempt

Carry proof of age and New Jersey residency.

Freshwater rule: anyone age 16 or older generally needs the appropriate license to fish New Jersey freshwater, subject to statutory exemptions. A resident license generally requires at least six months of established New Jersey residency.

Trout stamp trigger

Residents ages 16–69 and nonresidents age 16+ generally need both a valid fishing license and trout stamp to fish for or possess trout or salmon.

Display requirement

NJ freshwater anglers subject to the license requirement should have the license properly displayed as required by NJ Fish & Wildlife while fishing.

New Jersey Fishing License Guide Fees, resident rules, trout stamp, exemptions and buying steps. New Jersey Saltwater Fishing License Guide Why NJ has no general saltwater license and when registration applies.
Freshwater limits

New Jersey statewide freshwater seasons, sizes & daily creels

Species Season Minimum / slot Daily limit
Largemouth + smallmouth bass — statewide Jan. 1–Apr. 14 harvest;
Apr. 15–Jun. 15 catch & release only;
Jun. 16–Dec. 31 harvest 		12″ 5 combined
Black bass — Lunker Bass Lakes Same seasonal framework 15″ 3 combined
Northern pike Open year-round* 24″ 2
Muskellunge + tiger muskie Open year-round 40″ 1 combined
Trophy Muskie Waters Open year-round 44″ 1
Chain + redfin pickerel Open year-round 15″ 5 combined
Walleye Jan. 1–Feb. 28 harvest;
Mar. 1–Apr. 30 catch & release only;
May 1–Dec. 31 harvest 		18″ 3
Freshwater striped bass Mar. 1–Dec. 31 28″ to 31″ 1
Hybrid striped bass Open year-round 16″ 2
Crappie — black + white Open year-round 8″ 10 combined
Channel catfish Open year-round 12″ 5
American shad Delaware River main stem only No minimum 2
River herring CLOSED — 0
Atlantic + shortnose sturgeon PROTECTED — 0

*Northern pike are catch-and-release only March 20–May 20 on Echo Lake Reservoir, Mercer Lake, Mountain Lake and Monksville Reservoir.

Freshwater striped bass: when fishing with bait, use the applicable inline, non-offset circle-hook requirement. Marine/Delaware rules can differ by water.
Special-water shortcuts

Save these NJ waters before applying a statewide limit

Lunker Bass Lakes

15″ • 3/day

Alloway, Assunpink, Parvin and Delaware lakes; Merrill Creek, Round Valley and Splitrock reservoirs.

Trophy Muskie Waters

44″

Echo Lake Reservoir, Greenwood Lake, Lake Hopatcong and Monksville Reservoir.

Pike spawning protection

C&R

March 20–May 20 at Echo Lake Reservoir, Mercer Lake, Mountain Lake and Monksville Reservoir.

Pequest drainage

No trout bait

Trout may not be used as bait when fishing for muskellunge in the Pequest River drainage.

2026 trout calendar

Lakes and streams now have different preseason rules

JAN. 1–MAR. 22

Regular trout waters

9″ minimum • 2/day

Applies under the regular trout framework before the river/stream preseason stocking closure.

MAR. 23–APR. 11, 8 A.M.

Stocked rivers & streams

Closed to all fishing

The preseason closure remains for designated stocked rivers and streams. Stocked lakes and ponds no longer share this closure.

APR. 11–MAY 31

Spring harvest

9″ minimum • 6/day

2026 Opening Day was Saturday, April 11 at 8 a.m.

JUNE 1–DEC. 31

Rest of 2026

9″ minimum • 2/day

The reduced two-fish creel is one of the important 2026 trout changes.

2026 lake/pond improvement: trout-stocked lakes and ponds remain open to fishing before Opening Day. The old blanket preseason closure was removed from lakes and ponds.
Native brook trout protection

Know the Brook Trout Conservation Zone

In the designated zone, all brook trout must be released immediately and unharmed.

NJDEP defines the zone generally as waters west of Interstate 287 and north of Route 202, extending to but not including the Delaware River.

The illustration is conceptual, not a navigational boundary map. Use NJDEP’s current Fishing Explorer / regulation map to verify the exact water you are fishing.
I-287 Route 202
Trout special regulations

“Trout water” does not always mean ordinary bait + 9-inch rules

Year-round Trout Conservation Areas

15″ • 1/day

Artificial lures/flies only; bait and bait scent prohibited. Special catch-and-release rules apply during spring stocking periods.

Includes designated Musconetcong River and Toms River reaches.

