Massachusetts marine fishing limits without the regulation-book confusion
Use this guide to answer the question that matters at the water: Can I legally keep this fish today? It combines 2026 size limits, possession limits, seasonal openings, shore-versus-vessel differences, striped bass handling rules, groundfish boundaries and permit requirements.
Massachusetts saltwater size limits anglers check most
1 fish • year-round state-water limit.
4 fish through Aug. 31; 2 fish Sept. 1–Oct. 14.
5 fish • May 24–Sept. 23.
5 fish • May 24–Sept. 23.
30 fish • private vessel.
30 fish • May 1–Dec. 31.
Check these five things before putting a fish in the cooler
Bonito, false albacore, bluefish and mackerel can look similar to inexperienced anglers but have different rules.
Scup, fluke and bluefish limits can change depending on fishing mode.
Check the exact minimum, maximum or slot before possession.
Black sea bass, fluke, tautog, cod and smelt all have seasonal restrictions.
Per-person limits, combined-species limits and vessel caps are different concepts.
Massachusetts saltwater size, season & possession limits
This table converts the current Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries recreational regulations into a mobile-friendly keeper reference.
| Species / mode | Minimum or slot | Open season | Possession limit |
|---|---|---|---|
| American eel | 9″ minimum | Year-round | 25 fish |
| American shad — Merrimack & Connecticut Rivers | No minimum listed | Year-round | 3 fish |
| American shad — other waters | — | Catch-and-release only | NO RETENTION |
| Atlantic bonito + false albacore | 16″ minimum curved fork length | Year-round | 5 fish combined |
| Black sea bass | 16″ minimum |
May 16–Aug. 31 Sept. 1–Oct. 14 |
4 fish through Aug. 31 2 fish Sept. 1–Oct. 14 |
| Bluefish — shore/private vessel | No minimum | Year-round | 5 fish |
| Bluefish — for-hire vessel | No minimum | Year-round | 7 fish |
| Atlantic cod — Massachusetts/Gulf of Maine framework | 23″ minimum | Sept. 1–Oct. 31 | 1 fish |
| Atlantic cod — Southern New England | — | Closed | NO RETENTION |
| Haddock — Gulf of Maine | 17″ minimum | Apr. 1–Feb. 28/29 | 15 fish |
| Haddock — Southern New England | 18″ minimum | Year-round | No state bag limit listed |
| Atlantic halibut | 41″ minimum | Year-round | 1 fish per vessel/trip under federal groundfish rule |
| Atlantic mackerel — private/shore | No minimum | Year-round | 25 fish |
| Atlantic mackerel — for-hire | No minimum | Year-round | 50 fish |
| Ocean pout | — | Closed | NO RETENTION |
| River herring | — | Closed | NO RETENTION |
| Scup — private vessel | 11″ minimum | May 1–Dec. 31 | 30 fish |
| Scup — shore | 9.5″ minimum | May 1–Dec. 31 | 30 fish |
| Scup — for-hire | 11″ minimum |
May 1–Jun. 30 Jul. 1–Dec. 31 |
40 fish through Jun. 30 30 fish Jul. 1–Dec. 31 |
| Smelt | No minimum |
Jan. 1–Mar. 14 Jun. 16–Dec. 31 |
50 fish |
| Summer flounder / fluke — vessel | 17.5″ minimum | May 24–Sept. 23 | 5 fish |
| Summer flounder / fluke — shore | 16.5″ minimum | May 24–Sept. 23 | 5 fish |
| Spiny dogfish | No minimum | Year-round | No recreational state limit listed |
| Striped bass | 28″ to less than 31″ | Year-round | 1 fish |
| Tautog | 16″ minimum; only 1 fish/day may exceed 21″ |
Apr. 1–May 31 Jun. 1–Jul. 31 Aug. 1–Oct. 14 Oct. 15–Dec. 31 |
3 / 1 / 3 / 5 fish respectively |
| Weakfish | 16″ minimum | Year-round | 1 fish |
| White perch | 8″ minimum | Year-round | 25 fish |
| Windowpane flounder | — | Closed | NO RETENTION |
| Winter flounder — Gulf of Maine | 12″ minimum | Year-round | 8 fish |
| Winter flounder — Southern New England | 12″ minimum | Mar. 1–Dec. 31 | 2 fish |
| Wolffish | — | Closed | NO RETENTION |
| Yellowtail flounder | 13″ minimum | Year-round | No limit listed |
Black sea bass gets a second lower-bag season in 2026
Massachusetts changed its recreational black sea bass rules for 2026. The minimum size is now 16 inches and the season extends into October.
