NOTE: The Shellfish License includes all molluscan (shellfish) species, with the exception of conchs, which are addressed in the commercial marine fisheries regulations. A Resident Senior Clam License (age 62 and older) obtained prior to June 17, 2008, remains valid and now includes all the rights associated with the Shellfish License.
Shellfish Licenses are available via the License Website and at license agents.
New Jersey does not require a general saltwater fishing license for recreational surf casting, deep sea or bay fishing. However, New Jersey saltwater anglers must register with the New Jersey Saltwater Recreational Registry Program (see the Registry Information page for details). Also, there is a variety of required licenses and permits for crabbing, clamming and commercial saltwater fishing issued by the NJ Division of Fish and Wildlife's
Bureau of Marine Fisheries.
Licenses and permits are available at the Nacote Creek Office in
Port Republic (Atlantic County) and through the mail (linked below) and on the division's license website, www.nj.wildlifelicense.com.
Tuna permits are issued by the National Marine Fisheries Service
- see www.nmfspermits.com for details.
A NJ Child Support Certification Form must be included with
every application and is part of the application documents linked
below. For information on the Child Support Certification requirement
please visit the Child
Support Certification Information page.
Shellfish License Information
A clamming license is now called a shellfish license and is required for harvesting of all species of benthic mollusks (with the exception of conchs, addressed in the commercial marine fisheries regulations), including, but not limited to, hard and soft clams, surf clams, oysters, bay scallops and mussels. Licenses are available at license agents and online.
Lifetime Resident Senior Clam Licenses sold prior to June 17, 2008, have been expanded to include all molluscan (shellfish) species, with the exception of conchs, which are addressed in the commercial marine fisheries regulations. In addition, a Non-resident Commercial Shellfish License has been established.
Other specific commercial shellfish licenses exist such as surf clam dredge, Delaware Bay oyster dredge boat, and Delaware Bay licenses to harvest in Areas 1, 2 and 3.
Prior to harvesting any shellfish, be certain to consult the Shellfish Growing Water Classification Charts published by DEP’s Bureau of Marine Water Monitoring, available at any license agent, state shellfish offices, marine police station, online at www.nj.gov/dep/bmw/waterclass.htm or call the Bureau of Marine Water Monitoring at 609-748-2000.
For more information on license/permit requirements please see the Marine Digest and/or the NJ Commercial Marine Regulations, both linked from the Regulations page. For copies of letters regarding Commercial Quotas and Trip Limits see www.njfishandwildlife.com/comquotas.htm.
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A Possession in Excess of Daily Limit Vessel License is required to possess on board a vessel, in New Jersey State waters, an amount of black sea bass or summer flounder exceeding the current New Jersey trip limit, for the purposes of unloading the additional fish in another state. The Division issued a letter advising license holders and affiliated dealers to review the Possession in Excess of Daily Limit License statute N.J.A.S. 23:2B-24 and the Division's summary of N.J.A.S. 23:2B-24 outlining the requirements of the law.
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Possession In Excess License Cover Letter, October 27, 2020 (pdf, 135kb) |
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Possession in Excess of Daily Limit Vessel License Statute (pdf, 90kb) |
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Possession in Excess of Daily Limit Vessel License Summary (pdf, 470kb) |
| Possession in Excess of Daily Limit Vessel License Application ($200.00 fee) ( pdf, 280kb)
FAQs( pdf, 110kb)
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Other Marine Licenses Issued By the Division:
| Non-commercial
Crab Pot License |
$2.00 |
| Striped Bass Bonus Permit |
No Fee |
| Resident Recreational Shellfish License |
$10.00 |
| Resident
Senior (62 and older) Lifetime Recreational Shellfish License |
$2.00 |
| Juvenile
(under 14 years of age) Recreational Shellfish License (Resident/Non-Resident) |
$2.00 |
| Non-Resident
Recreational Shellfish License |
$20.00 |
| Commercial
Shellfish License |
$50.00 |
| Non-Resident Commercial Shellfish License |
$250.00 |
| Fillet
Permit for Party Boats |
$2.00 |
| To
Use Fish Nets, Pounds and Pots in Marine & Estuarine Waters within
Three Miles of Shore |
Fee Varies |
| Menhaden Bait Permit |
Fee Varies |
Applications for some of the above licenses are available in PDF format on the Forms Page.
For information on the above licenses or permits please contact:
NJ Division of Fish and Wildlife
Nacote Creek Research Station
P.O. Box 418
Port Republic, NJ 08241
Marine Fisheries - 609-748-2020
Shellfisheries - 609-748-2040
Enforcement - 609-748-2050
