NEW JERSEY — New recreational fishing regulations for bluefish took effect Jan. 1, increasing the number of fish anglers can keep in New Jersey and along the Atlantic coast.
The updated rules, approved by the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council and the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission in August 2025, apply to the 2026 and 2027 fishing seasons.
Under the new regulations, private boat and shore-based anglers are now allowed to keep up to five bluefish per person, while for-hire anglers — such as those on charter or party boats — may retain up to seven fish.
Officials said there is no closed season for bluefish under the current rules, and no minimum size limit has been established.
