Regulations listed below are subject to change during the 2018 season.

Species	Note	Min. Size		Open Periods	Possession Limits
American Eel	(1)	9″		All Year	25 fish
American Shad	(2)	Catch and release only, with exceptions.
Black Sea Bass	(3,7)	15″		May 19 – Sep. 12	5 fish
Blue Marlin		Federal rules apply. Consult NOAA Fisheries.
Bluefish		None		All Year	10 fish
Cod (North of Cape Cod)	(4,5)	Prohibited
Cod (South & East of Cape Cod)	(4,5)	See www.mass.gov/marinefisheries for current regulations
Dab (Plaice)	(4,5)	14″		All Year	None
Fluke (Summer Flounder)		17″		May 23 – Oct. 9	5 fish
Gray Sole (Witch)	(4,5)	14″		All Year	None
Haddock (North of Cape Cod)	(4,5)	Private	17″	All Year	12 fish
		For-Hire	17″	Jan. 1 – Feb. 28, Apr. 15 – Sep. 16, Nov. 1 – Dec. 31	12 fish
Halibut	(4,5)	41″		All Year	1 fish
Monkfish	(4,5)	None		All Year	None
Pollock	(4,5)	None		All Year	None
Redfish	(4,5)	None		All Year	None
River Herring		Harvest, possession, sale and use are prohibited.
Sailfish		Federal rules apply. Consult NOAA Fisheries.
Scup	(7)	Private	9″	May 1 – Dec. 31	30 fish or 150 fish/vessel if 5 or more anglers are aboard
		For-Hire	9″	May 1 – Jun. 30	45 fish
		For-Hire	9″	Jul. 1 – Dec. 31	30 fish
Sharks (excludes spiny dogfish)		See www.mass.gov/marinefisheries for current regulations.
Smelt		None		Jun. 16 – Mar. 14	50 fish
Spiny Dogfish		None		All year	None
Striped Bass	(6)	28″		All year	1 fish
Tautog (10 fish maximum per private/rental vessel, year-round)		16″		Apr. 1 – May 31	3 fish
				Jun. 1 – Jul. 31	1 fish
				Aug. 1 – Oct. 14	3 fish
				Oct. 15 – Dec. 31	5 fish
Tunas		Federal rules apply. Consult NOAA Fisheries.
Weakfish		16″		All year	1 fish
White Marlin		Federal rules apply. Consult NOAA Fisheries.
White Perch		8″		All year	25 fish
Windowpane Flounder	(4,5)	Prohibited
Winter Flounder (North of Cape Cod)	(4,5)	12″		All year	8 fish
Winter Flounder (South & East of Cape Cod)	(4,5)	12″		Mar. 1 – Dec. 31	2 fish
Wolffish	(4,5)	Prohibited
Yellowtail Flounder	(4,5)	13″		All year	None

Prohibitions

Snagging, snatching of anadromous fish: including shad, smelt, white perch, striped bass, trout, and salmon, but excluding alewives or blueback herring.

The taking of striped bass by any means other than hook-and-line.

To “high-grade” striped bass, i.e. the discard of dead, legal size striped bass.

To retain live striped bass in the water by attaching to a stringer or placing in a live well or holding car.

The taking of billfish using gear other than a rod and reel.

The taking of Atlantic salmon, sturgeon, all marine mammals, all sea turtles, and the diamond back terrapin from Massachusetts waters.

For anyone, except the owner, to handle, destroy, or molest any lobster or crab pot or other fishing gear, including any gear swept up on the shore, beaches or flats whether public or private, or to take fish there from.

To sell, barter, or exchange fish or shellfish without a commercial permit.

Notes:

1) Subject to regulation by the Division and the municipality. Please consult municipal regulations.

2) American shad is a catch and release fishery, except for on the Merrimack and Connecticut Rivers where anglers may retain up to 3 fish per day.

3) Black sea bass are measured from the tip of the snout or jaw (mouth closed) to the farthest extremity of the tail, not including the tail filament.

4) Federal rules apply beyond state waters. Consult NOAA Fisheries for permitting requirements and regulations.

5) It is unlawful to fish with hook and line gear in the Winter Cod Conservation Closure from November 15 through January 31. It is unlawful to take cod from the Spring Cod Conservation Closure from April 16 through July 21.

6) Striped bass must be kept whole, meaning the head, tail, and body remain intact. Only evisceration is allowed. Permitted for-hire vessels may fillet striped bass for their customers.

7) Black sea bass and scup may be filleted but not skinned while at-sea. No more than two fillets per allowed fish may be possessed.