Photo credit
Fly fishing Meadow Creek in the Scapegoat Wilderness, Montana. Photo: Brandan W. Schulze, US Forest Service, public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
New Jersey fishing license
You need one to fish in New Jersey. Buy it from NJ Department of Environmental Protection, Fish & Wildlife.
Where to buy it
The NJ Department of Environmental Protection, Fish & Wildlife fishing page links its license sales. Many fly shops and sporting goods stores sell them too.
Where this link comes from
The agency's fishing-rules page, which we opened for our water pages; its license sales are linked from there.
Before you go
| License | Price | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Resident annual fishing license | $22.50 | Agency page (opens in a new tab) Nov 8, 2026 |
| Non-resident annual fishing license | $34 | Agency page (opens in a new tab) Nov 8, 2026 |
| Non-resident 2-day license | $9 | Agency page (opens in a new tab) Nov 8, 2026 |
| Trout Stamp (resident) | $10.50 | Agency page (opens in a new tab) Nov 8, 2026 |
| Trout Stamp (non-resident) | $20 | Agency page (opens in a new tab) Nov 8, 2026 |
Free fishing days
- {"year":2026,"dates":["2026-06-06","2026-09-26"]} Source (opens in a new tab) (Nov 8, 2026)
Who needs one
- No license needed under 16 Source (opens in a new tab) (Nov 8, 2026)
Extra permits
- Trout Stamp: needed for fishing for or possessing trout and salmon, anglers 16+ (residents under 70) Source (opens in a new tab) (Nov 8, 2026)
- Carry it while you fish, on paper or on your phone if the state allows.
- Fishing for trout? Some states also need a trout stamp or permit; the agency's page says.
- Read the special regulations for the water you pick: seasons, lures and limits can differ.
- Veteran or service member? New Jersey concessions, quoted from the agency.