Shortnose Sturgeon regulations in New Jersey

· Saltwater · 2026 season

Is it a keeper? Shortnose Sturgeon is closed to harvest. Release it.

Shortnose Sturgeon size limit, season and daily limit

Where	Season	Size limit	Daily limit
NJ marine waters	Closed to harvest	—	—
NJ fresh waters	Closed to harvest	—	—

Notes

Protected in all NJ waters, salt and fresh. Release immediately if caught.

Exact NJDEP Fish & Wildlife wording

Season: Possession prohibited
Size: None
Limit: 0 — possession prohibited
NJ marine waters — as printed: “It is illegal to take, possess, land, purchase, or sell any of the following species: Atlantic sturgeon Diamondback terrapin Shortnose sturgeon River herring (alewife and blueback herring; see herring illustrations) Various shark species (See Sharks)”

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

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About the shortnose sturgeon

Species of fish

The shortnose sturgeon is a small and endangered species of North American sturgeon. As with most sturgeons, it is an anadromous bottom-feeder, which migrates upstream to spawn but spends most of its life feeding in rivers, deltas and estuaries.

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 Shortnose Sturgeon in New Jersey?

No size limit in New Jersey state waters.

How many Shortnose Sturgeon can you keep per day in New Jersey?

Possession prohibited.

When is Shortnose Sturgeon season in New Jersey?

Open year-round.

Is my Shortnose Sturgeon a keeper today?

Shortnose Sturgeon is closed to harvest. Release it.