Recreational Fishing Regulations by Species
Seasons, sizes, possession limits, and more for recreational fishermen.
New regulations are published in the Federal Register, and will be updated here after publication. We try to update regulations before the start of the fishing season for each fishery. However, regulations may change at any point during the year. If you are a permit holder, you will receive notifications by mail. You can also sign up to get email updates and text alerts.
If you have a mobile device, you can also use the FishRules app to check fishing regulations.
Find out more about saltwater recreational fishing in the Greater Atlantic Region.
Notice to Fishing Vessel Owners and Operators
A reminder that all for-hire (party and charter) vessels must adhere to current reporting requirements that include electronic reporting for all for-hire vessels. For more information, go to our Vessel Trip Reporting web page or contact your local Port Agent.
Atlantic Cod
In Gulf of Maine Regulated Mesh Area
Open season: September 1 - October 31
Minimum size: 22 inches
Possession limit:
- Private Anglers: 1 fish per day
- Party/Charter Anglers: 1 fish per day
Outside of Gulf of Maine Regulated Mesh Area
Open season: May 1 - 31, September 1 - April 30
Minimum size: 23 inches
Possession limit:
- Private Anglers: 5 fish per day.
- Party/Charter Anglers: 5 fish per day
American Lobster
Open season: All year
Minimum size: Lobster size limits vary by area. Check our Lobster Information Sheet for instructions on how to measure a lobster.
Possession limit: 6 per person on board the vessel
Notes: Allowed by diving. Fishing with pots for lobsters requires a commercial permit. Size is measured by carapace length. No possession of V-notched or egg-bearing lobsters allowed.
American Plaice (Dab)
Open season: All year
Minimum size: 14 inches
Possession limit: Unlimited
Note: Recreational vessels remain subject to the Whaleback Cod Spawning Protection Area. For more information see the Northeast multispecies information for charter/party and recreational fishing.
Atlantic Herring
Open season: All year
Minimum size: None
Possession limit: Unlimited
Note: To harvest Atlantic herring as bait with gear other than hook and line, you will need a federal commercial permit.
Atlantic Mackerel
Open season: All year
Minimum size: None
Possession limit: 20 fish per person
Note: Recreational allocation set in the Atlantic Mackerel, Squid, and Butterfish Management Plan.
Atlantic Salmon
No recreational fishing allowed.
Atlantic Sea Scallop
No recreational fishing allowed.
Atlantic Surf Clam
Open season: All year
Minimum size: None
Possession limit: 2 bushels
Note: Check state regulations. There are a number of areas closed to the harvesting of surf clams/ocean quahogs.
Atlantic Tunas, Sailfish, and Sharks (excluding Spiny Dogfish)
Please check the Highly Migratory Species pages.
Black Sea Bass
Federal recreational measures for summer flounder have been waived for 2023. Vessel owners are subject to the regulations of the state where they land. Please check with your state for the regulations that apply to you.
Black Drum
Open season: All year
Minimum size: None
Possession limit: Unlimited
Note: Check your state regulations.
Bluefish
Open season: All year
Minimum size: None
Possession limit:
- Private Anglers: 3 fish per day
- Party/Charter Anglers: 5 fish per day
Butterfish
Open season: All year
Minimum size: None
Possession limit: Unlimited
Cusk
Open season: All year
Minimum size: None
Possession limit: Unlimited
Haddock
Outside Gulf of Maine Regulated Mesh Area
Open season: All year
Minimum size: 18 inches
Possession limit: Unlimited
Notes: Filleting at sea is allowed. Recreational vessels remain subject to the Whaleback Cod Spawning Protection Area.
In Gulf of Maine Regulated Mesh Area
Open season: May 1–Feb 28/29; April 1–30
Minimum size:
- Private Anglers: 17 inches
- Party/Charter: 18 inches
Possession limit:
- Private Anglers: 10 fish per day
- Party/Charter: 15 fish per day
Note: Filleting at sea is allowed. Fillets must have some skin left on, and be consistent in size as that taken from legal size fish. Recreational vessels remain subject to the Whaleback Cod Spawning Protection Area.
Hake/Whiting (offshore, red, white, silver)
Open season: All year
Minimum size: None
Possession limit: Unlimited
Note: Recreational vessels remain subject to the Whaleback Cod Spawning Protection Area.
Halibut
Open season: All year
Minimum size: 41 inches
Possession limit: 1 fish per vessel per trip
Note: Filleting at sea is allowed. Fillets must have some skin left on, and be consistent in size as that taken from legal size fish. Recreational vessels remain subject to the Whaleback Cod Spawning Protection Area.
