As of this past Friday, August 1, New Jersey anglers are again allowed to target and retain a single blackfish (tautog) at the minimum size limit of 15 inches.
This “summer fishery” for tautog has become especially important to the spearfishing community allowing for the harvest of a single blackfish around inshore rockpiles and jetties when nearshore water temps are still warm. It has also provided an outstanding option for jetty jocks looking for a score from shore during the one-fish bag limit timeframe through November 15. Starting November 16 and running through December 31, the bag limit for blackfish will once again go to five fish at the same 15-inch minimum size.
For Delaware anglers, the tautog fishery reopened July 1 and runs through December 31 with a four fish bag limit and 16-inch minimum size, while New York Bight waters (New York anglers) won’t see a reopening of tautog until October 15 when a four fish bag and 16-inch minimum size limit is back in place.
For a look at the coastwide regulations for The Fisherman’s regional readership, Maine to Maryland, go to www.thefisherman.com/marine-regulations.
