Fish consumption advisories
New Jersey
New Jersey publishes advisories for 16 waters, covering 108 species-and-size recommendations.
Contaminants of concern: Dioxins, Mercury, PCBs
Statewide advisory
These apply across New Jersey, including waters with no specific advisory of their own.
- All Other Species General population Limit to one meal per week due to elevated Mercury. New Jersey statewide freshwater advisory
- All Other Species Women who may become pregnant & children under 15 For women who may become pregnant, pregnant or breastfeeding women, and children under 15: limit to one meal per month due to elevated Mercury. New Jersey statewide freshwater advisory
- American Eel General population Limit to 4 meals per year due to elevated PCB. New Jersey estuarine & marine advisory
- American Eel Women who may become pregnant & children under 15 For women who may become pregnant, pregnant or breastfeeding women, and children under 15: do not eat due to elevated PCB. New Jersey estuarine & marine advisory
- Bluefish General population Limit to 6 meals per year due to elevated PCB. New Jersey estuarine & marine advisory
- Bluefish Women who may become pregnant & children under 15 For women who may become pregnant, pregnant or breastfeeding women, and children under 15: do not eat due to elevated PCB. New Jersey estuarine & marine advisory
- Bluegill Women who may become pregnant & children under 15 For women who may become pregnant, pregnant or breastfeeding women, and children under 15: limit to one meal per week due to elevated Mercury. New Jersey statewide freshwater advisory
- Bluegill Women who may become pregnant & children under 15 For women who may become pregnant, pregnant or breastfeeding women, and children under 15: limit to one meal per month due to elevated Mercury. New Jersey Pinelands region advisory
- Brown Bullhead General population Limit to one meal per week due to elevated Mercury. New Jersey Pinelands region advisory
- Brown Bullhead Women who may become pregnant & children under 15 For women who may become pregnant, pregnant or breastfeeding women, and children under 15: limit to one meal per month due to elevated Mercury. New Jersey statewide freshwater advisory
- Brown Bullhead Women who may become pregnant & children under 15 For women who may become pregnant, pregnant or breastfeeding women, and children under 15: do not eat due to elevated Mercury. New Jersey Pinelands region advisory
- Chain Pickerel General population Limit to one meal per week due to elevated Mercury. New Jersey statewide freshwater advisory
- Chain Pickerel General population Limit to one meal per month due to elevated Mercury. New Jersey Pinelands region advisory
- Chain Pickerel Women who may become pregnant & children under 15 For women who may become pregnant, pregnant or breastfeeding women, and children under 15: limit to one meal per month due to elevated Mercury. New Jersey statewide freshwater advisory
- Chain Pickerel Women who may become pregnant & children under 15 For women who may become pregnant, pregnant or breastfeeding women, and children under 15: do not eat due to elevated Mercury. New Jersey Pinelands region advisory
- Common Carp General population Limit to one meal per month due to elevated PCB. New Jersey statewide freshwater advisory
- Common Carp General population Limit to one meal per week due to elevated Mercury. New Jersey Pinelands region advisory
- Common Carp Women who may become pregnant & children under 15 For women who may become pregnant, pregnant or breastfeeding women, and children under 15: do not eat due to elevated PCB. New Jersey statewide freshwater advisory
- Common Carp Women who may become pregnant & children under 15 For women who may become pregnant, pregnant or breastfeeding women, and children under 15: limit to one meal per month due to elevated Mercury. New Jersey Pinelands region advisory
- Largemouth Bass General population Limit to one meal per week due to elevated Mercury. New Jersey statewide freshwater advisory
- Largemouth Bass General population Limit to one meal per month due to elevated Mercury. New Jersey Pinelands region advisory
- Largemouth Bass Women who may become pregnant & children under 15 For women who may become pregnant, pregnant or breastfeeding women, and children under 15: limit to one meal per month due to elevated Mercury. New Jersey statewide freshwater advisory
- Largemouth Bass Women who may become pregnant & children under 15 For women who may become pregnant, pregnant or breastfeeding women, and children under 15: do not eat due to elevated Mercury. New Jersey Pinelands region advisory
- Smallmouth Bass General population Limit to one meal per week due to elevated Mercury. New Jersey statewide freshwater advisory
- Smallmouth Bass General population Limit to one meal per week due to elevated Mercury. New Jersey Pinelands region advisory
- Smallmouth Bass Women who may become pregnant & children under 15 For women who may become pregnant, pregnant or breastfeeding women, and children under 15: limit to one meal per month due to elevated Mercury. New Jersey statewide freshwater advisory
- Smallmouth Bass Women who may become pregnant & children under 15 For women who may become pregnant, pregnant or breastfeeding women, and children under 15: limit to one meal per month due to elevated Mercury. New Jersey Pinelands region advisory
- Spotted Seatrout General population Limit to one meal per week due to elevated Mercury. New Jersey statewide freshwater advisory
- Spotted Seatrout Women who may become pregnant & children under 15 For women who may become pregnant, pregnant or breastfeeding women, and children under 15: limit to one meal per week due to elevated Mercury. New Jersey statewide freshwater advisory
- Striped Bass General population Limit to one meal per month due to elevated PCB. New Jersey estuarine & marine advisory
- Striped Bass Women who may become pregnant & children under 15 For women who may become pregnant, pregnant or breastfeeding women, and children under 15: do not eat due to elevated PCB. New Jersey estuarine & marine advisory
Waters with advisories in New Jersey
16 waters on file. A water not listed here has no advisory in the state's data — which usually means it has never been sampled, not that it's been cleared.
Lakes 6
Reservoirs 5
Rivers 5
New Jersey statewide fishing limits
Statewide defaults — specific waters and zones may differ. Verify the current rules before keeping a fish.
| Species | Size | Daily limit | Open season | Keep season |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Largemouth Bass | 12" min | 5 | Year-round | 06-16 – 04-14 |
| Smallmouth Bass | 12" min | 5 | Year-round | 06-16 – 04-14 |
| Rainbow Trout | 7" min | 6 | Year-round | Same as open |
| Walleye | 18" min | 3 | Year-round | 05-01 – 02-28 |
| Northern Pike | 24" min | 2 | Year-round | Same as open |
| Muskellunge | 40" min | 1 | Year-round | Same as open |
| Chain Pickerel | 15" min | 5 | Year-round | Same as open |
| Channel Catfish | 12" min | 5 | Year-round | Same as open |
| Flathead Catfish | — | — | Year-round | Same as open |
| Black Crappie | 8" min | 10 | Year-round | Same as open |
| Bluegill | — | — | Year-round | Same as open |
| Yellow Perch | — | — | Year-round | Same as open |
| Hybrid Striped Bass | 16" min | 2 | Year-round | Same as open |
| American Shad | — | 2 | Year-round | Same as open |
Official rules: New Jersey — New Jersey Fish & Wildlife