The New Jersey Marine Fisheries Council approved changes to the recreational Atlantic cod size, season and possession limits consistent with the New England Fishery Management Council’s Northeast Multispecies (Groundfish) Fishery Management Plan.
As per new federal regulations regarding season, size and bag for cod in federal waters beyond 3 miles, the council decision means that Atlantic cod regulations are now identical in state and federal waters.
The new recreational Atlantic cod regulations are now in effect, as follows:
- Minimum Size Limit: 23 inches
- Open Season: January 1 through May 31 and September 1 through December 31
- Possession Limit: Five fish
The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) reminds anglers that due to this mid-season regulatory adjustment, the 2023 Atlantic cod regulations on the NJ Recreational Regulations Cards and published in the Marine Digest are not correct. Please reference the NJ Fish and Wildlife website and online 2023 Marine Digest for current updates to the regulations.
For more information on state regulations and requirements as they’re made official by the NJDEP, visit the Department’s Rules and Regulations webpage.
