DMF makes every attempt to keep these regulations tables accurate and up to date. This is an “unofficial” copy. The Secretary of State maintains the official copy of the 322 CMR. You can buy an official copy from the state bookstore. For more information on ordering a copy of 322 CMR visit the Secretary of State website.
DMF has also produced its annual recreational fishing posters for private anglers and for-hire vessels that specify the seasons, bag limits, and size limits for popular recreationally caught species. The 2023 posters for for-hire and private anglers will be published this spring.
Below you can view the recreational regulations tables for:
- finfish
- sharks
- lobsters
- crabs
- shellfish
Recreational finfish regulations
| Species | Size Limit | Season | Possession Limit |
|---|---|---|---|
| American eel (1) | Min: 9" | Year Round | 25 fish |
| American Shad (Merrimack and Connecticut Rivers) |
N/A | Year Round | 3 fish |
| American Shad (Other Waters) |
N/A | Year Round | Prohibited. Catch and release only. |
| Black Sea Bass* (2,6) | TBD | TBD | TBD |
| Bluefish | N/A | Year Round | 3 fish (shore & private) 5 fish (for-hire) |
| Cod* (3,4) Gulf of Maine |
Min 22" | Jan 1 - Mar 31 Apr 1 - Apr 14 Apr 15 - Apr 30 May 1 - Dec 31 |
Prohibited 1 fish Prohibited TBD |
| Cod (3,4) Southern New England |
Min: 22" Max: 28" |
Jan 1 - Apr 30 May 1 - Jul 31 Aug 1 - Dec 31 |
5 fish Prohibited TBD |
| Dab (plaice) (3, 4) | Min: 14" | Year Round | No Limit |
| Grey Sole (3,4) | Min: 14" | Year Round | No Limit |
| Haddock* (3,4) Gulf of Maine |
Min: 17" | Jan 1 - Feb 28 Mar 1 - Mar 31 Apr 1 - Apr 30 May 1 - Dec 31 |
20 fish Prohibited 20 fish TBD |
| Haddock Southern New England |
Min: 18" | Year Round | No Limit |
| Halibut (3,4) | Min: 41" | Year Round | 1 fish |
| Mackerel (5) | N/A | Year Round | 20 fish |
| Monkfish (3,4) | N/A | Year Round | No Limit |
| Ocean Pout (3,4) | N/A | Closed | Prohibited |
| Pollock (3,4) | N/A | Year Round | No Limit |
| Redfish (3,4) | N/A | Year Round | No Limit |
| River Herring | N/A | Closed | Prohibited |
| Scup* (6) | Min: 10" | Jan 1 - Apr 30 May 1 - Dec 31 |
30 fish TBD |
| Smelt | N/A | Jan 1 - Mar 14 Mar 15 - Jun 15 Jun 16 - Dec 31 |
50 fish Prohibited 50 fish |
| Summer Flounder (Fluke) |
Min: 16.5" | Jan 1 - May 20 May 21 - Sep 29 Sep 30 - Dec 31 |
Prohibited 5 fish Prohibited |
| Spiny Dogfish | N/A | Year Round | No Limit |
| Striped Bass (7) | 28" to less than 35" | Year Round | 1 fish |
| Tautog (8) | Min: 16" Only one fish may exceed 21" |
Jan 1 - Mar 31 Apr 1 - May 31 Jun 1 - Jul 31 Aug 1 - Oct 14 Oct 15 - Dec 31 |
Prohibited 3 fish 1 fish 3 fish 5 fish |
| Weakfish | Min: 16" | Year Round | 1 fish |
| White Perch | Min: 8" | Year Round | 25 fish |
| Windowpane Flounder | N/A | Closed | Prohibited |
| Winter Flounder Gulf of Maine |
Min: 12" | Year Round | 8 fish |
| Winter Flounder Southern New England |
Min: 12" | Jan 1 - Feb 28 Mar 1 - Dec 31 |
2 fish |
| Wolffish | N/A | Closed | Prohibited |
| Yellowtail Flounder | 13" | Year Round | No Limit |
* Regulatory limits may be subject to change for May 1, 2023
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.
