SlotGaugeCheck a catchNew Jersey fishing regulations, 2026
Size limits, seasons and daily limits for every species NJDEP Fish & Wildlife regulates, rewritten in plain English and rechecked against the official pages automatically. Last captured 2026-10-04.
Most searched
Striped BassSummer FlounderBlack Sea BassTautogBluefishWeakfishLargemouth BassBlue CrabRed DrumScupAll 62 species A–Z →
Saltwater →
American Eel9 inch minimumAmerican ShadNoneAtlantic Cod23 inch minimumAtlantic HerringNo size limitAtlantic SturgeonProhibitedBlack Drum16 inch minimumBlack Sea Bass12.5 inch minimumBlacknose SharkDigest text: no state minimum; digest table: 54 inch FL under 'all other retainable sharks'BluefishNo size limitCobia43 inch minimumHaddock18 inch minimumHickory ShadNonePollock19 inch minimumRed Drum18–27 inch slotRiver HerringNoneScup10 inch minimumSharks — Aggregated Large Coastal group54 inch minimumSharks — Hammerhead group78 inch minimumSharks — Non-Blacknose Small Coastal groupAtlantic sharpnose and bonnethead: no minimum. Finetooth: table lists 54 inch FL under 'all other retainable sharks'; text says no state minimum for the group — federal 54 inch FL applies in federal watersSharks — Pelagic group54 inch minimumSharks — Prohibited speciesNo size limitSharks (coastal species)Hammerheads 78" FL; all other retainable sharks 54" FL; Atlantic sharpnose, bonnethead, smoothhound: noneShortfin MakoNo size limitShortnose SturgeonNo size limitSmoothhound SharkNo minimum sizeSpanish Mackerel14 inch minimumStriped Bass28–31 inch slotSummer Flounder18 inch minimumTautog15 inch minimumWeakfish13 inch minimumWinter Flounder12 inch minimum
Freshwater →
Alewife / Blueback Herring (freshwater lakes)under 6 inchesAmerican Eel (fresh waters)9 inch minimumBrook Trout9 inch minimumBrown Trout9 inch minimumChain Pickerel15 inch minimumChannel Catfish12 inch minimumCrappie8 inch minimumFreshwater BaitfishNo minimum size; American Eel 9 inchesHybrid Striped Bass16 inch minimumLake Trout15–24 inch slot; 24 inch minimumLandlocked Atlantic Salmon15 inch minimumLargemouth Bass12 inch minimumMuskellunge40 inch minimumNorthern Pike24 inch minimumPotentially Dangerous FishNo minimum sizeProtected native species (freshwater)No size limitRainbow Trout9 inch minimumRedfin Pickerel15 inch minimumSmallmouth Bass12 inch minimumStriped Bass (fresh waters)28–31 inch slotSunfish and PerchNoneTiger Musky40 inch minimumTrout9 inch minimumWalleye18 inch minimumYellow PerchNo minimum size
Shellfish & crabs →
American Lobster3.375–5.25 inch slotBlue Crab4.5 inch minimumEastern OysterBed-specific size limits — call Nacote Creek (609) 748-2020 or Delaware Bay shellfish officeHard Clam1.5 inch minimumHorseshoe CrabNo size limitShellfish (recreational aggregate)No minimum printed for species other than hard clam (1 1/2 inches)
Is it a keeper?
Say what you caught, snap a photo, or type it. SlotGauge checks today's rules and answers KEEP or RELEASE.
Open SlotGauge