2015 Federal Saltwater Fishing Regulations
The following is a summary
of recreational regulations on selected species applicable to federal waters (3 to 200 miles) off the New Jersey coastline as of this printing (February '12). This information should be used only as a guide, since regulations are constantly being modified.
PLEASE! If you find an error or something changes later in the season, please email me with website information showing the correct data! Thanks, MizMo
For additional information, specific questions, please contact:
National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), NE regions, 1 Blackburn
Pl., Gloucester, MA 01930-2298.
Federal Regulations (legal database e-CFR):
PART 648�FISHERIES OF THE NORTHEASTERN UNITED STATES
http://ecfr.gpoaccess.gov/cgi/
Federal updates on permit holder regulations at:
GAR Bulletins (Permit Holder Letters)
Obtain Fisheries Regulation Sheets:
https://www.greateratlantic.fisheries.noaa.gov/regs/info.html
Federal Regulations - HMS only:
https://www.greateratlantic.fisheries.noaa.gov/sustainable/recfishing/
Get the Latest Compliance Guides (For Commercial Fishing and for (Recreational - Billfish,Tuna,Shark)
For possession limits and Tuna quota updates (in season only) call 978-281-9260.
For federal permit applications: 888-872-8862.
Permits Online: http://www.nmfspermits.com/
Local NMFS Enforcement Office 732-280-6490 or 609-390-8303
Swordfish/Sharks quota updates (in season only) 301-713-1279.
Brochures: https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/atlantic-highly-migratory-species/atlantic-highly-migratory-species-fishery-compliance-guides
(Info on Swordfish, Sharks, more detailed regulations info.
NOAA is looking for specific tuna tags for their tracking program and offering rewards. Click https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/national/marine-mammal-protection/tuna-tracking-and-verification-program for more information!
Table (partially) updated for 2018 as per NJ Marine DigestWith some exceptions (see marked dates)Sizes are 2018 as per NOAA NE Multispecies Info Sheet dated April 29, 2015 Or by GPO.gov dated March 22, 2022 If not marked "updated" with a date from this year, info may not be current. Info may also be subject to change at any time. |
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|---|---|---|
| Species |
|
(Number Per Angler Per Day unless otherwise specified) |
| UPDATED 2015 as per http://www.nero.noaa.gov/sustainable/species/lobster/ http://www.state.nj.us/dep/fgw/pdf/2014/lobsterchange15.pdf American Lobster Permit Holders Lobster |
The Federal lobster fishing year takes place from May 1 through April 30 See NJ Lobster Regulations |
|
| A person fishing in ASMFC Lobster Conservation Management Area (LCMA) 3 will not harvest American lobsters less than 3 17/32 inches carapace length or greater than 6 ¾ inches carapace length. (NJ regs 2015) |
|
|
| Unchanged for 2018 Striped Bass |
******************* Illegal to fish for or possess in federal waters ******************* |
|
| UPDATED 4/28/18 as per https://www.greateratlantic.fisheries.noaa.gov/nr/2018/January/18bsbrecfebfishingphl.html
Black Sea Bass |
Effective Date: February 1, 2018 NOAA Fisheries announces an open Federal recreational black sea bass season during the month of February 2018 (February 1-28). (check state regulations) |
|
(Excluding Tail Filaments) |
|
|
| UPDATED 2018 as per https://www.greateratlantic.fisheries.noaa.gov/sustainable/species/fluke/
Summer Flounder (Fluke) |
May 25 to Sept. 25 (NJ) | |
| 18 inches (NJ) | 5 fish (NJ) | |
| UPDATED 3/19/18 as per NOAA Winter Flounder |
March 1 to Dec 31 (2015 NJ) |
|
| 12 inches total length(2015 NJ) | 2 (2015 NJ) | |
| Unchanged for 2018 Bluefish |
Season: (NO CLOSED SEASON) | |
| No Minimum |
|
|
| UPDATED 2018 as per https://www.greateratlantic.fisheries.noaa.gov/sustainable/species/scup/
Scup (Porgy) |
