Commercial finfish regulations

General Notes: Unless weekly aggregate limits apply, all trip limits apply per calendar day or per trip, whichever is longer. For quota-managed species, the trip limit additionally applies to the person, the permit holder, or the vessel regardless of how many permits may be held. Limits for quota managed species may be adjusted in-season in response to quota utilization. For any dates not listed in the "Season"  or "Open Days" columns, the commercial fishery is closed. During closed seasons and closed days, retention, possession, and landing is prohibited and and all catch must be released except if lawfully fishing recreationally. All size limits are total length unless otherwise specified in the footnotes below. Tunas, billfish, and swordfish are managed by NOAA's Highly Migratory Species Office. Please consult NOAA Fisheries for permitting requirements and regulations. 

1) American Eel: Harvest from September 1 through December 31 is limited to rod and reel, eel pot, and spears. Eels may also be regulated at municipal level. Please consult local regulations.

2) Atlantic Bonito and False Albacore: There is a 16" minimum size for both species and a 5-fish limit for both species combined. The 16" size limit is measured by curve fork length, which follows a line tracing the contour of the body from the tip of the upper jaw to the fork in the tail. These limits apply only to fish caught and possessed in state waters. Incidental catch in fish weirs and commercial mechanized mackerel jigging operations are exempt from catch limit. 

3) Black Sea Bass: The directed summertime fishery opens on the first open fishing day on or after July 1 and remains open until the annual quota has been landed. For 2026, the season start date is July 1. DMF has renewed the consecutive daily trip limit programs for trawlers for 2026. This allows vessels who obtain a Letter of Authorization to possess and land up to two trip limits of summer flounder, black sea bass, bait horseshoe crabs, and whelk that were lawfully caught over two consecutive calendar days provided each day's catch is segregated and labeled. 

4) Multi-Species Groundfish: Regulated groundfish species in state waters are defined as American plaice, cod, haddock, halibut, monkfish, ocean pout, pollock, redfish, windowpane flounder, winter flounder, witch flounder, wolfish and yellowtail flounder. The trip limits listed apply to State Waters Groundfish Endorsement holders and federally-permitted vessels while fishing in state waters unless the federal limit is more restrictive. Commercial fishers who do not hold a State Waters Groundfish Endorsement  or federal limited entry permit may take up to 25 pounds of regulated groundfish per day while fishing in state waters. DMF has renewed the consecutive daily trip limit programs for trawlers and gillnetters with a State Waters Groundfish Endorsement. This allows vessels who obtain a Letter of Authorization to possess and land up to two trip limits of winter and yellowtail flounder that were lawfully caught over two consecutive calendar days provided each day's catch is segregated and labeled. Fishing for groundfish or with gears capable of catching groundfish in state waters is subject to various spatial/temporal closures, gear closures, and spawning closures. Please review 322 CMR 4.04, 4.06, 6.03 8.00 and 12.00 for more details. 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. Federal rules apply beyond state waters and vessels may possess and land groundfish lawfully taken in federal waters in accordance with federal rules. 

5) Cod: Western Gulf of Maine refers to all state waters north of Cape Cod and those waters down the backside of Cape Cod and east of Nantucket west of the 70th meridian. Southern New England refers to all state waters south and west of Cape Cod that are west of the 70th meridian. State-waters within the Southern New England Cod Management Area are closed to the retention of cod. Vessels may possess and land cod lawfully taken in federal waters in accordance with federal rules. Fishing for cod or with gears capable of catching cod in state waters is subject to various spatial/temporal closures, gear closures, and spawning closures. Please review 322 CMR 4.04, 4.06, 6.03 8.00 and 12.00 for more details. 

