NEW JERSEY SALTWATER RECREATIONAL REGISTRY PROGRAM - New Jersey's FREE saltwater fishing registry replaces the fee-based federal registry that state anglers were required to participate in.  The New Jersey Saltwater Recreational Registry Program (NJSRRP) exempts saltwater recreational anglers fishing in New Jersey's marine and tidal waters from the federal registry and a $15 federal registration fee.

Anglers with a valid registration with the National Saltwater Angler Registry or that have a valid license from another exempted state are still required to register with the NJ Saltwater Recreational Registry Program.  Registration with NJ exempts you from having to register with the National Saltwater Angler Registry.  Registration is quick, simple and free, and is required for anglers age 16 or older.  Individual registration is not required if you only fish on charter or headboats.


NATIONAL SALTWATER ANGLER REGISTRY - NOAA Fisheries MARINE RECREATIONAL INFORMATION PROGRAM or MRIP, is a tool that will help NOAA and anglers work together to help ensure the long-term sustainability of America's recreational fisheries and the health of our oceans.  This is the mandatory federal registry for saltwater anglers if you live in a state that does not require a state saltwater fishing license or have a state registry program.  You can register online and there is a $15 charge to register.  You will be mailed a registration card that is valid for one year.


Attention Bluewater Anglers!

NMFS Permit Shop - Get your Highly Migratory Species (HMS) permit here.  Since its inception on March 1, 2003, you'll need this annual $16 federal permit for your boat if you want to land Yellowfin, Bluefin, Albacore, Bigeye and Skipjack tunas.  Also required for Swordfish, Sailfish, Blue Marlin, White Marlin and certain Sharks.  In the HMS Angling category, owners/operators of vessels fishing recreationally, even catch and release, for Atlantic HMS (sharks, swordfish, billfish, and tunas) in the Atlantic, including the Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean Sea, must obtain an HMS Angling category permit.  This permit is for recreational fishing only, no sale of catch is permitted.  This permit allows a vessel to participate in registered recreational HMS fishing.


New Jersey Licenses and Permits:

New Jersey does not require a license for recreational surf casting, deep sea or bay fishing.  However, there are a variety of required licenses and permits for crabbing, shellfish harvesting, fish nets, pound nets and fish pots.  The licenses must be renewed ($) every year.

Non-commercial Crab Pot and Trot Line License - $2
Resident Recreational Shellfish License - $10
Resident Senior (62 and older) Recreational Shellfish License - $2
Juvenile (under 14 years of age) Recreational Shellfish (Resident/Non-Resident) - $2
Non-Resident Recreational Shellfish License - $20
Application To Use Fish Nets, Pounds and Pots in Marine and Estuarine Waters (NJ Residents only) - Fee varies

Licenses and permits are available in person at the Nacote Creek Office and through the mail:

NJ Division of Fish and Wildlife
Nacote Creek Research Station
PO Box 418
Port Republic, NJ 08241

Most license and permit application forms are available online at http://www.njfishandwildlife.com/forms.htm#fishing

Shellfish licenses are also available via the Internet license site at http://www.wildlifelicense.com/nj/.
For information on the shellfish and other marine licenses, visit http://www.njfishandwildlife.com/marinelicenses.htm.

Fishing for bait in New Jersey?

A Bait Net License ($10) is NOT required for the following gear provided that the fish taken are for personal use and not sold or bartered:

1. Dip nets with a diameter of 24 inches or less (for Herring only.)
2. Bait seines not exceeding 50 feet in length.
3. Cast nets not exceeding 20 feet in diameter.
4. Lift or umbrella nets not exceeding 4 feet square.
5. Five killipots or less measuring not over 10 inches in diameter or 25 inches in length, if cylindrical, or 2,000 cubic inches for any other configuration.

A Miniature Fyke or Pot license ($100) is NOT required for up to two miniature fykes or pots used for the taking of killifish or eels for bait provided they are not sold or used for barter.  Diameter not to exceed 16 inches if cylindrical or 201 square inches in cross section if any other configuration.  Mesh no smaller than 3/16 inches bar inside measurement.

No person shall take more than thirty-five (35) river herring (alewife and blueback herring) per day with any dip net, cast net, lift or umbrella net or bait seine.

No person shall harvest river herring (alewife and blueback herring) from the Deal Lake flume, the Lake Takanassee spillway or Wreck Pond spillway on Monday, Wednesday and Friday during the months of April and May in any year.

No license is required to take edible crabs for personal consumption with a scoop net (dip net) operated by hand.  Crabs taken with a bait seine may be retained for personal use only if you possess a bait net license.  Taking of female crabs with eggs attached or from which eggs have been removed is prohibited.

New Jersey recreational angling limits and minimum sizes for crabs and eels apply when you are harvesting bait.


