2026 NJ Black Sea Bass Regulations
New Jersey Marine Fisheries Council voted to approve the new NJ Black Sea Bass regulations for 2026-2027 seasons. The 2026-2027 Black Sea Bass fishing season and regulations are set for the following: 12 1/2” minimum size limit regardless of the time of the year, when sea bass is allowed.
The new open season dates and bag limits are:
May 15 – June 21, allowing 10 fish per angler
June 22 – Sept 22, allowing 1 fish per angler
Sept 23 – Oct 31, allowing 10 fish per angler
Nov 1 – Dec 31, allowing 15 fish per angler
The 231 day Black Sea Bass season in NJ will open two days earlier than last year. The one season segment begins on 6/22 and extends through 9/22 allowing 1 Black Sea Bass per angler, and 09/23 extending through 10/31 allows 10 Black Sea Bass per angler. We will no longer be fishing a fall gap between end of Summer Flounder and the start of Black Sea Bass, as we had in the past. Our exclusive NJ Black Sea Bass charter trips are currently not available during our 4 hour Fishing Charters, if you will like to fish for exclusively for Black Sea Bass, please select either our 5 hour fishing charters or our 7 hour fishing charters and or fishing trips.
