News  Public Hearing: Freshwater Fishing Regulations

A public hearing will be held on Monday, May 4, 2026, at 6 p.m. via a Zoom webinar. Click this link to register to attend the public hearing. You will receive an email with the instructions for how to join. 

Written comments can also be submitted using this online feedback form, or by mail to: MassWildlife Re: Fishing Public Hearing, 1 Rabbit Hill Road, Westborough, MA 01581. All written comments must be received by 5 p.m. on Monday, May 18, 2026.

The proposed changes are to 321 CMR 4.01 Taking of Certain Fish Regulations. Full proposed regulatory language is available on this webpage. A summary of the proposed changes are:

1. Limits for American eel: Establish a daily bag limit of 25 American eels and a minimum size for harvest of 9 inches year-round. American eels live mostly in freshwater but return to the ocean to spawn. The Division of Marine Fisheries (DMF) manages the American eel in coastal rivers and MassWildlife manages eel in inland waters. Coastwide, eels are managed by the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC). This regulatory proposal seeks to align the freshwater fishing limits with DMF regulations and the ASMFC requirements to protect American eel.
2. Limits for trout: Change the trout limit to allow a 6 trout daily bag limit of which no more than 3 can be brook, brown, or tiger trout in any combination in all waters year-round. Currently, trout limits vary based on the time of year, as well as the type of waterbody; this regulatory proposal seeks to increase fishing opportunity, enhance protection of wild trout resources, and simplify the trout regulations by creating one regulation for all waterbodies year-round.
3. Atlantic salmon regulations: Remove broodstock salmon limit and amend the list of locations where Atlantic salmon harvest will be allowed in Massachusetts. There are no longer broodstock salmon in Massachusetts waters, so this regulatory proposal seeks to update outdated language.
4. Fish possession definition: Amend the definition of possession to include language allowing the temporary possession of a fish in excess of the legal bag limit if that fish is to be immediately released. Currently, if an angler hits their daily bag limit, they need to stop fishing. This regulatory proposal allows anglers the ability continue to fish catch and release after reaching their daily bag limit.

MassWildlife is committed to providing equitable access to information, public processes, resources, and programs to ensure all have the opportunity to meaningfully engage with our work and all voices are heard. Every effort will be made to provide live interpretation in 中文, Kreyòl Ayisyen, Português, Español, and Tiếng Việt. American Sign Language (ASL) and Communication Access Realtime Translation (CART) captioning will also be provided. To request additional languages, please contact Susan Sacco at susan.sacco@mass.gov.

Reasonable accommodation for people with disabilities is available upon request. To submit a request for an accommodation, please email eeadiversity@mass.gov or call 617-626-1282; an ADA Coordinator will receive your request. Please include a description of the request in as much detail as possible and a way we can contact you if we need more information. Please allow at least 2 weeks’ (14 days) advance notice. Last-minute requests will be accepted but we may be unable to fulfill the request.