SlotGaugeCheck a catchSharks — Pelagic group regulations in New Jersey
Sharks · Saltwater · 2026 season
Sharks — Pelagic group size limit, season and daily limit
| Where | Season | Size limit | Daily limit |
|---|---|---|---|
| NJ marine waters (0–3 nm) | Open year-round | 54 inch minimum | One per person per trip |
Notes
- Shortfin mako: zero possession. Bigeye thresher and longfin mako are prohibited species.
- 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
- No closed season
- 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 — pelagic group
Fish in the pelagic zone of ocean waters
Pelagic fish live in the pelagic zone of ocean or lake waters—being neither close to the bottom nor near the shore—in contrast with demersal fish that live on or near the bottom, and reef fish that are associated with coral reefs.
Read more about Pelagic 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 — Pelagic group in New Jersey?
54 inch minimum in New Jersey state waters.
How many Sharks — Pelagic group can you keep per day in New Jersey?
One per person per trip.
When is Sharks — Pelagic group season in New Jersey?
Open year-round.
Is my Sharks — Pelagic group a keeper today?
A sharks — pelagic group is a keeper today if it measures at least 54 inches, with a daily limit of 1.