Seasonal Trout Conservation Areas

Different minimums, creels and artificial-lure restrictions apply by date.

Includes designated Pequannock and Pequest River reaches.

Year-round Catch-and-Release Areas

Release all trout

Artificial lures/flies only, barbless hooks, no bait or bait scent and limited hook points.

Includes designated Big Flat/Flat Brook and Ken Lockwood Gorge reaches.

During designated in-season stocking closures on listed trout rivers and streams, fishing is prohibited from 5 a.m. until 5 p.m. on the stocking date. The closure also extends approximately 100 feet into tributaries from the main channel.
Deep-water trout

Round Valley and Merrill Creek are not ordinary trout lakes

Round Valley Reservoir

  • Brown + rainbow trout: 15-inch minimum, 2 combined.
  • Lake trout season is open year-round under the revised 2026 rule.
  • Lake trout 15″ to under 24″: current table allows a larger harvest class.
  • Lake trout 24″+: separate one-fish large-laker allowance.
  • Also a 2026 Lunker Bass water: 15″ / 3 black bass.

Merrill Creek Reservoir

  • Brown/rainbow trout and listed salmonids use trophy-water limits.
  • Lake trout season is open year-round under 2026 regulations.
  • Separate size classes apply to lake-trout harvest.
  • Also a 2026 Lunker Bass water: 15″ / 3 black bass.
Lake-trout rules are unusually detailed and were changed for 2026. Check the current NJDEP trout table immediately before harvesting a lake trout at either reservoir.
Freshwater gear

Rod limits, bait collection & fish-transfer rules

Shoreline rods

3

General freshwater shoreline limit is three rods/handlines combined. Delaware River rules have their own equipment language.

Boat fishing

No general rod cap

The general freshwater rod limit does not apply the same way from a boat, except where a special rule such as Delaware River regulation controls.

Daily creel possession

One daily creel

Only one daily creel limit of a species may be possessed under the general freshwater rule.

Personal baitfish collection equipment

Gear Important NJ freshwater restriction
Seine Up to 50 feet in qualifying ponds/lakes over 100 acres; generally 30 feet elsewhere. Special trout waters have tighter limits.
Minnow trap Maximum 24 inches long; funnel opening no greater than 2 inches.
Umbrella net Maximum 3.5 feet square.
Dip net Maximum 24-inch diameter; species restrictions apply.
Cast net Maximum 8-foot diameter under the freshwater bait rule; limited to qualifying streams and excluded from trout-special waters/lakes.
Do not stock your own “better fishing.” NJ requires authorization before stocking fish, fry or eggs into waters, including privately owned waters. Moving fish between waterbodies or releasing aquarium/market fish into another water can constitute prohibited stocking.
Invasive / prohibited-live possession

Some New Jersey fish should not go into your livewell

NJ Fish & Wildlife lists several potentially dangerous species for which possession or release alive is prohibited. If encountered, follow NJDEP’s current destruction/reporting guidance.

Snakehead
Round goby
Asian swamp eel
Silver / bighead carp
Blue catfish
Flathead catfish
Freshwater drum
Other listed nonnative species
Protected native species are different: Atlantic and shortnose sturgeon and other listed threatened/endangered native fish must not be harvested. Identification matters before acting.
Delaware River

NJ–PA license reciprocity works on the main stem — not everywhere nearby

New Jersey license

Recognized under the reciprocal agreement for fishing the Delaware River main stem, including from a boat or either shoreline where the agreement applies.

Pennsylvania license

Also recognized for the Delaware River main stem under reciprocity.

The reciprocal agreement does not automatically convert every tributary into reciprocal water. Where you land your catch can also determine which state’s possession requirements apply.

Delaware River main-stem limits

Species Season / limit
Black bass Jan. 1–Apr. 17: 12″, 5/day; Apr. 18–Jun. 12: catch & release only; Jun. 13–Dec. 31: 12″, 5/day.
American shad 2/day; no minimum.
River herring Closed.
Walleye 18″ minimum; 3/day.
Channel catfish 12″ minimum; 5/day.
Muskellunge / hybrids 40″ minimum; 1/day.
Northern pike 24″ minimum; 2/day.
Delaware River anglers may use no more than three rods, with Delaware-specific hook limits. Additional bait and gear rules apply inside the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area.
NJ–NY boundary water

Greenwood Lake: reciprocal license, but watch your bait

NJ or NY license Recognized

Reciprocal fishing privileges apply across Greenwood Lake.

