New Jersey

Garden State Fishing — Stripers, Tuna & Freshwater Bass

Fishing in New Jersey

New Jersey offers outstanding saltwater fishing from surf stripers to offshore tuna and marlin. The state also has quality freshwater bass fishing on its lakes and rivers.

Tournament Scene

Active striper and offshore tournament scene. Freshwater bass tournaments on state lakes.

Local Tips

Raritan Bay for stripers. Hudson Canyon for tuna and marlin. Round Valley for trophy trout. Spruce Run for bass.

Local Circuits

New Jersey Bass FederationJersey Shore Striper CircuitCanyon Club Tuna Tournament

Public Access

Good coastal access. Freshwater access on state-managed waters.

Species in New Jersey

What you can target and when

Striped Bass

Striped Bass

excellent
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D

Best Waters

Delaware River · Sandy Hook · Island Beach

Bucktail jigTopwater plugSwimbaitSpoon
Largemouth Bass

Largemouth Bass

good
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D

Best Waters

Round Valley · Spruce Run · Mercer County Lake

SenkoJigCrankbaitTopwater

Top Waters in New Jersey

Lakes, rivers, bays, and coastal fisheries

Sandy Hook

coastalPublic AccessBoat RampsKayak

Premier surf fishing destination for stripers.

Top Species

Striped BassBluefishFluke

Best: Spring/Fall

Upcoming Tournaments in New Jersey

43 tournaments found

Striped Bass
Saltwater

Championship Point Pleasant Bass Derby

Point Pleasant, New Jersey
Apr 14, 2026 – Apr 16, 2026
Striped Bass
$200Details
Largemouth Bass
Charity

Grand Wildwood Bass Bonanza

Wildwood, New Jersey
Apr 15, 2026 – Apr 18, 2026
Largemouth Bass
$300Details
Catfish
Kayak Featured
2 days

Freedom Barnegat Catfish Showdown

Barnegat, New Jersey
Apr 18, 2026 – Apr 20, 2026
Catfish
$250Details
Saltwater

Iron Seaside Heights Mahi-Mahi Bash

Seaside Heights, New Jersey
Apr 28, 2026 – May 1, 2026
Mahi-Mahi
FreeDetails
Brown Trout
Fly Fishing
4 weeks

Governor's Cup Brielle Trout Mayhem

Brielle, New Jersey
May 10, 2026 – May 11, 2026
Brown Trout
$500Details
Common Carp
Freshwater
5 weeks

Steel Seaside Heights Carp Derby

Seaside Heights, New Jersey
May 15, 2026 – May 17, 2026
Common Carp
$125Details

Fishing Licenses & Regulations

Resident License

Annual Resident Freshwater: $22.50. Saltwater: Free (registration required).

Non-Resident License

Annual Non-Resident Freshwater: $34. 7-Day: $19.50.

Short-Term License

7-Day non-resident license available.

Youth & Senior

Free for residents under 16. Free for seniors 70+.

Boat Registration

Required for motorized vessels.

Tournament Permit

Permits required for organized events.

Regulations Overview

Striped bass: 1 fish daily, 28-inch minimum. 5 bass daily limit freshwater.

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