Location

• The town of Fortescue lies a few miles north of the protected Egg Island Fish and Wildlife Managament Area. North of the town is the Fortescue Wildlife Management Area. Both areas have restrictions on boat launches and require special permits. The Delaware Bay is a large estuary of the Delaware River and offers diverse saltwater fishing.
  
  

Licenses

• Anglers do not need to purchase a saltwater license for recreational shore or boat fishing in Delaware Bay off Fortescue. However, harvesting shellfish such as clams, oysters, scallops or mussels requires an additional shellfish license, according the New Jersey Division of Fish and Wildlife. Licenses are also required to catch tuna. A nonresident recreational shellfish license costs $20 as of April 2010.
  
  

Species

• The Delaware Bay near Fortescue is home to a variety of marine fish species. Black drum are commonly caught in the bay at weights of over 30 lbs. Striped bass can also be caught near Fortescue. Other bay species include kingfish, fluke, croaker, bluefish and weakfish. Deeper waters are accessible by boat from Fortescue. Many species are only found in deeper waters, such as cod, cobia, dolphinfish and tuna. Fluke are considered one of the most sought-after species, according to the New Jersey Department of Fish and Wildlife.
  
  

Prohibited Species and Limits

• Many species are subject to size and bag limits, as well as restricted fishing seasons. For example, in 2010 the allowed season for catching black bass is May 22 to September 12. Fluke may be caught from May 29 to September 6. A maximum of 25 black bass may be kept in a day, with no fish under 12.5 inches. Keeping fluke under 18 inches is prohibited. A full list is available from the New Jersey Fish and Wildlife website (see references below).
  
  

Charter Boats

• Several charter boat businesses run out of Fortescue or the surrounding area. Chartering a boat can be one of the most productive ways to catch fish in Fortescue. Skippers will usually know some of the best sports to target. Deeper waters can be accessed and a larger range of fish species can be caught by boat. Charter companies are found at the Fortescue State Marina near Creek Avenue and Highbee's Marina.