Fishing hours 24 hours
Live bait caution Certified bait

New York’s portion has virus-free baitfish requirements. NJDEP encourages anglers to use certified virus-free bait throughout the lake.

Greenwood Lake is also a Trophy Muskie Water, so the 44-inch muskie minimum applies.
Saltwater paperwork

New Jersey has no general paid saltwater fishing license

General saltwater license $0 / none

NJ does not sell a general recreational saltwater rod-and-line license.

Saltwater Registry Free

Most individual marine anglers age 16+ must register annually unless a listed exemption applies.

Party / charter passengers Possible exemption

An individual fishing only aboard a properly registered qualifying for-hire vessel may fall under the vessel-registration exemption.

Being exempt from an individual Saltwater Registry entry does not exempt the angler from marine seasons, size limits, bag limits, circle-hook requirements or protected-species rules.
2026 NJ marine limits

Key recreational saltwater seasons, sizes & possession limits

NJ marine regulations apply to fish possessed in New Jersey waters or landed in New Jersey, even when the fish was caught elsewhere.

Species 2026 season Minimum / slot Possession limit
Summer flounder / fluke May 4–Sept. 25 18″ general waters; 17″ Delaware Bay zone; 16″ IBSP shore exception 3 general/Delaware Bay; 2 at IBSP shore exception
Black sea bass May 15–Jun. 21;
Jun. 22–Sep. 22;
Sep. 23–Oct. 31;
Nov. 1–Dec. 31 		12.5″ 10 / 1 / 10 / 15 respectively
Bluefish Open year-round No minimum 5 private/shore;
7 on qualifying party/charter vessel
Tautog / blackfish Jan. 1–Feb. 28;
Apr. 1–30;
Aug. 1–Nov. 15;
Nov. 16–Dec. 31 		15″ 4 / 4 / 1 / 5 respectively
Scup / porgy Jan. 1–Jun. 30;
Sept. 1–Dec. 31 		10″ 30
Atlantic cod Jan. 1–May 31;
Sept. 1–Dec. 31 		23″ 5
Cobia Open year-round 43″ 1/person; 2/vessel
Black drum Open year-round 16″ 3
Red drum Open year-round 18″ to under 27″ 1
Spanish mackerel Open year-round 14″ 10
Weakfish Open year-round 13″ 1
Winter flounder Mar. 1–Dec. 31 12″ 2
American eel Open year-round 9″ 25
River herring NO OPEN SEASON — 0
Marine limits can be changed after the annual digest is printed. NJDEP specifically advises anglers to check its current Marine Seasons & Regulations page before fishing.
One species, three NJ rules

Summer flounder: your minimum changes with your fishing zone

Most NJ waters

18″ • 3 fish

Standard 2026 summer flounder rule from May 4 through September 25.

Delaware Bay + tributaries

17″ • 3 fish

Applies in the defined Delaware Bay zone west of the COLREGS line, subject to the precise NJDEP boundary description.

Island Beach State Park shore

16″ • 2 fish

Special shore-based exception within the defined IBSP fishing area.

NJ allows one legal-size summer flounder from the daily catch to be filleted for bait while fishing, but the rack/carcass must be retained intact so the fish can still be measured.
Striped bass slot visual

Regular fish, bonus fish and federal water use different answers

RELEASE 24–<28 BONUS 28–31 REGULAR RELEASE

The ordinary recreational slot is 28 inches to 31 inches, one fish. The 2026 Striped Bass Bonus Program permits one additional fish 24 inches to less than 28 inches with a valid Bonus Permit.

2026 regular striped bass

  • Atlantic Ocean 0–3 nautical miles: one fish at 28–31 inches.
  • Most other NJ marine waters: March 1–December 31, 28–31 inches, one fish.
  • Delaware River sectors: season differs above/below the Calhoun Street Bridge.
  • Federal waters 3–200 nautical miles: striped bass harvest prohibited.
2026 Bonus Program: one bonus fish from 24 inches to less than 28 inches may be harvested May 15–December 31 with a valid Bonus Permit. Bonus harvest must be reported to NJDEP within 24 hours.
Bait anglers: New Jersey requires an inline, non-offset circle hook when fishing for striped bass with bait.
Measurement update

Squeeze the striped-bass tail — do not curve the tape over the body

NJDEP’s 2026 Marine Digest states that, as of July 14, 2026, the striped-bass measurement standard uses the greatest straight-line total length.

