Logo

2020 Recreational Regulations

Saltwater Marine Fishing Regulations Rhode Island Saltwater Fishing

2020 Size, Season and Possession Limits

Species

Minimum Size

Open Season

Possession Limit
American Eel

9″

Open year round

25 eels/person/day or
50 eels/vsl/day for licensed party/charter vessels
Black Sea Bass

15”

June 24 – Aug. 31

3 fish/person/day

Sept. 1 – Dec. 31

7 fish/person/day
Bluefish (shore and private / rental boat)

No minimum

Open year round

3 fish/person/day
Bluefish (party and charter)

No minimum

Open year round

5 fish/person/day
Monkfish (Goosefish)

17″ whole fish 11″ tail

Open year round

50 lbs of tails or
166 lbs whole/day
River Herring (alewives and blueback herring) & American Shad

Not applicable

CLOSED

Not applicable
Scup (shore and private / rental boat)

9″

Open year round

30 fish/person/day
Scup (special shore) ***

8″

Open year round

30 fish/person/day
Scup (party and charter)

9″

Jan. 1 – Aug. 31

30 fish/person/day

Sept. 1 – Oct. 31

50 fish/person/day

Nov. 1 – Dec. 31

30 fish/person/day
Striped Bass *

Minimum Size – 28″ Maximum Size- <35″

Open year round

1 fish/person/day within the slot limit
Summer Flounder (general)

19″

May 3 – Dec. 31

6 fish/person/day
Summer Flounder (special shore)***

17″ (See Posession Limit)

May 3 – Dec. 31

2 fish @ 17″ person/day
4 fish @ 19″ person/day
Tautog (Blackfish)
Max of 10 fish/ves/day during all periods, except licensed party / charter boats

16″

Apr. 1 – May 31

3 fish/person/day

June 1 – July 31

CLOSED

Aug. 1 – Oct. 14

3 fish/person/day

Oct. 15 – Dec. 31

5 fish/person/day
Weakfish (Squeteague)

16″

Open year round

1 fish/person/day
Winter Flounder ** (Blackback)

12″

Mar. 1 – Dec. 31

2 fish/person/day

* All striped bass recreationally harvested that measure 34 inches or greater must have their right pectoral fin completely removed. Only remove the right pectoral fin of fish that you intend to take home, do not remove any fins when practicing catch and release.

** The harvesting or possession of winter flounder is prohibited in Narragansett Bay north of the Colregs line (line from South Ferry Rd. in Narragansett to Fort Getty; Fort Wetherill to Fort Adams; and Sandy Pt. to High Hill Pt.), as well as in the Harbor of Refuge, Point Judith and Potter Pond.

*** Special Shore Areas: While fishing from shore in the following areas, above special shore posession limits apply: India Point Park in Providence, Conimicut Park in Warwick, Stone Bridge in Tiverton, East and West walls in Narragansett, Rocky Point in Warwick, Fort Adams in Newport, and Fort Wetherill in Jamestown