Fish consumption advisories

New Jersey

New Jersey publishes advisories for 16 waters, covering 97 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, pregnant or breastfeeding women, and children For women who may become pregnant, pregnant or breastfeeding women, and children: 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, pregnant or breastfeeding women, and children For women who may become pregnant, pregnant or breastfeeding women, and children: 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, pregnant or breastfeeding women, and children For women who may become pregnant, pregnant or breastfeeding women, and children: do not eat due to elevated PCB. New Jersey estuarine & marine advisory
Bluegill Women who may become pregnant, pregnant or breastfeeding women, and children For women who may become pregnant, pregnant or breastfeeding women, and children: limit to one meal per week due to elevated Mercury. New Jersey statewide freshwater advisory
Brown Bullhead Women who may become pregnant, pregnant or breastfeeding women, and children For women who may become pregnant, pregnant or breastfeeding women, and children: limit to one meal per month due to elevated Mercury. New Jersey statewide freshwater advisory
Chain Pickerel General population Limit to one meal per week due to elevated Mercury. New Jersey statewide freshwater advisory
Chain Pickerel Women who may become pregnant, pregnant or breastfeeding women, and children For women who may become pregnant, pregnant or breastfeeding women, and children: limit to one meal per month due to elevated Mercury. New Jersey statewide freshwater advisory
Common Carp General population Limit to one meal per month due to elevated PCB. New Jersey statewide freshwater advisory
Common Carp Women who may become pregnant, pregnant or breastfeeding women, and children For women who may become pregnant, pregnant or breastfeeding women, and children: do not eat due to elevated PCB. New Jersey statewide freshwater advisory
Largemouth Bass General population Limit to one meal per week due to elevated Mercury. New Jersey statewide freshwater advisory
Largemouth Bass Women who may become pregnant, pregnant or breastfeeding women, and children For women who may become pregnant, pregnant or breastfeeding women, and children: limit to one meal per month 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 statewide freshwater advisory
Smallmouth Bass Women who may become pregnant, pregnant or breastfeeding women, and children For women who may become pregnant, pregnant or breastfeeding women, and children: limit to one meal per month due to elevated Mercury. New Jersey statewide freshwater 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, pregnant or breastfeeding women, and children For women who may become pregnant, pregnant or breastfeeding women, and children: 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, pregnant or breastfeeding women, and children For women who may become pregnant, pregnant or breastfeeding women, and children: do not eat due to elevated PCB. New Jersey estuarine & marine advisory

New Jersey Pinelands region advisory

These replace the statewide rules above for waters in this region. Each water's own page says which set covers it.

Bluegill Women who may become pregnant, pregnant or breastfeeding women, and children For women who may become pregnant, pregnant or breastfeeding women, and children: limit to one meal per month due to elevated Mercury.
Brown Bullhead General population Limit to one meal per week due to elevated Mercury.
Brown Bullhead Women who may become pregnant, pregnant or breastfeeding women, and children For women who may become pregnant, pregnant or breastfeeding women, and children: do not eat due to elevated Mercury.
Chain Pickerel General population Limit to one meal per month due to elevated Mercury.
Chain Pickerel Women who may become pregnant, pregnant or breastfeeding women, and children For women who may become pregnant, pregnant or breastfeeding women, and children: do not eat due to elevated Mercury.
Common Carp General population Limit to one meal per week due to elevated Mercury.
Common Carp Women who may become pregnant, pregnant or breastfeeding women, and children For women who may become pregnant, pregnant or breastfeeding women, and children: limit to one meal per month due to elevated Mercury.
Largemouth Bass General population Limit to one meal per month due to elevated Mercury.
Largemouth Bass Women who may become pregnant, pregnant or breastfeeding women, and children For women who may become pregnant, pregnant or breastfeeding women, and children: do not eat due to elevated Mercury.
Smallmouth Bass General population Limit to one meal per week due to elevated Mercury.
Smallmouth Bass Women who may become pregnant, pregnant or breastfeeding women, and children For women who may become pregnant, pregnant or breastfeeding women, and children: limit to one meal per month due to elevated Mercury.

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

Browse New Jersey by county

Every named water in the state, county by county — including the many with no advisory on file.

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

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