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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.

SpeciesSizeDaily limitOpen seasonKeep 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

Where this comes from

Advisories
New Jersey DEP — Fish Smart, Eat Smart NJ
Regulations
New Jersey — New Jersey Fish & Wildlife
All sources
Every state's official source