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New Jersey fish species, A to Z

All 62 species named in the 2026 NJDEP Fish & Wildlife regulations. Regulations opens the size limit, season and daily limit for every zone; About opens the species' Wikipedia article (identification, range, habits). Updated 2026-10-04.

Saltwater

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  American Eel · 9 inch minimum
  RegulationsAbout
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  American Shad · closed to harvest
  RegulationsAbout
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  Atlantic Cod · 23 inch minimum
  RegulationsAbout
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  Atlantic HerringBait Fish · No size limit
  RegulationsAbout
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  Atlantic Sturgeon · closed to harvest
  RegulationsAbout
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  Black Drum · 16 inch minimum
  RegulationsAbout
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  Black Sea Bass · 12.5 inch minimum
  RegulationsAbout
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  Blacknose SharkSharks · Digest text: no state minimum; digest table: 54 inch FL under 'all other retainable sharks'
  RegulationsAbout
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  Bluefish · No size limit
  RegulationsAbout
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  Cobia · 43 inch minimum
  RegulationsAbout
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  Haddock · 18 inch minimum
  RegulationsAbout
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  Hickory Shad · None
  RegulationsAbout
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  Pollock · 19 inch minimum
  RegulationsAbout
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  Red Drum · 18–27 inch slot
  RegulationsAbout
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  River Herring · closed to harvest
  RegulationsAbout
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  Scup · 10 inch minimum
  RegulationsAbout
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  Sharks — Aggregated Large Coastal groupSharks · 54 inch minimum
  RegulationsAbout
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  Sharks — Hammerhead groupSharks · 78 inch minimum
  RegulationsAbout
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  Sharks — Non-Blacknose Small Coastal groupSharks · Atlantic sharpnose and bonnethead: no minimum. Finetooth: table lists 54 inch FL under 'all other retainable sharks'; text says no state minimum for the group — federal 54 inch FL applies in federal waters
  RegulationsAbout
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  Sharks — Pelagic groupSharks · 54 inch minimum
  RegulationsAbout
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  Sharks — Prohibited speciesSharks · closed to harvest
  RegulationsAbout
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  Sharks (coastal species) · Hammerheads 78" FL; all other retainable sharks 54" FL; Atlantic sharpnose, bonnethead, smoothhound: none
  RegulationsAbout
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  Shortfin MakoSharks · closed to harvest
  RegulationsAbout
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  Shortnose Sturgeon · closed to harvest
  RegulationsAbout
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  Smoothhound SharkSharks · No minimum size
  RegulationsAbout
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  Spanish Mackerel · 14 inch minimum
  RegulationsAbout
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  Striped Bass · 28–31 inch slot
  RegulationsAbout
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  Summer Flounder · 18 inch minimum
  RegulationsAbout
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  Tautog · 15 inch minimum
  RegulationsAbout
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  Weakfish · 13 inch minimum
  RegulationsAbout
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  Winter Flounder · 12 inch minimum
  RegulationsAbout

Freshwater

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  Alewife / Blueback Herring (freshwater lakes)Baitfish · under 6 inches
  RegulationsAbout
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  American Eel (fresh waters)Sunfish, Perch, Catfish, American Eel, and Non-Native Species · 9 inch minimum
  RegulationsAbout
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  Brook TroutTrout · 9 inch minimum
  RegulationsAbout
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  Brown TroutTrout · 9 inch minimum
  RegulationsAbout
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  Chain Pickerel · 15 inch minimum
  RegulationsAbout
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  Channel Catfish · 12 inch minimum
  RegulationsAbout
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  Crappie · 8 inch minimum
  RegulationsAbout
• no photo
  Freshwater BaitfishBaitfish · No minimum size; American Eel 9 inches
  RegulationsAbout
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  Hybrid Striped Bass · 16 inch minimum
  RegulationsAbout
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  Lake TroutTrout · 15–24 inch slot; 24 inch minimum
  RegulationsAbout
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  Landlocked Atlantic SalmonTrout · 15 inch minimum
  RegulationsAbout
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  Largemouth Bass · 12 inch minimum
  RegulationsAbout
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  Muskellunge · 40 inch minimum
  RegulationsAbout
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  Northern Pike · 24 inch minimum
  RegulationsAbout
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  Potentially Dangerous FishPotentially Dangerous Fish · No minimum size
  RegulationsAbout
• no photo
  Protected native species (freshwater)Endangered, Threatened and Special Concern Species · closed to harvest
  RegulationsAbout
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  Rainbow TroutTrout · 9 inch minimum
  RegulationsAbout
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  Redfin Pickerel · 15 inch minimum
  RegulationsAbout
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  Smallmouth Bass · 12 inch minimum
  RegulationsAbout
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  Striped Bass (fresh waters) · 28–31 inch slot
  RegulationsAbout
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  Sunfish and Perch · None
  RegulationsAbout
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  Tiger Musky · 40 inch minimum
  RegulationsAbout
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  Trout · 9 inch minimum
  RegulationsAbout
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  Walleye · 18 inch minimum
  RegulationsAbout
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  Yellow PerchSunfish, Perch, Catfish, American Eel, and Non-Native Species · No minimum size
  RegulationsAbout

Shellfish & crabs

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  American Lobster · 3.375–5.25 inch slot
  RegulationsAbout
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  Blue Crab · 4.5 inch minimum
  RegulationsAbout
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  Eastern OysterMollusks · Bed-specific size limits — call Nacote Creek (609) 748-2020 or Delaware Bay shellfish office
  RegulationsAbout
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  Hard Clam · 1.5 inch minimum
  RegulationsAbout
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  Horseshoe Crab · closed to harvest
  RegulationsAbout
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  Shellfish (recreational aggregate)Mollusks · No minimum printed for species other than hard clam (1 1/2 inches)
  RegulationsAbout