Current Regulations In Effect for 2020
Saltwater Fishing Limits
| Species |
Size Limits (1) (Total Length in Inches) |
Possession Limits (Number of Fish) |
Open Seasons |
|---|---|---|---|
| Winter Flounder | 12 | 2 | April 1 - May 30 |
| Striped Bass: Hudson River (north of George Washington Bridge) |
18 - 28 | 1 | April 1 - Nov 30 |
| Striped Bass: marine waters (south of George Washington Bridge) |
28 - 35 | 1 | April 15 - Dec 15 |
| Scup (Porgy) | 9 | 30 | All year |
| Scup (Porgy) (2) Anglers aboard licensed party/charter boats |
9 | 50 | Sept 1 - Oct 31 |
| Summer flounder (fluke) (3) | 19 | 4 | May 4 - Sept 30 |
| Black Sea Bass | 15 | 3 7 |
June 23 - Aug 31 Sept 1 - Dec 31 |
| Oyster Toadfish | 10 | 3 | July 16 - May 14 |
| Tautog (blackfish): Long Island Sound Region Marine and coastal district waters lying east of the Throgs Neck Bridge and west of a line that runs from Orient Point, NY to Watch Hill, RI |
16 | 2 3 |
April 1 - April 30 Oct 11 - Dec 9 |
| Tautog (blackfish): NY Bight Region Marine and coastal district waters lying outside of the Long Island Sound Region |
16 | 2 4 |
April 1 - April 30 Oct 15 - Dec 22 |
| American Eel | 9 | 25 for individuals 50 for anglers aboard licensed party/charter boats |
All year |
| American Eel (New York City: Harlem and East Rivers, Hudson River north to Troy Dam) | 9 - 14 for use as bait only, otherwise possession prohibited | 25 for use as bait only, otherwise possession prohibited | All year |
| Atlantic cod (4) | 21 | 10 | All year |
| Atlantic menhaden | No size limit | 100 | All year |
| Bluefish (including "snappers") | No size limit | 3 5 licensed charter vessels |
All year |
| Cobia | 37 | 2 | All year |
| Haddock | 18 | No limit | All year |
| Hickory Shad | No size limit | 5 | All year |
| King mackerel | 23 | 3 | All year |
| Monkfish (goosefish) | 17 or 11" tail length | No limit | All year |
| Pollock | 19 | No limit | All year |
| Red drum | No size limit | No limit for fish less than 27" TL, Fish greater than 27" TL shall not be possessed | All year |
| Spanish mackerel | 14 | 15 | All year |
| Weakfish | 16 10" filleted (5) 12" dressed (6) |
1 | All year |
| Yellowtail flounder | 13 | No limit | All year |
| Anadromous river herring (alewife and blueback herring) (north of George Washington Bridge)(7) See Tidal Hudson River Regulations | No size limit | 10 per angler or 50 per boat | March 15 - June 15 |
| Anadromous river herring (alewife and blueback herring) (south of George Washington Bridge) | No possession | No possession allowed | No possession allowed |
| American shad | No possession | No possession allowed | No possession allowed |
| Atlantic sturgeon | Moratorium | No possession allowed | No possession allowed |
Regulations were last changed on May 8, 2020, and are subject to change at any time.
(1) Total length is the longest straight line measurement from the tip of the snout, with the mouth closed, to the longest lobe of the tail, with the lobes squeezed together, and the fish laid flat on the measuring device. Exception: Black sea bass are measured from the tip of the snout (or jaw), with the mouth closed, to the farthest extremity of the tail, not including the tail filament.
(2) A party/charter boat customer who lands and possesses more than 50 scup during September 1 - October 31 must obtain a dated original fare receipt from the licensed vessel.
(3) 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.
(4) Anglers aboard federally permitted party or charter vessels may possess any number of Atlantic cod, consistent with federal rules.
(5) The fillet length is the longest straight line measurement from end to end of any fleshy side portion of the fish cut lengthwise away from the backbone, which must have the skin intact, laid flat on the measuring device.
(6) Dressed length is the longest straight line measurement from the most anterior portion of the fish, with the head removed, to the longest lobe of the caudal fin(tail), with the caudal fin intact and with the lobes squeezed together, laid flat on the measuring device.
(7) Anadromous river herring is defined in 6 NYCRR Part 10 (except the Hudson River and its tributaries and embayments north of the George Washington Bridge at river mile 11).
