N.J. Admin. Code § 7:25-6.11 - Nets and alternative gear

(a) Except as provided for the taking of baitfish, it shall be illegal to take fish from the freshwaters of the State by means of nets except under special permit issued by the Division at its discretion and as hereafter provided for in the tidal freshwaters of New Jersey, other than the Delaware River:

1. No person shall catch or take or attempt to catch and take fish of any kind or description by means of a net, or use a net of any character except for fyke nets and bait seines used for the purpose of taking of baitfish, from Saturday at 2:00 P.M. until the following Sunday at 12 midnight.

2. It shall be legal to take and sell foodfish as defined in 7:25-6.2 by the means identified in (a)2i through v below. American Shad may only be taken from the Delaware River.

i. Haul seines, the mesh of which shall not be less than two and three quarter inches stretched while being fished and not to exceed 70 fathoms in length, whether singly or attached, for all species may be used from November 1 to April 30. Permits for haul seines exceeding 70 fathoms in length will be issued for the Delaware River, upstream of the wing dam at Lambertville, only for permittees which have obtained approval from the Division prior to January 1, 2004. All permits issued by the Division after January 1, 2004 will restrict seines to a length not to exceed 70 fathoms in this section of the Delaware River.

ii. Fykes, with leaders shall not exceed 30 feet in length and no part of the net or leaders to be larger than three inches stretched mesh or less than three quarter inch stretched measure while being fished, for all species may be used from November 1 to April 30.

iii. Miniature fykes or pots for the taking of carp, catfish, suckers and eels, the same not to exceed 16 inches in diameter may be used from March 15 to December 15. All other species of fish which may be caught must be immediately returned, unharmed, to the waters from which they were taken.

iv. Drifting gill nets, the smallest of which shall be five and one quarter inches stretched measure while being fished and shall not exceed 100 feet in length, for all species may be used from March 1 to June 15. Drifting gill nets may not be used in freshwater rivers or streams where migratory Alewife or Blueback Herring are known to occur.

v. Gill nets with a mesh not smaller than two and three quarters stretched measure, while being fished and not exceeding 200 feet in length may be used from May 1 to June 10 for the purpose of taking White Perch. Gill nets may not be used in freshwater rivers or streams where migratory Alewife or Blueback Herring are known to occur.

3. Not more than one gill net or hauling seine shall be used from a boat.

4. To obtain a special permit, an application may be obtained from:

New Jersey Division of Fish and Wildlife

Bureau of Freshwater Fisheries

PO Box 394

Lebanon, New Jersey 08833

5. Applications shall be directed to:

New Jersey Division of Fish and Wildlife

Bureau of Freshwater Fisheries

PO Box 394

Lebanon, New Jersey 08833

6. The permittees shall agree to:

i. Submit annual harvest reports, including species, and number of fish harvested, by date, by December 31;

ii. Return species, other than foodfish, to the water immediately and unharmed;

iii. Legibly display name and address on any and all devices left in the water unattended;

iv. Operate only one device per permit;

v. Be present during the operation of the device;

vi. Not transfer the permit to other operators;

vii. Notify and obtain permission from the owner of the water body or access to the water body named in the permit; and

viii. Comply with any local ordinances and other State laws or regulations.

Notes

N.J. Admin. Code § 7:25-6.11

Amended by 50 N.J.R. 801(b), effective 2/5/2018