  • Mouth closed.
  • Start at the anterior-most tip of jaw/snout.
  • Squeeze upper and lower tail forks together.
  • Measure to the farthest tail extremity.
  • Do not wrap/curve the measuring tape over the fish.
STRAIGHT-LINE TOTAL LENGTH

Illustration is instructional, not to scale.

Marine handling

A legal fish can become noncompliant after you clean it

Filleting at sea

Fish that have a minimum-size requirement generally may not be filleted at sea unless a specific exception or party-boat fillet permit applies.

Wanton waste

Intentionally killed fish count toward the applicable daily limit, even where a species otherwise lacks a minimum or possession limit.

Protected marine species

Atlantic sturgeon, shortnose sturgeon, river herring, horseshoe crabs and multiple protected shark species have strict no-harvest rules.

Horseshoe crab: recreational harvest and possession are prohibited except for narrow authorized scientific/documented situations.
Marine bait collection

Personal-use bait gear has its own dimensions

Dip net 24″ max

Marine personal-use species restrictions apply.

Bait seine 50 ft max
Cast net 20 ft diameter
Lift / umbrella net 4 ft square
River herring remain closed to recreational harvest. A legal bait-net method does not make a prohibited species legal bait.
2026 Free Fishing Days

One New Jersey Free Fishing Day remains this year

PASSED June 6, 2026
UPCOMING September 26, 2026
On New Jersey Free Fishing Days, NJ residents may fish public freshwaters without a fishing license or trout stamp. All seasons, creel limits, size limits, gear restrictions and other fishing regulations still apply.
Before eating the catch

Fishing legality and fish-consumption safety are separate checks

Consumption advisories

NJ provides fish-consumption guidance based on species, waterbody and contaminant monitoring.

A fish may satisfy DNR/NJDEP harvest regulations but still have recommended meal restrictions.

Mountain Lake alert

NJDEP’s trout information currently continues to flag Mountain Lake in Liberty Township, Warren County in connection with a harmful algal bloom advisory.

Verify the current HAB status before fishing for table fare there.

Screenshot before leaving

New Jersey pre-trip regulation checklist

  • Name the water precisely. Inland lake, trout-stocked stream, Delaware River, Greenwood Lake, Delaware Bay, Atlantic Ocean or other tidal water?
  • Check today’s season. This is essential for bass, trout, walleye, fluke, sea bass, tautog, scup and cod.
  • Save the minimum/slot length. Carry a rigid measuring device rather than estimating a borderline fish.
  • Check the named-water exception. Lunker Bass, Trophy Muskie, pike spawning waters and trout-special areas override ordinary statewide assumptions.
  • Freshwater anglers: have the correct NJ license and trout stamp where required.
  • Saltwater anglers: complete the free Saltwater Recreational Registry where required.
  • Striped bass bait anglers: use the required inline, non-offset circle hook.
  • Bonus striper anglers: carry the valid Bonus Permit and report the fish within 24 hours.
  • Do not move fish between waters. Stocking/transferring live fish requires authorization.
  • If you plan to eat the catch: check NJ fish-consumption and HAB guidance for the exact waterbody.
Avoid these NJ mistakes

Twelve regulations that are easy to misread

Closing a trout-stocked lake before Opening Day

The 2026 rule removed the preseason closure from lakes and ponds.

Keeping six trout in August

The ordinary post-May 31 limit is now two.

Keeping bass during Apr. 15–Jun. 15

Statewide black bass are catch-and-release only during that period.

Using 12″ on a Lunker Bass Lake

Lunker Bass waters use 15 inches and three fish.

Keeping pike during a protected spawning window

Four named waters are C&R only Mar. 20–May 20.

Applying one fluke size statewide

NJ has general, Delaware Bay and IBSP shore fluke zones.

Keeping more than one sea bass in August

Jun. 22–Sep. 22 is the one-fish segment.

Keeping porgy in August

Scup is closed Jul. 1–Aug. 31 under the current 2026 table.

Taking a 27″ regular striped bass

Regular slot is 28–31″; 24–<28″ requires a valid Bonus Permit.

Harvesting striped bass beyond 3 nm

Federal-water striped bass harvest is prohibited.

Assuming NJ has a paid saltwater license

No general paid saltwater license, but free registry rules apply.

Releasing aquarium or transferred fish

NJ treats unauthorized fish stocking/transfer seriously.

When the rule is unclear

Ask NJ Fish & Wildlife the precise question

NJ Fish & Wildlife — freshwater

Use the freshwater regulations/contact system for trout, inland-water and licensing questions.

Marine Fisheries 609-748-2020

Marine seasons, size limits and saltwater regulation questions.

