| Summary of 1996 Freshwater Fishing Regulations |
| Species | Regulations | Open Season (incl) | Minimum Length | Possession Limit |
| Brook, Brown, & | general* | Jan 1 - Mar 17, 1996 | none | 6 except for 4 after |
| Rainbow trout & | | Apr 6 - Dec 31, 1996 | | 31-May |
| hybrids | | | | |
| Round Valley Res. | | | |
| Merrill Creek Res. | no closed season | brown & rainbow 15 " | 2 in aggregate |
| Lake Aeroflex | | | |
| Lake trout | Round Valley Res. | Jan 1 - Sept 15 | | |
| Merrill Creek Res. | Dec 1 - Sept 15, 1997 | 24" | 1 |
| Largemouth & | general** | Jan 1 - Apr 14 | 12" | 5 in aggregate |
| smallmouth bass | | June 16 - Apr 14, 1997 | | |
| restricted season | Apr 15 - June 15 1996 | catch & release only |
| Parvin & Lk Assunpink | same as above | 15" | 3 in aggregate |
| Tiger muskie & | general | no closed season | 30" | 2 in aggregate |
| muskellunge | Echo Lake | | 36" | 1 |
| N. pike | general | no closed season | 24" | 2 |
| Chain pickerel | general | no closed season | none | 5 |
| Lake Hopatcong, | no closed season | 15" | 5 |
| Swartzwood & | | | |
| Hammonton | | | |
| Walleye | general | Jan 1 - Feb 28 & | 18" | 3 |
| | May 1, 1996 - Feb 28, | | |
| | 1997 | | |
| Striped bass X | general | no closed season | 16" | 2 |
| white bass hybrid | Raritan river below Duke | no closed season | 28" | 2 |
| Island Park Dam | | | |
| Black & white | general | no closed season | 8" | 10 |
| crappie | | | | |
| Channel catfish | general | no closed season | 12" | 5 |
| Rock bass, white | general*** | no closed season | no minimum | 25 |
| bass, white perch, | | | | |
| yellow perch, sun- | | | | |
| fish, bullhead, | | | | |
| white catfish, | | | | |
| suckers, carp, | | | | |
| eels, & redfin | | | | |
| pickerel | | | | |
| Snapping turtles | general | Jan 1 - Apr 30, 1996 | no minimum | 3 |
| | June 16, 1996 - Apr, 30 | | |
| | 1997 | | |
| Bull frogs & green | general | Jan 1 - Mar 30, 1996 | no minimum | 15 in aggregate |
| frogs | | July 1, 1996 - March 31 | | |
| | 1997 | | |
| Baitfish | In waters listed herein to be stocked with trout during 1996, it is prohibited to net or trap any | | | |
| species of baitfish for the period March 18th to June 15th, except where the taking is otherwise | | | |
| provided for. In 1996 from Jan 1 to March 17 and after June 15, any species of baitfish may be | | | |
| taken from these waters provided they are limited to 35 per person per day. Any seine used | | | |
| cannot be greater than 10 feet long and 4 feet deep, and any minnow trap used may not be larger | | | |
| than 24 inches long, nor have a funnel mouth greater than 2 inches in diameter | | | |