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Rhode Island

Saltwater Fishing

Saltwater Fishing

Size, Season & Possession Limits

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 (shore & private)

16.5"

May 22 - Aug. 26

2 fish/person/day

Aug. 27 - Dec. 31

3 fish/person/day

Black Sea Bass (party and charter)

16"

June 18 - Aug. 31

2 fish/person/day

Sept. 1 - Dec. 31

6 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

River Herring (alewives and blueback herring) & American Shad

Prohibited Species

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

Nov. 1 - Dec. 31

30 fish/person/day

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)
Max of 10 fish/ves/day during all periods, except licensed party / charter boats

16"

Max 1 fish >21"

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

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

Illustration of a fish with a double-headed arrow indicating how to measure its total length from the snout to the tip of the tail.
Diagram showing how to measure the total length of a fish—measured in a straight line from the tip of the snout to the end of the tail fin.