Tunas, billfish, and swordfish are managed by NOAA's Highly Migratory Species Office. Please consult NOAA Fisheries for permitting requirements and regulations.
1) Subject to regulation by the Division and the municipality. Please consult municipal regulations.
2) Black sea bass are measured from the tip of the snout or jaw (mouth closed) to the farthest extremity of the tail, not including the tail filament.
3) Federal rules apply beyond state waters. Consult NOAA Fisheries for regulations.
4) It is unlawful to fish with hook and line gear in the Winter Cod Conservation Closure from November 15 through January 31. It is unlawful to take cod from the Summer Cod Conservation Closure from April 16 through July 21. See maps in 322 CMR 8.07 for more details.
5) The mackerel limit applies as a daily per angler harvest limit and a per angler possession limit while fishing. It does not apply to holding mackerel in a freezer, fish car, holding car, or shore-based bait well.
6) Black sea bass and scup may be filleted but not skinned while at-sea. No more than two fillets per allowed fish may be possessed.
7) Striped bass are measured from the tip of the snout or jaw (mouth closed) to the farthest extremity of the tail. The discard of dead legal sized striped bass is unlawful. The practice of high-grading, whereby legal sized striped bass are released in favor of larger fish caught subsequently is unlawful. Accordingly, it is also unlawful to keep a striped bass alive in water by attaching a line or chain to the fish (stringer), or placing it in a live well or holding car. Striped bass must be kept whole, meaning the head, tail, and body remain intact. Only evisceration is allowed. Permitted for-hire vessels may fillet striped bass for their customers. All recreational anglers are required to use inline circle hooks when fishing for striped bass with whole or cut natural baits, except when fishing with a natural bait attached to an artificial lure (e.g., tube and worm).The use non-lethal devices to remove striped bass from the water is required; gaffing striped bass is prohibited.
8) When the tautog fishery is open, private anglers are subject to 10-fish maximum tautog limit for the vessel. The most restrictive limit of the per angler bag limit or per vessel maximum limit applies. During any open season an angler may retain, possess, and land one trophy fish exceeding the 21" maximum size per calendar day.
Additional Resources for
Recreational shark regulations
| Species | Minimum Size | Possession Limit |
|---|---|---|
| All permitted sharks (exceptions listed below) | 54 in | 1 total per trip |
| Atlantic sharpnose shark | no minimum size | included in total shark bag limit +1 additional |
| Bonnethead shark | no minimum size | included in total shark bag limit +1 additional |
| Smooth dogfish | no minimum size | included in total shark bag limit +1 additional |
| Blacknose shark | no minimum size | included in total shark bag limit |
| Finetooth shark | no minimum size | included in total shark bag limit |
| Hammerhead shark | 78 in | included in total shark bag limit |
Federal regulations may differ. Please consult NOAA's Highly Migratory Species Office.
Permitted Species
The following species are allowed to be harvested:
Smooth Dogfish, Atlantic sharpnose, Bonnethead, Finetooth, Blacknose, Tiger, Blacktip, Spinner, Bull, Lemon, Nurse, Scalloped hammerhead, Great hammerhead, Smooth hammerhead, Porbeagle, Common thresher, Oceanic whitetip (1), Blue
Prohibited Species
The following species are prohibited from harvest:
Silky, Sandbar, Sand tiger, Bigeye sand tiger, Whale, Basking, White, Dusky, Bignose, Galapagos, Night, Caribbean reef, Narrowtooth, Caribbean sharpnose, Smalltail, Atlantic angel, Longfin mako, Shortfin mako, Bigeye thresher, Sharpnose sevengill, Bluntnose sixgill, Bigeye sixgill
Circle Requirement
Recreational fishermen shall use circle hooks as the terminal tackle except when fishing with flies or artificial lures. Circle hooks are required for any line that is targeting sharks by the angler on a line-to-line basis. Unless caught using flies or artificial lures, any shark caught on any hook other than a circle hook shall be released.
