Let's cast some clarity on the Delaware River reciprocal fishing agreements among the states of New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania. It can be confusing; we'll approach them in two ways: Pennsylvania and New Jersey, and Pennsylvania and New York.

Pennsylvania and New Jersey: Angling may be done with two rods, each with one line. Not more than three single hooks may be used per line. New Jersey or Pennsylvania fishing licenses are recognized from shoreline to shoreline. Fishermen may launch a boat from either shore, and on return may have in possession any fish which may be legally taken according to the regulations of the state where the landing is made.

For example, a New Jersey-licensed angler landing his/her boat at a Pennsylvania ramp may not have more than six shad (the PA limit). New Jersey residents fishing from the Pennsylvania shoreline may have either a New Jersey resident license or a Pennsylvania non-resident license, but must also adhere to Pennsylvania's six-shad-a-day limit. Pennsylvanians launching a boat in New Jersey, or fishing from the New Jersey shore, may also have a PA resident license or a New Jersey non-resident license.

However, even though New Jersey does not have a daily creel limit on shad (the only state among the three not to have one), Pennsylvanians are not allowed to bring back more than six shad a day into the Keystone State after a fishing trip to New Jersey. Understood?

Pennsylvania and New York: The regulations between Pennsylvania and New York are the same except for one aspect: both states have a six-shad-a-day limit, so there should not be any confusion regarding the number of fish permitted to be caught, kept and taken from state to state.

- DRSFA Home Page