SlotGaugeCheck a catchPotentially Dangerous Fish regulations in New Jersey
Potentially Dangerous Fish · Freshwater · 2026 season
Potentially Dangerous Fish size limit, season and daily limit
| Where | Season | Size limit | Daily limit |
|---|---|---|---|
| NJ fresh waters statewide | Open year-round | No minimum size | Unlimited — must be destroyed, may not be possessed live or released |
| Delaware River | Open year-round | No minimum size | Unlimited — must be destroyed |
Notes
- If you catch one, you must kill it — do not release it or keep it alive.
- Report with photos via the NJ Aquatic Invasive Species reporting form.
- Common carp are invasive but NOT on this list and do not have to be destroyed.
Exact NJDEP Fish & Wildlife wording
- Season
- Open year-round
- Size
- None
- Limit
- Unlimited
- NJ fresh waters statewide — as printed
- “POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS FISH | Asian Swamp Eel, Bighead, Grass (diploid) and Silver Carp, Blue and Flathead Catfish, Round Goby, Brook Stickleback, Green Sunfish, Oriental Weatherfish, Snakehead, Freshwater Drum, Warmouth, and all black bass except for Largemouth and Smallmouth Bass. | Open year-round (The possession or release of live potentially Dangerous Fish is prohibited. Anglers MUST destroy these species if encountered while fishing.) | Statewide | No minimum size | Unlimited”
Source: NJDEP Fish & Wildlife, captured 2026-10-04 (2026 season).
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Open SlotGauge for Potentially Dangerous FishAbout the potentially dangerous fish
Small-bodied catfish of concern to human health
Candiru are South American catfish of a parasitic or scavenging niche. The species known as candiru are not necessarily closely related.
Read more about Candiru (fish) on Wikipedia →
Text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0. Regulations on this page come from NJDEP Fish & Wildlife, not Wikipedia.
All 62 New Jersey species A–Z →
Frequently asked
What is the size limit for Potentially Dangerous Fish in New Jersey?
No minimum size in New Jersey state waters.
How many Potentially Dangerous Fish can you keep per day in New Jersey?
Unlimited — must be destroyed, may not be possessed live or released.
When is Potentially Dangerous Fish season in New Jersey?
Open year-round.
Is my Potentially Dangerous Fish a keeper today?
Potentially Dangerous Fish has no size limit today, with Unlimited — must be destroyed, may not be possessed live or released.