Tautog (also known as Blackfish, Tog) in New Jersey. Minimum legal size, daily bag limit, possession limit — verified against the NJ Fish & Wildlife guide, 2026.
In New Jersey, the minimum legal size for Tautog is 15 in and the daily bag limit is 1–5 per person (varies by open season window — set annually). Season note: Open seasons and these size and bag limits are reviewed at least annually and can change in-season — always confirm the current New Jersey rules before keeping fish.
Open seasons and these size and bag limits are reviewed at least annually and can change in-season — always confirm the current New Jersey rules before keeping fish.
Atlantic / state waters. Seasons/per-period bags set annually via ASMFC — re-confirm each year. Closed Mar and May–Jul in the 2026 schedule. NJ waters: 15" minimum with the seasonal bag windows above. Tautog is an ASMFC-managed inshore/structure species; the 2026 Digest lists a single NJ schedule applied to NJ-landed fish (no separate federal-waters tautog table is published by NJ, though federal regs exist). Re-checked 2026-09 against the 2026 NJ Marine Digest: four windows, all at 15" — Jan 1–Feb 28 limit 4; Apr 1–30 limit 4; Aug 1–Nov 15 limit 1; Nov 16–Dec 31 limit 5. No six-fish window exists in 2026, so the stored ceiling of 6 was over-permissive.
These limits are pulled from the NJ Fish & Wildlife marine recreational fishing regulations. Last verified September 2026.
Always check the official guide before keeping any fish. Regulations change. New Jersey Division of Fish & Wildlife updates its guide annually and occasionally mid-year. Fines for over-bag or undersized fish are significant.
New Jersey requires no paid saltwater licence, but anglers aged 16 or older must enrol (free) in the NJ Saltwater Recreational Registry Program. NJ saltwater registry.
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