The Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries (MarineFisheries) has taken action to compliment federal regulations for recreational Gulf of Maine cod.  During the May 1, 2012 to October 31, 2012 private and for-hire recreational anglers fishing for cod in the Gulf of Maine management area or landing cod in Massachusetts taken from the Gulf of Maine management area may lawfully retain 9-fish per angler at a minimum size of 19 inches.  This federal action was taken to reduce the overfishing of Gulf of Maine cod by constraining the catch and decreasing discard mortality associated with the recreational fishery.

Unless otherwise notified by MarineFisheries, the recreational regulations for cod caught in the Gulf of Maine Management Area  during the November 1, 2012 through April 15, 2012 period will remain status quo.

Recreational Regulations for Gulf of Maine Cod (322 CMR 6.03)

For more information regarding the management of Gulf of Maine cod in Massachusetts please visit www.mass.gov/marinefisheries. For information pertaining to the federal management of this stock please visit http://www.nero.noaa.gov/ and http://www.nefmc.org/.