A valid fishing license and trout stamp are both required to fish for or possess trout and salmon for all anglers (residents and non-residents) 16 and over, and residents under the age of 70. No trout stamp is required for residents age 70 years and over.
Licenses may be purchased online at NJFishandWildlife.com/licensesalessite.htm or at license agents such as sporting goods or bait and tackle stores. Call first to confirm agent’s system is active. Visit NJFishandWildlife.com for details, or call 609-292-2965.
Replace a license, permit or stamp at any license agent or online at NJDEP Fish & Wildlife’s internet license sales site, NJFishandWildlife.com/licensesalessite.htm also linked through our regular website at NJFishandWildlife.com. For fishing licenses or trout stamps originally purchased online, a reprint can be made free of charge on plain paper. Durable stock duplicates can be ordered online for $2 per item.
A person on active duty in the United States armed services, regardless of their current residency, may buy a New Jersey resident fishing license. Active duty military ID must be shown to the license agent as proof of entitlement.
Only New Jersey National Guard personnel in good standing are entitled to free sporting licenses, permits and stamps. These privileges are not available using NJDEP Fish & Wildlife’s website. However, the NJ Dept. of Military and Veterans Affairs can issue fishing licenses through their DMAVA website at www.nj.gov/military/veterans/benefits-resources/hunting-fishing-license.shtml. For all other free sporting licenses, call 609-530-6866, email [email protected] , or write to: NJ Dept of Military and Veterans Affairs, Attn: MSG (Ret.) Robert Greco (RSB-RALV), PO Box 340, Trenton, NJ 08625-0340.
Free hunting and fishing licenses, stamps and permits are available for resident veterans with a service-connected disability.
For the purposes of this program, legislation defines disabled veterans as “…any resident of New Jersey who has been honorably discharged or released under honorable circumstances from active service from any branch of the Armed Forces of the United States and who has been declared by the United States Department of Veteran Affairs, or its successor, to have a service-connected disability of any degree…”
Newly applying disabled veterans can obtain their hunting and fishing licenses and stamps by mailing the application and all required documentation to: NJDEP Fish & Wildlife, Attn: Disabled Veteran Licensing, MC 501-03, PO Box 420 Trenton, NJ 08625-0420.
NJDEP Fish & Wildlife offices no longer accept Disabled Veteran Certifications in person. For information and updates, go to dep.nj.gov/njfw/licenses-and-permits/disabled-veteran-license-information.
All licenses, stamps and permits for which the veteran is eligible will be free of charge. This does not give preferential treatment in any lottery. For questions call 609-292-2965.
Residents with total blindness may obtain a free license. Call 609-292-2965 for an application.
In order to comply with the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC) and to maintain consistency with NJ's Marine Fishing Regulations, the following regulation changes went into effect during 2023.
The daily bag limit for American Shad has been reduced from 3 to 2 for the Delaware River. The American Shad fishery remains closed in all other freshwaters.
The statewide daily creel and possession limit for Striped Bass is one fish, a minimum length of 28 inches and a maximum length of 31 inches. This daily limit and slot limit also applies to Hybrid Striped Bass on the Raritan River downstream of the Duke Island Park dam. The Striped Bass and Hybrid Striped Bass regulations on the Delaware River remain a one fish daily limit, however there is now a minimum length of 28 inches and a maximum length of 31 inches. An administrative change was also made for Striped Bass and Hybrid Striped Bass regulations on the Delaware River downstream of the Calhoun St. Bridge, extending the open season from March 30 to March 31.
