New Jersey state waters, out to 3 miles
SizeNo size limit
Bag1 per person per trip
SeasonOpen year-roundOpen today
No minimum size; state digest sources differ on quantity — federal rule is 1 per person per trip in addition to the vessel shark limit.
NJ DEP 2026 · checked · likely · the official rulebook is the final word
How to tell it
Shovel-shaped rounded hammer — the small, friendly-looking hammerhead. More on the bonnethead page: every state’s rule, the records, and how anglers catch it.
Questions anglers ask4
What is the size limit for bonnethead in New Jersey?
No size limit.
How many bonnethead can you keep in New Jersey?
1 per person per trip.
When is bonnethead season in New Jersey?
Open year-round.
How current is this New Jersey bonnethead 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 a bonnethead in New Jersey and this rule is on the screen before you take the picture. No signal needed.
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