Shellfish (recreational aggregate) regulations in New Jersey

Mollusks · Shellfish & crabs · 2026 season

Is it a keeper? Shellfish (recreational aggregate) has no size limit today, with a daily limit of 150.

Shellfish (recreational aggregate) size limit, season and daily limit

Where	Season	Size limit	Daily limit
NJ shellfish growing waters (approved/seasonally approved areas)	Open year-round	No minimum printed for species other than hard clam (1 1/2 inches)	150 shellfish (in aggregate) per day

Notes

The 150-per-day limit is a combined total across all shellfish species (clams, oysters, surf clams, bay scallops, mussels).
No shellfishing before sunrise, after sunset, or on Sundays (except Navesink/Shrewsbury seasonally approved areas Nov 1–Apr 30).
Check the Shellfish Growing Water Classification Charts before harvesting — condemned waters are closed even for bait.

Exact NJDEP Fish & Wildlife wording

Season: Open year-round; harvest prohibited before sunrise/after sunset and on Sundays (except Navesink & Shrewsbury seasonally approved areas Nov 1–Apr 30)
Size: None printed except hard clam 1 1/2 inches
Limit: 150 shellfish in aggregate per day
NJ shellfish growing waters (approved/seasonally approved areas) — as printed: “No holder of any recreational shellfish license may take more than a total of 150 shellfish (in aggregate) per day. See Shellfish License Information. ... Shellfish means any species of benthic mollusks (except conch) including hard and soft clams, oysters, surf clams, bay scallops and mussels.”

Source: NJDEP Fish & Wildlife, captured 2026-10-04 (2026 season).

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About the shellfish

Culinary and fisheries term for exoskeleton-bearing aquatic invertebrates

Shellfish, in colloquial and fisheries usage, are exoskeleton-bearing aquatic invertebrates used as food, including various species of molluscs, crustaceans, and echinoderms. Although most kinds of shellfish are harvested from saltwater environments, some are found in freshwater. In addition, a few species of land crabs are eaten, for example Cardisoma guanhumi in the Caribbean. Shellfish are among the most common food allergens.

Text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0. Regulations on this page come from NJDEP Fish & Wildlife, not Wikipedia.

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Frequently asked

What is the size limit for Shellfish (recreational aggregate) in New Jersey?

No minimum printed for species other than hard clam (1 1/2 inches) in New Jersey state waters.

How many Shellfish (recreational aggregate) can you keep per day in New Jersey?

150 shellfish (in aggregate) per day.

When is Shellfish (recreational aggregate) season in New Jersey?

Open year-round.

Is my Shellfish (recreational aggregate) a keeper today?

Shellfish (recreational aggregate) has no size limit today, with a daily limit of 150.