|
Species |
Note |
Min. Size |
Open Periods |
Possession Limits |
|
American Eel |
6” |
All Year |
50 fish |
|
|
Black Sea Bass |
See www.mass.gov/marinefisheries for current regs. |
|||
|
Bluefish |
None |
All Year |
10 fish |
|
|
Cod |
(5,6) |
22” (5a) |
All Year |
10 fish |
|
24” (5b) |
April 1 – Oct. 31 |
10 fish |
||
|
Nov. 1 – March 31 |
2 fish (75 lb boat max) |
|||
|
Fluke |
See www.mass.gov/marinefisheries for current regs. |
|||
|
Halibut |
41” |
All Year |
1 fish |
|
|
Haddock |
18” |
All Year |
None |
|
|
Plaice (Dab) |
14” |
All Year |
None |
|
|
River Herring |
(4) |
N/A |
None |
No possession |
|
Scup |
See www.mass.gov/marinefisheries for current regs. |
|||
|
Shad |
(1) |
None |
All Year |
6 fish |
|
Smelt |
(1) |
None |
June 16 – March 14 |
50 fish |
|
Striped Bass |
(1, 2) |
28” |
All year |
2 fish |
|
Tautog |
16” |
All year |
3 fish |
|
|
Tuna and Billfish |
See note on reverse side and note 1 below |
|||
|
Weakfish |
16” |
All year |
1 fish |
|
|
White Perch |
8” |
All year |
25 fish |
|
|
Windowpane Flounder |
12” |
All year |
None |
|
|
Winter Flounder |
(3) |
12” |
(3a) April 24 – May 23 Sept. 25 – Oct. 24 |
2 fish |
|
(3b) Nov. 1 – Aug. 31 |
8 fish |
|||
|
Yellowtail flounder |
13” |
All year |
None |
|
|
Redfish |
9” |
All year |
None |
|
|
Smooth Dogfish |
None |
All year |
1 as permitted shark plus 1 additional |
|
|
Sharks (other permitted species) |
(7) |
54” |
All year |
1 all species |
|
Wolffish |
N/A |
None |
No possession |
|
Recreational Saltwater Fishing Regulations
Notes:
- Striped bass are to be taken by hook & line only, all billfish by rod & reel only, shad and smelt by angling only.
- Mutilation of striped bass in such a way as to interfere with proper and adequate measurement is prima facie evidence of a violation. The discard of dead, legal size striped bass is prohibited. High grading or retention of live bass on a stringer or in a live well is prohibited.
- Two areas –
- regulations apply south and east of Cape Cod Cod, including east facing estuaries of outer Cape Cod.
- regulations apply north of Cape Cod (Gulf of Maine), including the Cape Cod Canal land cut.
- Alewife and blueback herring (collectively know as river herring) are closed to harvest. Possession is limited to 5% by count of bait fish.
- Two areas -
- regulations apply south and east of Cape
- regulations apply north of Cape Cod (Gulf of Maine). Possession limit for (5b) includes a 75 pound maximum per vessel. Different possession limits and
seasons may apply to party and charter boats in both areas.
- Two Cod Conservation Zones closures are in effect in Massachusetts Bay, please refer to our web site for details.
- Permitted sharks include shortfin mako, porbeagle, common thresher, blue and hammerhead. Prohibited species include sandbar (brown), sand tiger, basking, white and dusky. See actual regulations for a more comprehensive species listing.
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 take lobsters, or crabs by trap, without a recreational lobster/crab permit.
To sell, barter or exchange fish, or shellfish without a commercial permit.
