Size, Season & Possession Limits
Size, Season and Possession Limits |
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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 (shore & private) |
16.5" |
May 22 - Aug. 26 |
2 fish/person/day |
Aug. 27 - Dec. 31 |
3 fish/person/day |
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Black Sea Bass (party and charter) |
16" |
June 18 - Aug. 31 |
2 fish/person/day |
Sept. 1 - Dec. 31 |
6 fish/person/day |
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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 |
River Herring (alewives and blueback herring) & American Shad |
Prohibited Species |
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Scup (private / rental boat) |
11" |
May 1 - Dec. 31 |
30 fish/person/day |
Scup (shore) |
9.5" |
May 1 - Dec. 31 |
30 fish/person/day |
Scup (party and charter) |
11" |
May 1 - Aug. 31 |
30 fish/person/day |
Sept. 1 - Oct. 31 |
40 fish/person/day |
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Nov. 1 - Dec. 31 |
30 fish/person/day |
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Striped Bass * |
Slot Limit: Minimum Size 28" Maximum Size <31" |
Open year round |
1 fish/person/day within the slot limit |
Summer Flounder (general) |
19" |
April 1 - Dec. 31 |
6 fish/person/day |
Summer Flounder (special shore)** |
17" (See Possession Limit) |
April 1 - Dec. 31 |
2 fish @ 17" person/day |
Tautog (Blackfish) |
16" Max 1 fish >21" |
Apr. 1 - May 31 |
3 fish/person/day |
June 1 - July 31 |
CLOSED |
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Aug. 1 - Oct. 14 |
3 fish/person/day |
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Oct. 15 - Dec. 31 |
5 fish/person/day |
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Weakfish (Squeteague) |
16" |
Open year round |
1 fish/person/day |
Winter Flounder *** (Blackback) |
12" |
Mar. 1 - Dec. 31 |
2 fish/person/day |
How to Properly Measure a Fish
Total length: is the maximum length of the fish, from the tip of the snout to the tip of the tail. The best way to obtain this length is to push the fish’s snout up against a vertical surface with the mouth closed and the fish laying along or on top of a tape measure.
Measure to the tip of the tail to determine the total length. Do NOT use a flexible tape measure along the curve of the fish. When measuring black sea bass, do NOT include the tendril on the caudal fin.
The Correct Way to Determine Total Length Measurement
