SlotGaugeCheck a catchSharks — Aggregated Large Coastal group regulations in New Jersey
Sharks · Saltwater · 2026 season
Sharks — Aggregated Large Coastal group size limit, season and daily limit
| Where | Season | Size limit | Daily limit |
|---|---|---|---|
| NJ marine waters (0–3 nm) | January 1 – May 14, July 16 – December 31 | 54 inch minimum | One per person per trip |
Notes
- Closed in NJ state waters May 15 through July 15.
- Non-offset, corrodible, non-stainless steel circle hooks required when fishing for sharks with anything other than flies or artificial lures.
- Sharks must be landed with head, tail and fins naturally attached; filleting at sea is prohibited (gutting and bleeding allowed).
- Length is fork length, not total length.
- Federal waters (3–200 nm) follow NOAA HMS rules and require an HMS permit — see fisheries.noaa.gov.
Exact NJDEP Fish & Wildlife wording
- Season
- Jan 1–May 14 and July 16–Dec 31 (closed May 15–July 15)
- Size
- 54 inch fork length
- Limit
- One per person per trip
- NJ marine waters (0–3 nm) — as printed
- “Sharks | Aggregated large coastal group, Hammerhead group: Jan 1–May 14 and July 16–Dec 31 | Non-blacknose small coastal group: No Closed Season | Blacknose group: No Closed Season | Pelagic group: No Closed Season | Minimum Length (fork length): Atlantic sharpnose, bonnethead, and smoothhound: None; Hammerheads 78"; All other retainable sharks: 54" | Prohibited sharks: Zero allowed possession; Shortfin mako: Zero allowed possession; Smoothhound: No limit; All others: One per person per trip | Use of non-offset, corrodible, non-stainless steel circle hooks is required, except when fishing with flies or artificial lures. ... Shark Species That May Be Kept (Authorized Species): Aggregated Large Coastal Shark—blacktip, bull, lemon, nurse, tiger, spinner; Hammerhead Shark—scalloped hammerhead, smooth hammerhead, great hammerhead; Non-Blacknose Small Coastal Shark—Atlantic sharpnose, bonnethead, finetooth; Blacknose Shark—blacknose; Pelagic Shark—blue, porbeagle, and common thresher.”
Source: NJDEP Fish & Wildlife, captured 2026-10-04 (2026 season).
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About the sharks — aggregated large coastal group
Fish that inhabit the sea between the shoreline and the edge of the continental shelf
Coastal fish, also called inshore fish or neritic fish, inhabit the sea between the shoreline and the edge of the continental shelf. Since the continental shelf is usually less than 200 metres (660 ft) deep, it follows that pelagic coastal fish are generally epipelagic fish, inhabiting the sunlit epipelagic zone. Coastal fish can be contrasted with oceanic fish or offshore fish, which inhabit the deep seas beyond the continental shelves.
Read more about Coastal 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 Sharks — Aggregated Large Coastal group in New Jersey?
54 inch minimum in New Jersey state waters.
How many Sharks — Aggregated Large Coastal group can you keep per day in New Jersey?
One per person per trip.
When is Sharks — Aggregated Large Coastal group season in New Jersey?
January 1 – May 14, July 16 – December 31.
Is my Sharks — Aggregated Large Coastal group a keeper today?
A sharks — aggregated large coastal group is a keeper today if it measures at least 54 inches, with a daily limit of 1.