No Closed Season (NJ) | |
| 9 inches (NJ) |
|
|
| UPDATED 3/19/18 as per NOAA Cod |
Season: (NO CLOSED SEASON Off NJ waters) |
|
| 21 inches total length (NJ) | 10/Person/Day | |
| UPDATED 3/19/18 as per NOAA Haddock |
INSIDE Gulf of Maine May 1 – September 16 November 1 – February 28 April 15 - April 30 Outside GOM: Open Season Year Round |
|
| 18 inches total length | 3/angler/day | |
| UPDATED 3/19/18 as per NOAA Pollock |
Season: (NO CLOSED SEASON) |
|
| 19 inches total length | Unlimited | |
| UPDATED 2018 as per NOAA Spanish Mackerel |
Season: (NO CLOSED SEASON) | |
| 14 inches fork length (NJ) |
|
|
| UPDATED 2016 as per NOAA King Mackerel (Last known update 2016?) |
Season: (NO CLOSED SEASON) | |
| 23 inches fork length (NJ) |
|
|
| Updated 2018 as per NJ Cobia |
Season: (NO CLOSED SEASON) | |
| 40 inches fork length (NJ) |
3 Max per Vessel |
|
| Blue Marlin | Season: (NO CLOSED SEASON) Sizes are 2018 as per NJ Marine Digest NMFS HMS Compliance Guide |
Permit Required http://www.nmfspermits.com/ |
| 99 inches, lower jaw - fork length (LJFL) | ||
| White Marlin | Season: (NO CLOSED SEASON) Sizes are 2018 as per NJ Marine Digest NMFS HMS Compliance Guide |
|
| 66 inches, lower jaw - fork length (LJFL) | ||
| Sailfish | Season: (NO CLOSED SEASON) Sizes are 2018 as per NJ Marine Digest NMFS HMS Compliance Guide |
|
| 63 inches, lower jaw - fork length (LJFL) | ||
| Unchanged for 2018 Spearfish |
******************* Illegal to fish for or possess in federal waters ******************* |
|
| North Altantic Swordfish | Season: (NO CLOSED SEASON) Sizes are 20185 as per NMFS HMS Compliance Guide |
|
| 47 inches, lower jaw - fork length (LJFL) Whole Fish |
Up to 4 per vessel Permit Required http://www.nmfspermits.com/ |
|
| South Atlantic Swordfish | ******************* Illegal to fish for or possess in northern federal waters Recreational fishermen from the USA may not fish for or possess any swordfish in the Atlantic Ocean south of 5 degrees North Latitude ******************* |
|
| Shark, Atlantic sharpnose | Season: (NO CLOSED SEASON) 2018 as per NOAA |
|
| No Minimum Size |
|
|
| Sharks (includes all species except dogfish and atlantic sharpnose) |
Season: (NO CLOSED SEASON) Sizes are 2018 as per NOAA |
|
| 54 inches fork length see Allowable/Prohibited Species! |
NMFS Shark Quick Reference Sheet Permit Required http://www.nmfspermits.com/ NOTE: HMS Permit holders for sharking MUST follow the federal regulations in all waters, including state. |
|
| Sharks - Allowable Species Large Coastal: Blacktip, Spinner, Tiger, Silky, Nurse, Lemon, Bull, Great Hammerhead, Smooth Hammerhead, Scalloped Hammerhead. Small Coastal: Atlantic Sharpnose, Finetooth, Blacknose, Bonnethead. Pelagic Sharks: Shortfin Mako, Common Thresher, Porbeagle, Oceanic Whitetip, Blue |
Sharks - PROHIBITED Species MUST Be Released Atlantic Angel, Basking, Bigeye Sand Tiger, Sand Tiger, Bigeye Thresher, Bigeye sixgill, Bignose, Carribean Reef, Carribean sharpnose, Dusky, Galapagos, Longfin mako, Narrowtooth, Night, Sandbar (Brown Shark), Sevengill, Silky, Sixgill, Smalltail, Whale & White Sharks |
|
| Tuna | Season: (NO CLOSED SEASON) Sizes below are 2018 as per NOAA NMFS HMS Tuna Compliance Sheet See also our Tuna ID Page |
|
| Tuna -Big Eye, Yellowfin* |
Minimum 27 inch total curve fork length |
for permit application, possession limits and season updates on TUNA see NMFS Permit Shop |
| Tuna -Skipjack, Albacore |
No sizelimit | |
| Tuna -Bluefin* |
27 to less than 73 inches curve fork length report catch to 1-888-872-8862 additional info: https://hmspermits.noaa.gov/news.asp |
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Species Key:
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*Permit Required to Possess. | |
| **Bluefin tuna retention limites may change throughout the season. Call (888)872-8862 or (978) 281-9260 or visit https://hmspermits.noaa.gov for current limits. | ||