New Jersey state waters, out to 3 miles
Closed Mar 1–31 and May 1–Jul 31; current window (through Nov 15) is 1 fish.
NJ DEP 2026 · checked · the official rulebook is the final word
New Jersey state record
NJ DEP Fish & Wildlife State Record Saltwater Fish · checked 2026-09-04
How to tell it
Blunt-headed wrasse in charcoal mottle; rubbery lips, crushing teeth. More on the tautog page: every state’s rule, the records, and how anglers catch it.
Tautog in other states9 rulebooks
Questions anglers ask5
What is the size limit for tautog in New Jersey?
15" min. Measured as total length: snout to the tip of the tail, tail lobes squeezed together.
How many tautog can you keep in New Jersey?
4 (Jan 1–Feb 28); 4 (Apr 1–Apr 30); 1 (Aug 1–Nov 15); 5 (Nov 16–Dec 31).
When is tautog season in New Jersey?
Jan 1 – Feb 28, Apr 1 – Apr 30, Aug 1 – Nov 15, Nov 16 – Dec 31. As of Sep 21, 2026 it is open.
What is the New Jersey record tautog?
25 lb 13 oz, Atlantic Ocean, 20 miles off Cape May (2020).
How current is this New Jersey tautog 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.
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