Saltwater Fishing Regulations

These regulations are effective April 24, 2007.

Laws and regulations are frequently amended by the Legislature or DEC. You should check with the Bureau of Marine Resources to ensure that the requirements set forth in this notice remain in effect.  A print version of this information is available; check the link in the column to the right.  The actual text of the marine fish regulations are available online.

Marine Recreational Fishing Limits

Species	Size Limits (Total Length in Inches)	Daily Possession Limits (Number of Fish)	Open Seasons
Summer flounder (fluke)*	19.5	4	All year
Winter flounder	12	10	April 1 - May 30
Tautog (blackfish)	14	10	Oct. 1 - May 31
Bluefish (including "snappers")	No minimum size for first 10 fish 12 TL for the next 5	15 No more than 10 of which shall be less then 12" TL	All year
Weakfish	16 10 filleted 12 dressed	6	All year
Atlantic cod	22	No limit	All year
Pollock	19	No limit	All year
Haddock	19	No limit	All year
Striped bass; marine waters** Anglers aboard licensed party/charter boats	28	2***	Apr 15 - Dec 15
Striped bass; marine waters** All other anglers	28 - 40 >40	1 1	Apr 15 - Dec 15
Striped bass; north of George Washington Bridge	18	1	Mar 16 - Nov 30
Red drum	No minimum size	No limit for fish less then 27" TL. Fish greater than 27" shall not be possessed.	All year
Spanish mackerel	14	15	All year
King mackerel	23	3	All year
Cobia	37	2	All year
Atlantic sturgeon	Moratorium	Moratorium	Moratorium
Black Sea Bass	12	25	All year
Scup (Porgy) Anglers aboard licensed party/charter boats	10.5	25 60***	June 1 - Aug 31 Sept 1 - Oct 31***
Scup (Porgy) All other anglers	10.5	25	June 1 - Oct 31
American eel	6	50	All year
Monkfish (goose fish)	17 11 tail length	Any number	All year
American Shad	No size limit	5	All year
Hickory Shad	No size limit	5	All year
Yellowtail flounder	13	No limit	All year
Oyster toadfish	10	3	July 16 - May 14
Horseshoe crabs	No size limit	5	All year
Blue Crab+ Hard Shell Soft Shell Peeler/Shedder++	4 1/2" 3 1/2" 3"	50	All year
All Other Crabs+	No size limit	50	All year
American lobster+ LMA 6 (Long Island Sound, Rec. permit required)	3 5/16" carapace length	6	All year
American lobster+ LMA 4 (Atlantic Ocean, Rec. permit required)	3 3/8" carapace length	6	All year

* Summer flounder may not have heads or tails removed or be otherwise cleaned, cut, filleted, or skinned until brought to shore, with the following exception: the white side fillet or white skin only of a legal size fluke may be removed to use as bait. The carcass of the fluke with dark side completely intact must be retained for inspection of size limit and counts against the possession limit.

 

** Marine waters -- South of George Washington Bridge

*** The customer of any party/charter boat who takes more than 25 scup from Sept 1 - Oct 31 or takes two striped bass from Apr 15 - Dec 15 must possess an original dated receipt from the licensed vessel.

+ Lobsters and crabs in spawn (eggs visible thereon) may not be taken or possessed.

++ Peeler or shedder crabs are hard blue crabs which have a fully formed soft shell beneath the hard outer shell and the impending shedding process is evidenced by the white sign along the outer rim of the paddle-like appendages on the crab's fifth pair of legs