Closed
No recreational retention.
16-inch minimum.
Same 16-inch minimum; lower daily bag.
Massachusetts shore anglers can have a different legal size than boat anglers
Fishing from shore
Private vessel
Scup has three different recreational rule sets
Shore
9.5″ / 30May 1–Dec. 31.
Private vessel
11″ / 30May 1–Dec. 31.
For-hire
11″40 fish May 1–Jun. 30; 30 fish Jul. 1–Dec. 31.
28 inches is legal; 31 inches is already too large
Massachusetts recreational striped bass must measure at least 28 inches but less than 31 inches. The daily limit is one fish per angler.
How to measure it
Measure from the tip of the snout or jaw with the mouth closed to the farthest end of the tail with the tail squeezed together.
Keeping the right-size striped bass is only part of the rule
Required when fishing for striped bass with whole or cut natural bait.
Keeper slot is 28 inches to less than 31 inches.
Do not release a legal retained fish simply because a larger legal fish is caught later.
Massachusetts prohibits keeping striped bass alive on a stringer, livewell or holding car for this purpose.
Except for gutting, bleeding and scaling until ashore and fishing gear is stowed.
Tautog changes bag limit four times during the year
3
3
1
1
3
3
3→5
5
5
Bonito and false albacore now have a combined legal limit
Curved fork length — not ordinary total length.
Atlantic bonito + false albacore together.
Massachusetts state-water rule.
Cape Cod is also a regulation boundary
Massachusetts divides groundfish rules around Cape Cod into Gulf of Maine and Southern New England areas. Offshore federal regulations add another layer.
Gulf of Maine side
Massachusetts defines Gulf of Maine waters generally as waters north of Cape Cod, including Cape Cod Bay, plus waters east of Cape Cod north of latitude 42°00′N.
Southern New England side
Includes waters south and west of Cape Cod such as Nantucket Sound, Vineyard Sound, Buzzards Bay and Mount Hope Bay, plus designated waters east of Cape Cod south of 42°00′N.
Massachusetts Gulf of Maine haddock minimum is 17 inches in 2026
NOAA’s current federal Gulf of Maine recreational rule also lists a 17-inch minimum and 15-fish daily possession limit.
Heavy shark tackle can turn ordinary shore fishing into a prohibited activity
Massachusetts defines shore-based shark fishing using a combination of heavy leader and hook dimensions.
Light tackle can remain legal
Massachusetts states that shore fishing in the restricted area may continue when the metal/wire leader is 18 inches or less or the hook gap is 5/8 inch or less, provided other rules are followed.
Chumming
Chumming is prohibited from sunrise to sunset when shark fishing from shore.
Drones, RC boats & bait cannons cannot deploy your bait from shore
Drone
Cannot be used to carry/deploy a baited hook from shore.
Remote-control boat
Mechanized/remote bait deployment is prohibited.
Bait cannon
Propulsion-assisted shore bait deployment is prohibited.
Do you need a Massachusetts recreational saltwater fishing permit?
Massachusetts does not require the ordinary recreational saltwater permit.
Permit generally required unless an applicable exemption or reciprocal permit applies.
You must still obtain the permit even though Massachusetts charges no permit fee.
Massachusetts does not charge a different basic saltwater permit fee based on residency.
Common situations where a separate Massachusetts permit may not be required
- Anglers under age 16.
- Anglers fishing aboard a properly permitted Massachusetts for-hire vessel.
- Qualifying disabled anglers under Massachusetts law.
- Certain nonresident anglers with valid Connecticut, New Hampshire or Rhode Island recreational saltwater permits. Reciprocity conditions apply, so do not assume every out-of-state license qualifies.
Your Massachusetts saltwater permit does not cover every offshore fishery
Tunas
Bluefin, yellowfin, bigeye and other regulated tunas can require NOAA Highly Migratory Species permitting and federal rules.
Sharks
Federal shark fisheries can require NOAA HMS permitting, species identification and additional gear requirements.
Swordfish / billfish
Federal Highly Migratory Species regulations apply.
August 15, 2026 Massachusetts keeper snapshot
Black sea bass
4 fish16″ minimum through Aug. 31.
Fluke
5 fish17.5″ vessel / 16.5″ shore.
Tautog
3 fish16″ minimum; only one may exceed 21″.
Cod retention
Not yet23″ / 1 fish when applicable season opens.
Do not turn a measurable fish into unidentified fillets too early
Black sea bass
May be filleted at sea but not skinned. Maximum two fillets per legal fish.