License system support 888-773-8450

NJ licensing-system assistance.

Useful call script:
“I’m fishing [exact New Jersey water] on [date], targeting [species] with [bait/method]. Can you confirm the current season, minimum or slot size, daily possession limit and any water-specific exception?”
Official verification center

Current NJDEP sources behind this guide

The practical answers are included above so you do not need to decode multiple government pages first. Open these official pages for a same-day final check, permit or regulation update.

2026 Freshwater Fishing Digest NJDEP’s current freshwater regulation guide and downloadable sections. Freshwater regulations & permits Live NJ Fish & Wildlife freshwater regulation hub. 2026 Freshwater Rule Changes NJDEP explanation of February 17, 2026 regulation changes. Buy / verify freshwater license Current license requirement and purchase information. 2026 Free Fishing Days June 6 and September 26, 2026. 2026 New Jersey Marine Digest Current annual saltwater rules, charts and notices. Marine Seasons & Regulations Same-day marine regulation and season check. NJ Saltwater Recreational Registry Free registry requirements and exemptions. 2026 Striped Bass Bonus Program Permit, 24–<28 inch bonus slot and season details.
NJ fishing FAQ

New Jersey fishing regulations — quick answers

What is the New Jersey largemouth bass limit?

The general statewide freshwater rule is five largemouth and smallmouth bass combined with a 12-inch minimum. From April 15 through June 15, black bass fishing is catch-and-release only. Lunker Bass Lakes use a 15-inch minimum and three-fish combined daily limit.

What is the New Jersey crappie limit?

Black and white crappie have an 8-inch minimum and a combined daily creel limit of 10 under the statewide freshwater rule.

When does New Jersey trout season open in 2026?

Opening Day was Saturday, April 11, 2026 at 8 a.m. Stocked rivers and streams were closed from March 23 until the opener, while stocked lakes and ponds remained open under the new 2026 regulations.

What is New Jersey’s trout limit after June 1, 2026?

The regular daily creel limit is two trout from June 1 through December 31, generally with a 9-inch minimum unless a special trout-management regulation applies.

Do I need a New Jersey freshwater fishing license?

People age 16 and older generally need the appropriate New Jersey freshwater fishing license, subject to statutory exemptions. New Jersey residents age 70 and older are exempt from purchasing the ordinary license and trout stamp but should carry proof of age and residency.

Does New Jersey require a saltwater fishing license?

New Jersey does not have a general paid recreational saltwater rod-and-line license. Most saltwater anglers age 16 and older must instead complete the free New Jersey Saltwater Recreational Registry unless an exemption applies.

What is the 2026 NJ fluke limit?

From May 4 through September 25, most New Jersey waters use a three-fish limit with an 18-inch minimum. The defined Delaware Bay zone uses 17 inches with three fish, while qualifying Island Beach State Park shore fishing uses a 16-inch minimum and two-fish limit.

What is the 2026 NJ black sea bass limit in August?

From June 22 through September 22, 2026 the recreational limit is one black sea bass at a 12.5-inch minimum. The bag increases again in later season segments.

What is the New Jersey striped bass limit?

The regular recreational slot is one striped bass from 28 inches to 31 inches where the season is open. Federal waters beyond three nautical miles are closed to striped bass harvest.

What is the NJ Striped Bass Bonus Program size in 2026?

A valid 2026 Bonus Permit allows one bonus striped bass measuring 24 inches to less than 28 inches from May 15 through December 31. Bonus harvest must be reported to NJDEP within 24 hours.

Can I fish the Delaware River with a Pennsylvania fishing license?

New Jersey and Pennsylvania recognize qualifying licenses on the Delaware River main stem under their reciprocal agreement. Tributaries are not automatically included, and Delaware River-specific fishing regulations still apply.

What are New Jersey’s 2026 Free Fishing Days?

New Jersey’s 2026 Free Fishing Days are June 6 and September 26. On those days New Jersey residents may fish public freshwaters without a fishing license or trout stamp, but all other fishing regulations remain in force.

Final NJ rule

In New Jersey, the waterbody is part of the regulation

Do not apply one statewide chart to every trip. Trout streams, Lunker Bass waters, the Delaware River, Greenwood Lake, Delaware Bay, the Atlantic Ocean and federal waters can all change the answer for season, legal size, daily possession and required paperwork.

Regulation review completed . Marine seasons and emergency fishery measures can change during the year, so verify NJDEP’s live regulation page immediately before fishing.

Current status Freshwater limits Marine limits

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