Recreational black sea bass season reopens in New Jersey on October 1 with a 10 fish bag limit and 12-1/2-inch minimum size through Halloween, going up to a 15-fish bag limit as of November 1 and in place through December 31.
New Jersey’s blackfish (tautog) regulations will also transition in November, the one-fish bag that’s been in place since August 1 will go to five fish as of November 16 and will remain in place through the end of 2024 with a 15-inch minimum size. As of New Year’s Day, New Jersey tautog limits will fall back to four fish for the month of January and February.
As a reminder, Atlantic cod (five fish bag, 23-inch minimum size) and porgy (30 fish bag, 10-inch minimum size) also reopened in New Jersey as of September 1, with both of those fisheries staying open and available to local anglers heading into the first half of 2025.
Unlike their neighbors to the north, Delaware anglers never see a summer flounder seasonal closure, and any Delawareans who might stumble into a flatfish now through December 31 are able to retain four fish at a minimum size of 17-1/2 inches. Delaware black sea bass will also reopen on October 10 after a very brief closure to start the month, with a 13-inch minimum size limit and 15 fish bag. Porgy is open in Delaware as well (9-inch minimum, 30 fish bag), while the tautog season runs through December 31 and right up until the middle of May of next year with a four-fish bag limit and 16-inch minimum size.
For a complete chart of season, size and bag limits for New Jersey, Delaware and New York, turn to the Report Section of The Fisherman.
