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New Jersey freshwater size limits and seasons

25 species, 2026 rules for state waters. Tap a species for every zone, the exact NJDEP Fish & Wildlife wording and a keeper check. Updated 2026-10-04. All 62 New Jersey species A–Z →

Species	Season	Size limit	Daily limit
Alewife / Blueback Herring (freshwater lakes)	Open year-round	under 6 inches	35; unused herring must be returned to the lake, may not be transported away or sold
American Eel (fresh waters)	Open year-round	9 inch minimum	25 combined with the sunfish/perch/catfish group; as bait, no more than 25 eels within the 35 baitfish limit
Brook Trout	January 1 – March 22, April 11 – December 31	9 inch minimum	2 (Jan 1–Mar 22); 6 (Apr 11 8 a.m.–May 31); 2 (Jun 1–Dec 31). Closed Mar 23–Apr 11 8 a.m.
Brown Trout	January 1 – March 22, April 11 – December 31	9 inch minimum	2 (Jan 1–Mar 22); 6 (Apr 11 8 a.m.–May 31); 2 (Jun 1–Dec 31). Closed Mar 23–Apr 11 8 a.m.
Chain Pickerel	Open year-round	15 inch minimum	5 per person per day
Channel Catfish	Open year-round	12 inch minimum	5 per person per day
Crappie	Open year-round	8 inch minimum	10 per person per day
Freshwater Baitfish	Open year-round	No minimum size; American Eel 9 inches	35 per day, species combined (no more than 25 American Eels)
Hybrid Striped Bass	Open year-round	16 inch minimum	2 per person per day
Lake Trout	Open year-round	15–24 inch slot; 24 inch minimum	2 fish 15 to less than 24 inches AND 2 fish 24 inches or greater (4 total)
Landlocked Atlantic Salmon	Open year-round	15 inch minimum	2 combined with brown and rainbow trout
Largemouth Bass	June 16 – April 14	12 inch minimum	5 largemouth + smallmouth combined (Lunker Bass Lakes: 15 in, 3)
Muskellunge	Open year-round	40 inch minimum	1 per person per day
Northern Pike	Open year-round	24 inch minimum	2 per person per day
Potentially Dangerous Fish	Open year-round	No minimum size	Unlimited — must be destroyed, may not be possessed live or released
Protected native species (freshwater)	Closed	—	—
Rainbow Trout	January 1 – March 22, April 11 – December 31	9 inch minimum	2 (Jan 1–Mar 22); 6 (Apr 11 8 a.m.–May 31); 2 (Jun 1–Dec 31). Closed Mar 23–Apr 11 8 a.m.
Redfin Pickerel	Open year-round	15 inch minimum	5 combined with chain pickerel
Smallmouth Bass	June 16 – April 14	12 inch minimum	5 largemouth + smallmouth combined
Striped Bass (fresh waters)	March 1 – December 31	28–31 inch slot	1
Sunfish and Perch	Open year-round	None	25 combined (all panfish and listed species)
Tiger Musky	Open year-round	40 inch minimum	1 combined with muskellunge
Trout	Open year-round	9 inch minimum	2 per day; 6 per day Apr 11 (8 a.m.) – May 31
Walleye	May 1 – February 28	18 inch minimum	3 per person per day
Yellow Perch	Open year-round	No minimum size	25 combined with sunfish, perch, bullheads, carp and other group members