How to Measure Your Catch

Name: eRegulations
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For Massachusetts marine waters, minimum fish sizes are measured as total length. This is the greatest straight line length (not curved over the body) in inches as measured on a fish with its mouth closed from the anterior tip of the jaw or snout to the farthest extremity of the tail. Fish should be firmly grasped with both hands for proper measuring. Care should be taken so that the head of the fish firmly contacts the zero mark on rulers and tapes simultaneously with the tail extremity.

Illustration of a fish showing how to measure fork length for Massachusetts saltwater fishing regulations, from the tip of the snout to the center fork of the tail. — To follow Massachusetts saltwater fishing regulations, measure fork length from the tip of the snout to the fork in the tail, as shown in the illustration above.

Exceptions:

Striped bass: See Striped Bass page for guidance on how to measure striped bass total length.

Tunas are measured using curved fork length. This is in a line, tracing the contour of the body from the tip of the upper jaw to the fork of the tail.

Illustration of a tuna showing how to measure curved fork length for Massachusetts saltwater fishing regulations, following the curve of the body from the tip of the snout to the fork of the tail. — To comply with Massachusetts saltwater fishing regulations, measure a tuna’s curved fork length from the tip of the snout along the body curve to the fork of the tail.

Sharks are measured from the tip of the snout to the fork of the tail.

Illustration of a shark showing how to measure total length for Massachusetts saltwater fishing regulations, from the tip of the snout to the end of the upper tail fin. — For Massachusetts saltwater fishing regulations, measure a shark’s total length from the tip of the snout to the end of the upper lobe of the tail fin.

Swordfish, sailfish and marlin are measured from the tip of the lower jaw to the tail fork.

Illustration of a swordfish showing how to measure lower jaw fork length (LJFL) for Massachusetts saltwater fishing regulations, from the tip of the lower jaw to the fork of the tail. — For Massachusetts saltwater fishing regulations, measure lower jaw fork length (LJFL) on billfish from the tip of the lower jaw to the fork of the tail.

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.

Illustration of a fish with red lines showing how to measure total length of a Black Sea Bass—from the tip of the snout to the end of the tail fin—for Massachusetts saltwater fishing regulations. — To meet Massachusetts saltwater fishing regulations for a Black sea bass, measure total fish length from the tip of the snout to the end of the tail fin, as shown above.