Federal Recreational Fisheries Regulations for the Greater Atlantic Region

Updated January 31, 2017

Federal regulations are for Federal waters only (Generally 3-200 miles off shore from Maine to North Carolina) except for bluefin tuna and shortnose sturgeon which have Federal regulations that apply in both state and Federal waters. Also, party/charter boat vessels holding Federal permits need to abide by stricter Federal regulations even when fishing in state waters. See the Federal New England and Mid-Atlantic recreational compliance guides for more information. Recreational anglers or divers, once entering with and/or landing their catch in state waters, must also abide by state regulations. State regulations can be obtained through individual state marine fisheries agencies.

Regulatory information is also available via the FishRules app for your mobile device. Other useful mobile applications include the US Coast Guard mobile app and the National Data Buoy Center Mobile page. The National Ocean Service has a list of many mobile web pages and apps that may also be helpful to recreational anglers.

Below are the regulations currently in effect. New regulations are published in the Federal Register, and will be updated here after publication.

Fishery Management Councils make recommendations for changes to regulations, which can take 4 to 6 months to be implemented. Find out more about how to get involved in the regulatory process.

We try to update regulations before the start of the fishing season for each fishery. However, regulations may change at any point during the year. If you are a permit holder, you will receive notifications by mail. You can also sign up to get email notifications.

Notes:

1) Multispecies fillets must have some skin left on, and be consistent in size as that taken from legal size fish. See the Charter/Party and Recreational Fishing Information Sheet.

2) How to measure finfish:  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.

3) A guide to measure a lobster - coming soon.

4) Lobster size limits vary by area. Check our Lobster Information Sheet for more information.

5) Monkfish - The 17inch minimum fish size applies to the whole fish (total length) and, if tails only are landed, they must be at least 11 inches in length (tail length) at the time of landing. Fish or parts of fish, with the exception of cheeks and livers, must have skin on while possessed on board a vessel and at the time of landing in order to meet minimum size requirements. "Skin on" means the entire portion of the skin normally attached to the portion of the fish or fish parts possessed. Monkfish tails are measured from the anterior portion of the fourth cephalic dorsal spine to the end of the caudal fin. Any tissue anterior to the fourth dorsal spine is ignored. If the fourth dorsal spine or the tail is not intact, the minimum size is measured between the most anterior vertebra and the most posterior portion of the tail.

6) Species of concern: Those species about which NMFS has some concerns regarding status and threats, but for which insufficient information is available to indicate a need to list the species under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). We wish to draw proactive attention and conservation action to these species. "Species of Concern" status does not carry any procedural or substantive protections under the ESA. 

7) Recreational vessels remain subject to the Whaleback Cod Spawning Protection Area.  For more information see the Northeast multispecies information sheet for charter/party and recreational fishing.

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 from the tip of the snout to the fork of the tail. 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.