New Jersey anglers should be aware Pennsylvania recently adopted new regulations pertaining to striped bass within the Delaware River. The change allows recreational freshwater anglers to harvest a daily limit of two striped bass measuring 20 to 26 inches for a two month period from April 1, 2009 through May 31, 2009, from the Calhoun St. Bridge (Trento/Morrisville, PA) downstream to the Pennsylvania state line.

This change is based on a State of Delaware study that determined a harvestable number of the above sized male striped bass are in the river during April and May. New Jersey still has a closed season (catch & release with required use of non-offset circle hooks of size 2 and larger, while fishing any natural bait) for striped bass during the same time period. Prior to 2009, Pennsylvania also had an April through May closed season.

Anglers fishing the Delaware River from the New Jersey shoreline, or returning to New Jersey by boat and/or car in April and May must abide by New Jersey’s Delaware River striped bass regulations (pdf, 88kb).