Mola Mola (Ocean Sunfish)
Open season: All year
Minimum size: None
Possession limit: Unlimited
Monkfish (Goosefish, Anglerfish)
Open season: All year
Minimum size: 17 inches
Possession limit: Unlimited
Note: Whole fish (17 inches) or tails (11 inches) may be landed. Fish or parts of fish, with the exception of cheeks and livers, must have skin on while possessed on board a vessel and at the time of landing in order to meet minimum size requirements. "Skin on" means the entire portion of the skin normally attached to the portion of the fish or fish parts possessed. Monkfish tails are measured from the anterior portion of the fourth cephalic dorsal spine to the end of the caudal fin. Any tissue anterior to the fourth dorsal spine is ignored. If the fourth dorsal spine or the tail is not intact, the minimum size is measured between the most anterior vertebra and the most posterior portion of the tail.
Ocean Pout
No recreational fishing allowed.
Ocean Quahog
Open season: All year
Minimum size: None
Possession limit: 2 bushels
Note: Check state regulations There are a number of areas closed to the harvesting of surfclams/ocean quahogs.
Pollock
Open season: All year
Minimum size: 19 inches
Possession limit: Unlimited
Note: Filleting at sea is allowed. Fillets must have some skin left on, and be consistent in size as that taken from legal size fish.
Red Drum
No recreational fishing allowed.
Redfish (Ocean Perch)
Open season: All year
Minimum size: 9 inches
Possession limit: Unlimited
Note: Filleting at sea is allowed. Fillets must have some skin left on, and be consistent in size as that taken from legal size fish. Recreational vessels remain subject to the Whaleback Cod Spawning Protection Area.
Scup (Porgy)
Open season: All year
Minimum size: 10 inches
Possession limit: 40 per person per trip
Note: Federal coast-wide regulations are put in place each year for scup. Check your state's regulations. Vessels with a federal permit are subject to the more restrictive measures, either federal or state.
Skate: Barndoor, Smooth, Thorny
No recreational fishing allowed.
Skate: Clearnose, Little, Rosette, Winter
Open season: All year
Minimum size: None
Possession limit: Unlimited
Note: Charter/party boats with a commercial permit, retaining fish for sale or bait, have a 1,135 lb whole weight or 500 lb wing limit for clearnose, little, rosette, and winter skates.
Spiny Dogfish
Open season: All year
Minimum size: None
Possession limit: Unlimited
Note: Charter/party vessels landing dogfish must abide by the federal commercial regulations (possession limits, quotas, closures, etc.).
Squid: Longfin and Shortfin
Open season: All year
Minimum size: None
Possession limit: Unlimited
Summer Flounder (Fluke)
Federal recreational measures for summer flounder have been waived for 2023. Vessel owners are subject to the regulations of the state where they land. Please check with your state for the regulations that apply to you.
Striped Bass
No recreational fishing allowed in federal waters.
Note: Transit with striped bass is permitted in some areas around Block Island, Rhode Island.
Sturgeon: Atlantic and Shortnose
No recreational fishing allowed.
Tautog (Blackfish)
Open season: All year
Minimum size: None
Possession limit: Unlimited
Tilefish: Blueline
Open season: May 1-Oct 31
Minimum size: None
Possession limit:
- 3 fish per person on private vessels
- 5 fish per person on uninspected for-hire vessels
- 7 fish per person on USCG-inspected for-hire vessels
Note: In effect from the Virginia/North Carolina border north. You must have a recreational tilefish permit and report any trip you target or catch tilefish.
Tilefish: Golden
Open season: All year
Minimum size: None
Possession limit: 8 per person
Note: In effect from the Virginia/North Carolina border north. You must have a recreational tilefish permit and report any trip you target or catch tilefish.
Weakfish
Open season: All year
Minimum size: 12 inches
Possession limit: Unlimited
Windowpane Flounder
No recreational fishing allowed.
Winter Flounder (Blackback, Lemon Sole)
Open season: All year
Minimum size: 12 inches
Possession limit: Unlimited
Note: Filleting at sea is allowed. Fillets must have some skin left on, and be consistent in size as that taken from legal size fish. Recreational vessels remain subject to the Whaleback Cod Spawning Protection Area.
Witch Flounder (Gray Sole)
Open season: All year
Minimum size: 14 inches
Possession limit: Unlimited
Note: Filleting at sea is allowed. Fillets must have some skin left on, and be consistent in size as that taken from legal size fish. Recreational vessels remain subject to the Whaleback Cod Spawning Protection Area.
Wolffish (Ocean Catfish)
No recreational fishing allowed.
Yellowtail Flounder
Open season: All year
Minimum size: 13 inches
Possession limit: Unlimited
Note: Filleting at sea is allowed. Fillets must have some skin left on, and be consistent in size as that taken from legal size fish. Recreational vessels remain subject to the Whaleback Cod Spawning Protection Area.
