Size, bag and season for recreational black sea bass in New Jersey waters, as published by NJDEP Division of Fish & Wildlife, Marine Fisheries.
Also on the agency page: Page directs anglers to NOAA Fisheries for federal-waters black sea bass rules.
Stale: this row was last checked Oct 10, 2026, past our 30-day limit. Treat it as history and go to the agency page.
Rules change in season, sometimes by emergency notice. This page summarizes the agency page on the date shown. If this summary and the agency page disagree, the agency page controls.
Black sea bass seasons often come in several windows with different bag limits. Read the whole season line, not the first date.
New Jersey rules apply in state waters, generally out to 3 nautical miles. North of Cape Hatteras, federal recreational measures come from the Mid-Atlantic Council and NOAA Fisheries. South of Cape Hatteras, black sea bass is a South Atlantic snapper-grouper species with its own federal rules. NOAA Fisheries · black sea bass ↗
Rules for the same fish change at the state line. If you run across it or land in the next state, those rules apply.
| State | Size | Bag | Status as of Oct 13, 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Connecticut | 15.5" minimum (excluding tail filament) | 4 fish per angler per day (private/shore); party/charter paying passengers: 4 fish May 16–Aug 31, 6 fish Sept 1–Dec 31 | Openas of Oct 13 · Open in part from Nov 26 |
| New York | 16" minimum (excluding tail filament) | 3 fish (May 16–Aug 31); 6 fish (Sept 1–Dec 31) | Openas of Oct 13 |
| New Jersey | 12.5" minimum (excluding tail filament) | 10 fish (May 15–Jun 21); 1 fish (Jun 22–Sep 22); 10 fish (Sep 23–Oct 31); 15 fish (Nov 1–Dec 31) | Openas of Oct 13 |
| Delaware | 12.5" minimum | 15 | Openas of Oct 13 |
| Maryland | 12.5" (excluding tail filament) | 15 per day | Openas of Oct 13 |
All 13 states for black sea bass →
Attributed operator claims, not verified catches. The full Bite Wire →
The boat reported an improved keeper ratio for fluke to the north, sea bass in the mix, and continued limits-plus bluefish action before an approaching windy period.