6) Summer Flounder (Fluke): Year-round, it is unlawful to land fluke during the period of 10PM p.m.-6 AM. During any period, trawlers lawfully fishing with a net mesh of less than 5.5" diamond or 6" square are subject to a bycatch limit of 100 pounds of summer flounder. Except as authorized for small mesh squid trawl fishery, minimum mesh size in state waters is 6.5" in cod end and 6" throughout remainder of net. The Period I/Period II quota allocation split is 30/70 in years when the quota exceeds 750,000 pounds and 15/85 in years when it does not. DMF has renewed the consecutive daily trip limit programs for trawlers . This allows vessels who obtain a Letter of Authorization to possess and land up to two trip limits of summer flounder, black sea bass, bait horseshoe crabs, and whelk that were lawfully caught over two consecutive calendar days provided each day's catch is segregated and labeled. 

7) Horseshoe Crabs: All harvest of horseshoe crabs is prohibited from April 15 - June 7. A  biomedical harvest permit is required to participate in the biomedical fishery. A bait fishery permit endorsement holder may not also hold a biomedical harvest permit. All crabs harvested for biomedical purposes may only be sold to dealers authorized to purchase crabs harvested for biomedical purposes. After crabs are bled by the biomedical firm, harvesters must return the crabs to the area of harvest. DMF has renewed the consecutive daily trip limit programs for trawlers for 2026. This allows vessels who obtain a Letter of Authorization to possess and land up to two trip limits of summer flounder, black sea bass, bait horseshoe crabs, and whelk that were lawfully caught over two consecutive calendar days provided each day's catch is segregated and labeled. 

8) Longfin Squid: Species is federally managed by NOAA Fisheries with the annual commercial quota allocated to three trimester periods - Trimester 1 (Jan 1 - April 30); Trimester 2 (May 1 - Aug 31) ; and Trimester 3 (Sept 1 - Dec 31). Trip limits are based on permit type and may be adjusted in season in response to quota consumption; if you hold a federal permit for longfin squid, contact NOAA Fisheries for more details. From April 23 - June 9, the use of small mesh trawls for squid is authorized in those state waters within the small mesh squid trawl exempted area (322 CMR 4.06) for those permit holders with a CAP-Squid regulated fishery endorsement. The season may be extended beyond June 9 based on the availability of squid. DMF does not manage this seasonal small mesh fishery with a trip limit. However, federal trip limits apply to federal permit holders if they are fishing in state-waters and DMF may establish a trip limit in response to any actions taken by NOAA Fisheries. Minimum mesh size is 1 7/8".

9) Mackerel: The state waters limit for mackerel starts at 20,000 pounds. This limit is then reduced to 5,000 pounds once 1,100 metric tons of the Domestic Annual Harvest remains and is reduced again to 2,000 pounds once 220 metric tons of the Domestic Annual Harvest remains. Federal rules apply beyond state waters and vessels may possess and land mackerel lawfully taken in federal waters in accordance with federal rules. 

10) Menhaden: Purse seining is prohibited during the pre and post quota small scale and incidental catch fisheries. During the directed fishing season purse seining is allowed Monday - Thursday when there is a trip limit of 120,000 pounds and Monday - Friday thereafter. All other gears operating during the directed fishing season may fish seven days per week. Subject to a Letter of Authorization, carrier vessels may be used by large scale seining operations until the trip limit is reduced to 6,000 pounds, except in Boston Harbor where the use of carrier vessels is prohibited. Carrier vessels may receive, possess, transport and land menhaden from only a single harvester vessel during any calendar day, provided the calendar day is open to purse seining. A carrier vessel may not receive, possess, or land menhaden in quantities that exceed the applicable trip limit or land more than once per day. A harvester vessel may employ multiple carrier vessels during the same calendar day, provided the trip limit is not exceeded in aggregate, but may not also carry or land fish on a day that it is utilizing a carrier(s). If taking menhaden above the 6,000 pound trip limit, the harvester or carrier vessel holding the fish must be assessed by a marine surveyor and have the holding space marked at the volumetric capacity of 120,000 pounds and 25,000 pounds. When fishing under the 6,000 pound limit, fish are to be immediately stowed in 55-gallon barrels or standard fish totes. A level filled barrel is the equivalent of 350 pounds and a level filled fish tote is the equivalent of 117 pounds. Fish may be stored in both totes and barrels during the same trip, with one barrel having the equivalent weight as three totes. All purse seine fishing conducted under the 6,000 pound limit is subject to a maximum purse seine size of 450' length by 48' depth. The use of nets, including purse seines, within inshore restricted waters is prohibited without an inshore net permit; small bait nets of no more than 250 ft. are exempt from this prohibition. Seines must be annually certified by DMF or in another state with a similar program. For 2026, DMF is carrying over valid certifications from prior years if the nets size has not been amended. DMF is renewing the Menhaden Harvester Partnership Program where like permitted vessels rigged for seining can remove fish from another vessel's seine should a set exceed the trip limit and vessel capacity, subject to a Letter of Authorization from the Director.