Restrictions on Certain Shark Species When Possessing Tunas, Billfish or Swordfish
Recreational fishermen shall not possess oceanic whitetip sharks, great hammerhead sharks, scalloped hammerhead sharks or smooth hammerhead sharks if in possession of tunas, billfish or swordfish. Porbeagle sharks caught alive shall be released by recreational fishermen if tunas, billfish or swordfish are to be retained, possessed or landed.
Recreational lobster regulations
| Minimum carapace size | 3 1/4 in |
| Maximum carapace size | 5 in |
| V-notched females: definition | Illegal to possess any female lobster that bears a notch or indentation in the base of the flipper that is at least as deep as 1/8 in with or without setal hairs |
| Egg Bearing |
It is unlawful to possess or land any lobster that is egg bearing, from which eggs have been forcefully removed, or that has come in contact with any substance |
| Trap limit | 10 traps |
| Escape vent | One rectangular vent 1 15/16 in × 5 3/4 in or two circular vents of 2 7/16 in in diameter |
| Buoy Line Rules | Buoy lines may not be positively buoyant except in bottom 1/3 of buoy line. Buoy lines may not exceed a maximum diameter of 5/16" A 600 pound weak link is to be inserted into the buoy line at the buoy (see NOAA Guide). Buoy lines to be marked with 4 inch red mark midway up line. |
| Bag limit | 15 lobsters per day |
| Night Closure | No trap fishing 1/2 hour after sunset to 1/2 hour before sun rise. |
| Closed Season | All trap buoyed gear must be removed from the water by November 1 and may not be reset until May 16. |
| Minimum carapace size | 3 3/8 in |
| Maximum carapace size | none |
| V-notched females: definition | Illegal to possess any female lobster that bears a notch or indentation in the base of the flipper that is at least as deep as 1/8 in with or without setal hairs |
| Egg Bearing | It is unlawful to possess or land any lobster that is egg bearing, from which eggs have been forcefully removed, or that has come in contact with any substance capable of removing eggs. |
| Trap limit | 10 traps |
| Escape vent | One rectangular vent 2 in. × 5 3/4 in or two circular vents of 2 5/8 in in diameter |
| Buoy Line Rules | Buoy lines may not be positively buoyant except in bottom 1/3 of buoy line. Buoy lines may not exceed a maximum diameter of 5/16" A 600 pound weak link is to be inserted into the buoy line at the buoy (see NOAA Guide). Buoy lines are to be marked with a 4 inch red mark midway up line. |
| Bag limit | 15 lobsters per day |
| Night Closure | No trap fishing 1/2 hour after sunset to 1/2 hour before sun rise. |
| Closed Season | All buoyed trap gear must be removed from the water by November 1 and may not be reset until May 16. |
| Minimum carapace size | 3 3/8 in |
| Maximum carapace size | 5 1/4 in |
| V-notched females: definition | Illegal to possess any female lobster that bears a notch or indentation in the base of the flipper that is at least as deep as 1/8 in with or without setal hairs |
| Egg Bearing | It is unlawful to possess or land any lobster that is egg bearing, from which eggs have been forcefully removed, or that has come in contact with any substance capable of removing eggs. |
| Trap limit | 10 traps |
| Buoy Line Rules | Buoy lines may not be positively buoyant except in bottom 1/3 of buoy line. Buoy lines may not exceed a maximum diameter of 5/16" A 600 pound weak link is to be inserted into the buoy line at the buoy (see NOAA Guide). Buoy lines are to be marked with a 4 inch red mark midway up line. |
| Escape vent | One rectangular vent 2 in × 5 3/4 in or two circular vents of 2 5/8 in in diameter |
| Bag limit | 15 lobsters per day |
| Night Closure | No trap fishing 1/2 hour after sunset to 1/2 hour before sun rise. |
| Closed Season | All buoyed trap gear must be removed from the water by November 1 and may not be reset until May 16. |
Additional Resources for
Recreational crab regulations
