New Jersey state waters, out to 3 miles
NJ DEP 2026 · checked · the official rulebook is the final word
Often mistaken for
Conger eelGray, with the upper jaw overhanging instead. Tell them apartNot listed by New Jersey: the default applies (No size limit, no bag limit).
Not listed by New Jersey: the default applies (No size limit, no bag limit).
Keep the wrong fish and its rule applies.
New Jersey state record
NJ DEP Fish & Wildlife State Record Saltwater Fish · checked 2026-09-04
How to tell it
A true eel — one continuous fin running from mid-back around the tail; lower jaw juts past the upper. More on the American eel page: every state’s rule, the records, and how anglers catch it.
Questions anglers ask5
What is the size limit for American eel in New Jersey?
9 in min. Measured as total length: snout to the tip of the tail, tail lobes squeezed together.
How many American eel can you keep in New Jersey?
25.
When is American eel season in New Jersey?
Open year-round.
What is the New Jersey record American eel?
9 lb 13 oz, Atlantic City (1988).
How current is this New Jersey American eel rule?
Source: NJ DEP 2026, last checked Sep 7, 2026. A watchman re-reads the agency's pages nightly. Rules change mid-season by proclamation; the official rulebook is the final word.
In the appPoint the camera at an American eel in New Jersey and this rule is on the screen before you take the picture. No signal needed.
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