11) Monkfish: At-sea processing into tails and livers is authorized. Monkfish tails must be at least 11 inches in length, and the total weight of monkfish tails may not exceed 1,000 pounds. The weight of monkfish livers must not exceed 25% the weight of monkfish tails being landed or 10% the weight of the whole monkfish being landed.

12) Scup: Trawlers fishing with mesh less than 5" are subject to a 1,000 pound possession limit from October 1 - April 14, a 2,000 pound possession limit from April 15 - June 15 and a 200 pound possession limit from June 16 - September 30. Except as authorized for small mesh squid trawl fishery, minimum mesh size in state waters is 6.5" in cod end and 6" throughout remainder of net. During Winter I and Winter II periods, vessels may possess and land scup lawfully taken in federal waters in accordance with the federal limit. 

13) Striped Bass: Fishery is hook and line only; netting, spearing, and snagging striped bass is prohibited. No high-grading or filleting striped bass. The commercial striped bass minimum size is 35" and all fish are to be measured in a straight line from the tip of the jaw or snout with the mouth closed to the furthest extremity of the tail with the tail squeezed together. The commercial striped bass fishery opens on the first open fishing day on or after or after June 16; for 2026 this is Tuesday, June 16. Open fishing days will be Tuesdays and Wednesdays to start the season and Thursdays may be added on August 1 should 30% or more of the quota remain available. With consecutive open fishing days, commercial fishers may fish overnight tides spanning two open fishing days provided they do not possess or sell more than one limit during any single calendar day. If an open fishing day falls on the 3rd or 4th of July, the commercial striped bass fishery will be closed. For 2026, this results in no additional closed fishing days. For boat-based permit holders fishing from the vessel named on the permit, the daily limit is 15-fish; for all other activity it is 2-fish. If the annual quota is not taken by November 15, then the fishery closes on November 16. Commercial fishers may only sell striped bass to primary buyers on open commercial fishing days. Both the primary buyer and the commercial fisher must be present at this transaction. Dropping fish off at an unattended dealer facility is unlawful. Additionally, primary buyers must tag the striped bass upon taking possession of striped bass at primary purchase. Striped bass tags will be distributed to primary buyers in late-May/early-June. The Cape Cod Canal is closed to commercial striped bass fishing. Therefore, all striped bass retained from the Canal or possessed within 1,000 feet of the Canal (unless caught elsewhere and being actively transported to a dealer) must adhere to Massachusetts’ recreational fishing limits. The recreational striped bass fishery is subject to a 1-fish per angler daily bag limit and a slot limit of 28″ to less than 31″.  

14) Tautog: Commercial fishers are required to tag their commercial catch of tautog through the operculum with a metal Tautog ID tag upon the completion of commercial fishing activity that day and prior to sale or carring. It is unlawful to sell any tautog or for any dealer to receive a tautog that does not bear a Tautog ID tag in its operculum. Tautog ID tags will be provided to tautog permit holders by DMF in advance of the September 1 start of the season. However, fishers must obtain the tag applicator independently. Commercial fishers will be required to return all unused tags and submit a tagging report to DMF following the close of the fishery.