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Massachusetts

Saltwater Fishing

Saltwater Fishing

Recreational Saltwater Fishing Regulations

Regulations listed below are subject to change during the 2025 season. Check our website for current regulations.

Species

Size Limit

Season

Possession Limit

American eel (1)

Min: 9"

Year Round

25 fish

American Shad

(Merrimack and Connecticut Rivers)

No Limit

Year Round

3 fish

American Shad

(Other Waters)

No Limit

Year Round

Prohibited. Catch and release only.

Atlantic Bonito and False Albacore

Min: 16" (both species)

Year Round

5 fish (both species combined)

Black Sea Bass (2,6)

Min: 16.5"

May 17 - Sep 1

4 fish

Bluefish

No Limit

Year Round

3 fish (shore & private vessel)

5 fish (for-hire vessel)

Cod* (3,4)

(Gulf of Maine)

For more details, please visit the Massachusetts saltwater fishing regulations page.

Cod* (3,4)

(Southern New England)

For more details, please visit the Massachusetts saltwater fishing regulations page.

Dab (plaice) (3,4)

Min: 14"

Year Round

No Limit

Grey Sole (3,4)

Min: 14"

Year Round

No Limit

Haddock* (3,4)

(Gulf of Maine)

For more details, please visit the Massachusetts saltwater fishing regulations page.

Haddock (3)

(Southern New England)

Min: 18"

Year Round

No Limit

Halibut (3,4)

Min: 41"

Year Round

1 fish

Mackerel (5)

No Limit

Year Round

20 fish

Monkfish (3,4)

No Limit

Year Round

No Limit

Ocean Pout (3,4)

No Limit

Closed

Prohibited

Pollock (3,4)

No Limit

Year Round

No Limit

Redfish (3,4)

No Limit

Year Round

No Limit

River Herring

No Limit

Closed

Prohibited

Scup (6) (Private Vessel)

Min: 11"

May 1 - Dec 31

30 fish (150 fish/vessel maximum)

Scup (6) (Shore Based)

Min: 9.5"

May 1 - Dec 31

30 fish

Scup (6) (For-hire Vessel)

Min: 11"

May 1 - Jun 30

40 fish

Min: 11"

Jul 1 - Dec 31

30 fish

Smelt

No Limit

Jan 1 - Mar 14

50 fish

Jun 16 - Dec 31

50 fish

Summer Flounder (Fluke) (Shore)

Min: 16.5"

May 24 - Sep 23

5 fish

Summer Flounder (Fluke) (Private and For-hire Vessel)

Min: 17.5"

May 24 - Sep 23

5 fish

Spiny Dogfish

No Limit

Year Round

No Limit

Striped Bass (7)

28" to less than 31"

Year Round

1 fish

Tautog (8)

Min: 16"

Only one fish may exceed 21"

Apr 1 - May 31

3 fish

Jun 1 - Jul 31

1 fish

Aug 1 - Oct 14

3 fish

Oct 15 - Dec 31

5 fish

Weakfish

Min: 16"

Year Round

1 fish

White Perch

Min: 8"

Year Round

25 fish

Windowpane Flounder

No Limit

Closed

Prohibited

Winter Flounder

(Gulf of Maine)

Min: 12"

Year Round

8 fish

Winter Flounder

(Southern New England)

Min: 12"

Mar 1 - Dec 31

2 fish

Wolffish

No Limit

Closed

Prohibited

Yellowtail Flounder

Min: 13"

Year Round

No Limit

Notes:

* Regulatory limits may be subject to change for May 1, 2025

Gulf of Maine refers to all waters north of Cape Cod, including Cape Cod Bay, and those waters east of Cape Cod that are north of 42°00'N latitude.

Southern New England refers to all waters south and west of Cape Cod, including Nantucket Sound, Vineyard Sound, Buzzards Bay and Mount Hope Bay, and all waters east of Cape Cod that are south of 42°00'N latitude including Nauset Harbor and Pleasant Bay.

Tunas, billfish, and swordfish are managed by NOAA's Highly Migratory Species Office. Please consult NOAA Fisheries for permitting requirements and regulations.

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

2) 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.

3) Federal rules apply beyond state waters. Consult NOAA Fisheries for regulations.

4) 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. See maps in 322 CMR 8.07 for more details.

5) The mackerel limit applies as a daily per angler harvest limit and a per angler possession limit while fishing. It does not apply to holding mackerel in a freezer, fish car, holding car, or shore-based bait well.

6) 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.

7) Recreational anglers are required to use inline circle hooks when fishing for striped bass with whole or cut natural baits, except if the natural bait is attached to an artificial lure (e.g., tube and worm). Striped bass caught in an unapproved manner must be immediately released. When removing fish from the water, anglers are prohibited from gaffing striped bass or using any technique that may cause invasive damage. If a striped bass is retained, recreational anglers may not high-grade, nor may they fillet striped bass while at sea (except if for immediate consumption). Filleting may only occur once on land and fishing has ceased and all gear is stowed. For-hire captains may fillet striped bass for their customers while at sea provided the racks are retained. No more than two fillets per fish with a minimum two square inches of skin intact may be in possession by any person.

8) When the tautog fishery is open, private anglers are subject to 10-fish maximum tautog limit for the vessel. The most restrictive limit of the per angler bag limit or per vessel maximum limit applies. During any open season an angler may retain, possess, and land one trophy fish exceeding the 21" maximum size per calendar day.

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.

For any recreational fisherman to use any type of hook other than a circle hook when fishing for striped bass with bait: any marine or aquatic organism, live or dead, whole or parts thereof. This shall not apply to any artificial lure.

Infographic showing USDA, FDA, and MA seafood consumption guidelines for adults, children, and pregnant women, emphasizing twice-weekly servings.
Seafood consumption recommendations from USDA, FDA, and Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries, highlighting weekly serving guidelines for adults, children, and pregnant women.