Great Egg Harbor

Saltwater
Harbor

Great Egg Harbor

Saltwater
Harbor

Sq. miles: 11
Boat Ramps: 4
Access Points: 1
Species: 19

Great Egg Harbor is a significant coastal estuary system in southern New Jersey, encompassing both the tidal Great Egg Harbor Bay and the lower riverine sections upstream to the dam at Lake Lenape in Mays Landing. This system drains a large portion of the Pine Barrens and serves as a critical nursery habitat for numerous saltwater species. Its proximity to major urban centers makes it a vital recreational fishing destination, offering diverse opportunities from open bay and inlet fishing to more sheltered river and creek environments.

New Jersey licenses and regulations6 to check before you go

Species & education

Learn what type of fish are at Great Egg Harbor and what's needed to catch them.

Find which waters have the species you want to catch

Largemouth Bass

Micropterus salmoides

Atlantic Croaker

Micropogonias undulatus

Black Sea Bass

Centropristis striata

Bluefish

Pomatomus saltatrix

Cunner

Tautogolabrus adspersus

Gray Triggerfish

Balistes capriscus

Lookdown

Selene vomer

Mahi-Mahi

Coryphaena hippurus

Mangrove Snapper

Lutjanus griseus

Northern Puffer

Sphoeroides maculatus

Pinfish

Lagodon rhomboides

Scup

Stenotomus chrysops

Spot

Leiostomus xanthurus

Striped Bass

Morone saxatilis

Summer Flounder

Paralichthys dentatus

Tautog

Tautoga onitis

Weakfish

Cynoscion regalis

White Perch

Morone americana

Winter Flounder

Pseudopleuronectes americanus

Fishing spots, boat ramps & amenities

Learn how to get on Great Egg Harbor. Uncover great fishing access points, boat ramps, and all the facilities you need for an unforgettable day on the water. Some locations shown may border or include private property. Always check property boundaries and applicable regulations before visiting. onWater's Public & Private Land layer can help you plan your access with confidence.

Malibu Beach Wildlife Management Area Access

Access Point

Know where you can legally fish on Great Egg Harbor

See public and private land boundaries along the water, turn on private parcels with owner details to know where permission is required, and find land-trust parcels that offer permitted fishing access.

New Jersey licenses and regulations

New Jersey Boating Regulations

When using any type of watercraft to access a body of water, it is important to follow all federal, state, and local rules and regulations. These rules and regulations include boat permitting and licensing, invasive species inspections and stamps, life jacket and PFD rules, motor size and horsepower restrictions, noise limitations, restrictions on personal watercraft, and many more. Visit the web link below for the most current rules and regulations for this body of water.

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New Jersey Coastal & Inland Waters

New Jersey divides its waters into saltwater and freshwater zones using specific boundary points on named rivers and creeks. No fishing license is required in saltwater, but a standard freshwater fishing license is required at and upstream of each designated boundary point. The NJ Division of Fish and Wildlife publishes the full list of boundary locations by county.

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New Jersey Federal Waters & Offshore Rules

Beyond 3 nautical miles, federal waters are managed by NOAA Fisheries Greater Atlantic Regional Fisheries Office in partnership with regional fishery management councils. For-hire vessels fishing federally managed species in those waters must obtain required federal permits before heading out. Anglers targeting Atlantic highly migratory species such as tuna, billfish, swordfish, or sharks need a federal HMS permit issued by NOAA Fisheries.

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New Jersey Saltwater Fishing License

New Jersey does not require a saltwater fishing license, but every angler fishing marine waters must register annually with the free NJ Saltwater Recreational Registry Program, run by the NJ Department of Environmental Protection. Owners and operators of for-hire vessels must also register each year. All Marine Fisheries Rules and Regulations apply regardless of registration status.

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New Jersey Saltwater Size & Bag Limits

Size and bag limits apply to every marine species and can change throughout the year. The NJ Division of Fish and Wildlife sets these rules, and the current seasons, minimum sizes, and possession limits for species like striped bass, summer flounder, black sea bass, bluefish, and tautog are kept on the Division's marine seasons and regulations page.

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New Jersey Shellfish Closures & Advisories

A valid recreational shellfish license is required to harvest oysters, clams, crabs, or other shellfish in New Jersey waters. Harvest areas can close at any time due to biotoxins, rainfall, or water quality concerns, and the NJ Department of Environmental Protection manages shellfish classifications and posts closures and consumption advisories.

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Take Great Egg Harbor with you

The onWater Fish app keeps this water's access points, species and conditions in your pocket, with the tools you use once you're there.

Use the map without signal
Download the map around Great Egg Harbor to use it offline when coverage drops.
Log your catches here
Keep a private fishing journal for Great Egg Harbor to find where and when fish are biting for you.

Get the onWater Fish app

Free on iOS and Android

Tides, wind & water conditions (10 day forecast)

On open water, wind and tide matter as much as the weather. See the best times to fish Great Egg Harbor and check the marine forecast before you launch.

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