Additional State Regulatory Information

For additional regulatory information, please check with the appropriate state marine fisheries agency.  Listed below are links to the marine fisheries agency for each state bordering on the Atlantic and Pacific oceans and the Gulf of Mexico.

Maine Department of Marine Resources - A license is NOT required for saltwater recreational fishing in Maine waters.

Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries - A license is NOT required for recreational saltwater angling in Massachusetts waters.

Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management - Marine Fisheries - A license is NOT required for recreational saltwater fishing in Rhode Island waters.

Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection - Saltwater Fishing - A license is NOT required for recreational saltwater fishing in Connecticut waters.

New York Department of Environmental Conservation - Saltwater Fishing - A license is required for recreational saltwater fishing in New York waters.

New Jersey Division of Fish & Wildlife - A professional environmental agency dedicated to the protection, management and wise use of New Jersey's fish and wildlife resources.  From Raritan Bay and Sandy Hook to Cape May and Delaware Bay, our marine resources provide something for anyone interested in saltwater fishing, clamming, crabbing or exploring New Jersey's 83 miles of bayshores and 127 miles of Atlantic coastline.  A license is NOT required for recreational saltwater fishing in New Jersey waters.

New Jersey Division of Fish & Wildlife - 2011 Marine Issue of the Fish and Wildlife DIGEST (published every May)

New Jersey Division of Fish & Wildlife - 2011 Marine Recreational Fishing Regulations Summary Sheet

New Jersey Division of Fish & Wildlife - 2011 Marine Commercial Fishing Regulations

New Jersey Saltwater Record Fish Program - Got a big one for the record book?  Look here to see the current record holders and get information on how you can enter your fish of a lifetime.

Delaware Division of Fish and Wildlife - As of January 1, 2008, Delawareans and non-residents alike must be licensed to fish fresh and salt water.

Maryland Department of Natural Resources - Fisheries Service  A sportfishing license is required to fish on the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries.

Virginia Marine Resources Commission

North Carolina Division of Marine Fisheries - A Coastal Recreational Fishing License is required to recreationally take finfish in the state's coastal fishing waters, which include sounds, coastal rivers and their tributaries, out to three miles in the ocean.

South Carolina Department of Natural Resources - Saltwater Fishing - A saltwater recreational fisheries license is required to fish in South Carolina waters.

Georgia Department of Natural Resources - A recreational fishing license is required to fish in Georgia waters.

Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission - A saltwater license is required to fish in Florida waters and their license fees are pricey $$$.

Alabama Marine Resources Division - A saltwater recreational fishing license is required to fish in Alabama waters.

Mississippi Department of Marine Resources - A saltwater license is required to fish in Mississippi waters.

Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries - A saltwater license is required to fish in Louisiana waters.

Texas Parks & Wildlife - Fishing - A Texas fishing license and saltwater stamp endorsement are required to fish in Texas waters.

California Division of Fish and Game - A Sport Fishing license is required to fish in California waters.  Additional stamps are required for certain species and areas.  And they are more pricey than Florida!

Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife - Marine Resources Program - An angling license is required to fish in Oregon waters.

Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife - A saltwater license is required to fish in Washington waters.

Alaska Department of Fish and Game - Sport Fish Division - A sport fishing license is required to fish in Alaska waters.

Hawaii Division of Aquatic Resources - A license is NOT required for marine recreational fishing in Hawaii waters.


The following are links to regional and federal fisheries management agencies of interest.  Additional links can be found on our Government Issue page.

Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council - The GMFMC manages fishery resources in the federal waters of the Gulf of Mexico and includes representation from Alabama, West Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas

Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council - The MAFMC is responsible for the management of fisheries in federal waters which occur predominantly off the mid -Atlantic coast. States with voting representation on the Council include New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, and North Carolina

New England Fishery Management Council - The NEFMC manages the fishery resources in the federal waters off the coasts of Maine, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Rhode Island and Connecticut

North Pacific Fishery Management Council - The NPFMC has jurisdiction over the 900,000 square mile Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) off Alaska (including the Gulf of Alaska (GOA) and Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands.) The Council manages cod, pollock, flatfish, mackerel, sablefish, and rockfish species, and also makes allocative and limited entry decisions for Pacific halibut

Pacific Fishery Management Council - The PFMC manages salmon, groundfish and coastal pelagic species in federal waters Washington, Oregon and California, and recommends Pacific halibut harvest regulations to the International Pacific Halibut Commission

South Atlantic Fishery Management Council - The SAFMC is responsible for managing the fisheries in federal waters off the coasts of North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia and East Florida

Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council - The WPRFMC is responsible for the fisheries in federal waters around the Territory of American Samoa , Territory of Guam, State of Hawaii, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands and US Pacific island possessions

National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) - The mother of all regulatory agencies!