New Jersey · Mid-Atlantic
New Jersey saltwater fishing forecast
4 bay systems and 357 named spots on the New Jersey Atlantic coast, with 12 NOAA tide stations. Right now the top-scoring bay system is Coastal waters from Little Egg Inlet to Great Egg Inlet NJ out 20 NM at 79 for Striped bass.
In peak season this week: Black sea bass, Bluefish, Spotted seatrout, Striped bass and Tautog.
- Bay systems
- 4
- Named spots
- 357
- Tide stations
- 12
- Species guides
- 21
Bay systems right now · 4
Scores from the Waterlands engine, computed 10:03 PM EDT. Best window is the rest of today.
ANZ452 · 72 named spots
Top now: Striped bass · Best window 10 PM-12 AM (peak 79)
ANZ431 · 147 named spots
Top now: Striped bass · Best window 10 PM-12 AM (peak 78)
ANZ451 · 100 named spots
Top now: Striped bass · Best window 10 PM-12 AM (peak 75)
ANZ430 · 38 named spots
Top now: Striped bass · Best window 10 PM-12 AM (peak 76)
Scoring best right now
Each species' best score in a New Jersey bay system this hour.
- Striped bass78Great
Best in Coastal waters from Little Egg Inlet to Great Egg Inlet NJ out 20 NM · scored in 4 bay systems
Peak season - Weakfish78Great
Best in Coastal waters from Little Egg Inlet to Great Egg Inlet NJ out 20 NM · scored in 4 bay systems
Shoulder season - Bluefish74Great
Best in Coastal waters from Little Egg Inlet to Great Egg Inlet NJ out 20 NM · scored in 4 bay systems
Peak season - Spotted seatrout74Great
Best in Coastal waters from Little Egg Inlet to Great Egg Inlet NJ out 20 NM · scored in 4 bay systems
Peak season - Black sea bass72Great
Best in Delaware Bay waters south of East Point NJ to Slaughter Beach DE · scored in 4 bay systems
Peak season - Tautog71Great
Best in Delaware Bay waters south of East Point NJ to Slaughter Beach DE · scored in 4 bay systems
Peak season - Scup69Great
Best in Coastal waters from Little Egg Inlet to Great Egg Inlet NJ out 20 NM · scored in 4 bay systems
Shoulder season - Little tunny65Great
Best in Coastal waters from Little Egg Inlet to Great Egg Inlet NJ out 20 NM · scored in 4 bay systems
Shoulder season - Spot65Great
Best in Coastal waters from Manasquan Inlet to Little Egg Inlet NJ out 20 NM · scored in 4 bay systems
Shoulder season - Red drum64Good
Best in Coastal waters from Little Egg Inlet to Great Egg Inlet NJ out 20 NM · scored in 4 bay systems
Shoulder season
Species guides · 21
Season, water temperature, depth, structure, tackle and regulations for each species in New Jersey waters.
- Black sea bassCentropristis striata · nearshorePeak season, about 4 more weekspeak
- BluefishPomatomus saltatrix · nearshorePeak season, about 3 more weekspeak
- Spotted seatroutCynoscion nebulosus · inshorePeak season, about 4 more weekspeak
- Striped bassMorone saxatilis · sea-runPeak season, about 7 more weekspeak
- TautogTautoga onitis · nearshorePeak season, about 8 more weekspeak
- Atlantic bluefin tunaThunnus thynnus · pelagicShoulder season, about 4 more weeksshoulder
- Little tunnyEuthynnus alletteratus · pelagicShoulder season, about 3 more weeksshoulder
- Red drumSciaenops ocellatus · inshoreShoulder season, about 1 more weekshoulder
- ScupStenotomus chrysops · nearshoreShoulder season, about 3 more weeksshoulder
- SpotLeiostomus xanthurus · inshoreShoulder season, about 1 more weekshoulder
- WeakfishCynoscion regalis · inshoreShoulder season, about 4 more weeksshoulder
- Winter flounderPseudopleuronectes americanus · bottomShoulder season, about 4 more weeksshoulder
- SheepsheadArchosargus probatocephalus · inshoreOff season, about 1 more weekoff
- Spanish mackerelScomberomorus maculatus · nearshoreOff season, about 1 more weekoff
- Summer flounderParalichthys dentatus · bottomOff season, about 4 more weeksoff
- Yellowfin tunaThunnus albacares · pelagicOff season, about 4 more weeksoff
- Atlantic croakerMicropogonias undulatus · inshore
- Black drumPogonias cromis · inshore
- CobiaRachycentron canadum · nearshore
- King mackerelScomberomorus cavalla · pelagic
- Mahi-mahiCoryphaena hippurus · pelagic
Regulations and licenses
New Jersey Division of Fish and Wildlife. Synced with NJFW Oct 31, 2026.
New Jersey has no saltwater license. Saltwater anglers 16 and older must register, free, with the NJ Saltwater Recreational Registry Program. The regulations link is the 2026 "Attention Anglers" summary sheet; the full rules are in the Marine Digest, and the file name changes each year. dep.nj.gov web pages block automated requests; the registry and licensing links were taken from the NJFW Seasons & Regulations, Saltwater Registry and Licenses & Permits pages (web.archive.org captures from January to June 2026), and the licensing site needs cookies to load.
No reviewed rules are on file for New Jersey yet. Check the regulator's page before you keep a fish.