| Species | Minimum size | Other regulations |
|---|---|---|
| Blue crab* | 5 in shell width (spine to spine) | Egg-bearers cannot be taken. Limit of 25 crabs/day. No permit required unless using SCUBA. Unlawful to fish for blue crabs by trap to retain blue crabs taken in a trap. Only actively tended gear may be fished for blue crabs. |
| Other edible crabs | none | 50 crabs total per day (including up to 25 blue)—other regulations are the same as for blue crab. Closed season on buoyed trap gear is November 1 - May 15, inclusive. |
| Invasive crabs | N/A | In order to harvest green crabs, you must obtain a Letter of Authorization (LOA) from the Division. Please contact Kerry Allard for a LOA or more information at (617) 626-1633 or kerry.allard@mass.gov).Closed season on harvest is January 01–April 30, inclusive. Closed season on trap gear is November 1–May 15, inclusive. |
* Prohibition: Using traps to fish for blue crabs and retaining blue crabs taken by trap gear is prohibited. Only actively fished gear may be fished for blue crabs. This includes trot lines, dip nets, and collapsible traps.
Any traps set for the taking of crabs must adhere to the recreational lobster trap limits and gear requirements specified in the above recreational lobster regulations section.
Recreational shellfish regulations
| Species | Minimum Size | Other Restrictions |
|---|---|---|
| Bay scallops | well defined growth ring | Closed Apr 01 - Oct 01, consult town regulations |
| Conch | N/A | 15 mixed whelk limit; consult town regulations |
| Oyster | 3 in shell diameter | consult town regulations |
| Quahog | 1 in shell thickness | consult town regulations |
| Sea Scallop | 3 1/2 in shell diameter | daily limit of 1 bushel in shell, or 4 quarts of shucked meats |
| Softshell clam | 2 in shell diameter | consult town regulations |
| Surf clam | 5 in shell diameter | consult town regulations |
Additional Resources for
Spearfishing
Spearfishing is the taking of fish by use of a speargun. When spearfishing, you must comply with all recreational fishing regulations regarding size, seasons and bag limits on the species. You are not allowed to catch striped bass or lobster by spearfishing. For federally regulated species, please visit NOAA Fisheries. Popular spearfishing species in Massachusetts waters include tautog and black sea bass.
How to measure your finfish catch
For Massachusetts marine waters, the minimum size for fish (exceptions listed below) is the greatest straight line length (not curved over the body) from the anterior tip of the jaw or snout (mouth closed) to the farthest extremity of the tail. Fish should be firmly grasped with both hands for proper measuring. Care should be taken so that the head firmly contacts the zero mark on rulers and tapes simultaneously with the tail extremity. For fish with forked tails, the upper and lower fork may be squeezed together to measure the tail extremity.
Black sea bass if the tail filament (tendril) is present, it is not included in the total length measurement.
Billfish (swordfish, sailfish, marlin) are measured from the tip of the lower jaw to the tail fork.
Sharks are measured in fork length, which is the straight line measurement of a fish from the midpoint of the anterior edge of the fish to the fork of the caudal fin and not made along the curve of the body.
Striped Bass are measured in total length, which is the greatest straight line from the anterior most tip of the jaw or snout to the farthest extremity of the tail with the forks squeezed together.
Tunas measurement is taken in a line, tracing the contour of the body from the tip of the upper jaw to the fork of the tail, which crosses the dorsal insertion of the pectoral fin and the dorsal side of the caudal keel.
Contact environmental law enforcement
Hewitts Cove (Hingham): (781) 740-1163
Radio Room (Boston): (617) 626-1650
North Coastal Bureau (Gloucester): (978) 283-7764
Toll Free Number (Boston): (800) 632-8075