Scup
May be filleted at sea but not skinned. Maximum two fillets per allowed fish.
Striped bass
Must remain whole except for gutting, bleeding and scaling until ashore and fishing gear is stowed.
Massachusetts saltwater pre-trip checklist
- Confirm your fishing mode: shore, private vessel or for-hire boat.
- Save the legal size for your target species: especially fluke, striped bass, sea bass, scup and tautog.
- Check the exact date: possession limits change during the year for several species.
- Carry a rigid measuring device: “close enough” is risky when striped bass has only a three-inch keeper window.
- Confirm your permit: anglers 60+ still need the free Massachusetts saltwater permit.
- Natural bait for striped bass: have legal circle-hook rigs ready.
- Offshore trip: check NOAA groundfish/HMS rules in addition to Massachusetts regulations.
- Shark fishing from shore: check leader length, hook gap and Cape Cod-area restrictions before rigging.
- Do not deploy shore bait with drones, RC boats or bait cannons.
- Check DMF advisories immediately before travel: emergency actions can change regulations during the season.
Ten mistakes that can turn a legal Massachusetts fishing trip into a problem
Legal slot ends below 31 inches.
Shore minimum is 16.5″; vessel minimum is 17.5″.
Shore minimum is 9.5″; private vessel minimum is 11″.
Bag drops from four to two beginning September 1.
Only one fish per person/day may exceed 21 inches.
Bonito/false albacore use curved fork length.
Releasing a retained legal fish to replace it with another is prohibited.
Federal recreational striped bass fishing is prohibited.
Mechanized/remote bait deployment from shore is prohibited.
NOAA HMS permitting can still be required.
Massachusetts official sources to check before fishing
The important rules are already summarized above. Use these links for final live verification, permit purchase and federal offshore rules.
Questions anglers ask about Massachusetts size limits
What is the Massachusetts striped bass size limit in 2026?
Recreational striped bass must measure at least 28 inches but less than 31 inches total length. The daily possession limit is one fish per angler. The tail is squeezed when measuring.
What is the Massachusetts black sea bass limit in 2026?
The minimum size is 16 inches. From May 16 through August 31, the daily limit is four fish. From September 1 through October 14, the daily limit is two fish.
What is the Massachusetts fluke size limit?
From May 24 through September 23, vessel-based anglers use a 17.5-inch minimum while shore-based anglers use a 16.5-inch minimum. The daily limit is five fish in either mode.
What is the Massachusetts scup size limit?
Shore anglers use a 9.5-inch minimum and may keep 30 fish. Private-vessel anglers use an 11-inch minimum and may keep 30 fish. For-hire vessels use an 11-inch minimum with season-specific bag limits.
What is the Massachusetts tautog limit?
Tautog must be at least 16 inches. The daily bag is three fish April 1–May 31, one fish June 1–July 31, three fish August 1–October 14, and five fish October 15–December 31. Only one fish per person per day may exceed 21 inches.
Do I need a Massachusetts saltwater fishing permit?
Anglers age 16–59 generally need a Massachusetts recreational saltwater fishing permit unless an exemption or qualifying reciprocal permit applies. The permit costs $10. Anglers age 60 and older must still obtain a permit but the permit fee is $0.
Can I fish for striped bass in federal waters off Massachusetts?
Recreational striped bass fishing is prohibited in federal waters. Massachusetts’ 28-inch to less-than-31-inch slot is a state-water recreational possession rule and does not create a federal-water fishery.
Can I use a drone or RC boat to deploy surf-fishing bait in Massachusetts?
No. Massachusetts prohibits using mechanized, propulsion or remotely controlled devices such as drones, RC boats and bait cannons to deploy baited hooks while fishing from shore.
What is the Massachusetts cod limit in 2026?
The applicable Gulf of Maine recreational framework uses a 23-inch minimum, one-fish possession limit and September 1–October 31 season. Southern New England cod retention is prohibited. Offshore anglers should also verify NOAA’s current cod stock-area regulations.
What is the Massachusetts haddock limit in 2026?
Gulf of Maine haddock has a 17-inch minimum and 15-fish possession limit, with the fishery open April 1 through the end of February. Different rules apply in Southern New England and offshore federal areas.
In Massachusetts, ask “where am I fishing?” before asking “how big is it?”
Shore and vessel anglers can have different minimum sizes. Seasons can change possession limits during the year. Federal waters can create an entirely different rule set. Identify the fish, fishing mode, location and date before keeping it.
Regulation review completed . Massachusetts DMF and NOAA may update regulations through emergency action, federal rulemaking or in-season adjustment.
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