REGULATION WATCH

Rules that move with the fish

Size, bag and season by state and species, Maine to Florida, each checked against the state agency page and linked to it. Federal HMS sources below.

The coast at a glance

129 verified rules across 14 states. Last check Oct 12, 2026. Select a cell for the full rule, the agency source and the neighboring states.

Bass, flatfish and bottom species

Recreational size limits by state and species. Select a cell for the full rule and source.
State	Striped bass	Summer flounder	Black sea bass	Bluefish	Red drum	Tautog	Scup	Spotted seatrout
Maine	Open: 28"–31" inclusive total length (slot)	Open: 20" minimum total length	Closed: 13" minimum total length	Open: No minimum size	·	Open: No minimum size	·	·
New Hampshire	Open: 28" to less than 31" total length (slot)	·	·	Open: No minimum size stated	·	·	·	·
Massachusetts	Open: 28" to less than 31" total length (slot)	Closed: 17.5" minimum (vessel-based); 16.5" minimum (shore-based)	Open: 16" minimum (not including tail filament)	Open: No minimum size	·	Open: 16" minimum; only 1 fish per person per day may exceed 21"	Open: 11" minimum (private and for-hire vessel); 9.5" minimum (shore)	·
Rhode Island	Open: 28" to less than 31" total length (slot)	Open: 19" minimum (special shore sites: up to 2 of the 6 may be 17"+)	Open: 16" minimum (not including tail tendril)	Open: No minimum size	·	Open: 16" minimum; only one fish may be greater than 21"	Open: 11" minimum (private/rental and party/charter); 9.5" minimum (shore)	·
Connecticut	Open: 28" to less than 31" total length (slot)	Open: 19" minimum (May 4–Aug 1); 19.5" minimum (Aug 2–Oct 15)	Open: 15.5" minimum (excluding tail filament)	Open: No minimum length	·	Open: 16" minimum	Open: 11" boat anglers; 9.5" shore anglers (incl. Enhanced Opportunity Fishing Sites)	·
New York	Open: 28"–31" total length (slot) in marine waters	Open: 19" minimum (May 4–Aug 1); 19.5" minimum (Aug 2–Oct 15)	Open: 16" minimum (excluding tail filament)	Open: No size limit	Open: No size limit; fish greater than 27" total length may not be possessed	Open in part: 16" minimum	Open: Shore 9.5"; vessel 11"	·
New Jersey	Open: 28"–31" (slot)	Closed: 18" minimum (17" Delaware Bay & tributaries; 16" Island Beach State Park shore fishing)	Open: 12.5" minimum (excluding tail filament)	Open: No size limit	Open: 18" to less than 27"	Open: 15" minimum	Open: 10" minimum	·
Delaware	Open: 28"–31" (slot); 20"–24" only Jul 1–Aug 31 in DE Bay, River and tributaries	Open: 16" (Jan 1–May 31); 17.5" (Jun 1–Dec 31)	Open: 12.5" minimum	Open: No minimum size	Open: 20"–27" (slot)	Open: 16" minimum	Open: 9" minimum	Open: 12" minimum
Maryland	Open: Chesapeake Bay: 19"–24" (slot); Atlantic/Coastal Bays: 28"–31" (slot)	Open: 16" (Jan 1–May 31); 17.5" (Jun 1–Dec 31)	Open: 12.5" (excluding tail filament)	Open: 8" minimum	Open: 18"–26" (slot)	Open: 16" minimum	Open: 9" minimum	Open: 14" minimum
Virginia	Open: Coastal: 28"–31" (slot); Chesapeake Bay: 19"–24" (slot)	Open: 16" (Jan 1–May 31); 17.5" (Jun 1–Dec 31)	Open: 13" minimum	Open: No minimum size	Open: 18"–26" (slot)	Open: 16" minimum	Open: 9" minimum (state waters)	Open: 14" minimum
North Carolina	Open: 28"–31" total length (slot) — Atlantic Ocean	Closed: 15" total length minimum	Open: 13" total length minimum (excluding tail filament)	Open: No minimum size (DMF page lists 'None')	Open: 18"–27" total length (slot)	·	Open: 9" total length minimum	Open: 14"–20" total length slot; may keep one fish over 26"
South Carolina	Open: 26" total length minimum	Open: 16" total length minimum	Open: 13" total length minimum	Open: No size limit listed	Open: 18"–25" total length (slot)	·	·	Open: 14" total length minimum
Georgia	Open: 22" total length minimum (saltwater); 27" TL in Savannah River	Open: 12" total length minimum	Open: 12" total length minimum (state waters)	·	Open: 14"–23" total length (slot)	·	·	Open: 14" total length minimum
Florida (Atlantic)	·	Open: 14" total length minimum	Open: 13" total length minimum (Atlantic)	Open: 12" fork length minimum (Atlantic state waters)	Open: 18"–27" total length (slot)	·	·	Open: 15"–19" total length (slot)

Weakfish, drum, sheepshead and the migratory run

Recreational size limits by state and species. Select a cell for the full rule and source.
State	Weakfish	Black drum	Sheepshead	Cobia	Spanish mackerel
Massachusetts	Open: 16" minimum	·	·	·	·
Rhode Island	Open: 16" minimum	·	·	·	·
Connecticut	Open: 16" minimum length	·	·	·	·
New York	Open: 16" minimum total length (10" filleted / 12" dressed)	·	·	Open: 43" minimum total length	Open: 14" minimum total length
New Jersey	Open: 13" minimum total length	Open: 16" minimum total length	·	Open: 43" minimum total length	Open: 14" minimum total length
Delaware	Open: 13" minimum	Open: 16" minimum	·	·	Open: 14" minimum
Maryland	Open: 13" minimum	Open: 16" minimum	Open: 12" minimum	Catch and release only: 43" minimum total length	Open: 14" minimum
Virginia	Open: 12" minimum total length	Open: 16" minimum total length	Open: No minimum size	Closed: 43" minimum total length	Open: 14" minimum total length
North Carolina	Open: 12" minimum total length	Open: 14"–25" total length (slot)	Open: 14" minimum total length	Open: 36" minimum fork length	Open: 12" minimum fork length
South Carolina	Open: 12" minimum total length	Open: 14"–27" total length (slot)	Open: 14" minimum total length	Open: 36" minimum fork length	Open: 12" minimum fork length
Georgia	Open: 13" minimum total length	Open: 14" minimum total length	Open: 10" minimum fork length	Open: 36" minimum fork length	Open: 12" minimum fork length
Florida (Atlantic)	Open: 12" minimum total length (Weakfish Management Zone); no minimum elsewhere in state waters	Open: 14"–24" total length (slot), may include one fish over 24"	Open: 12" minimum total length	Open: 36" minimum fork length	Open: 12" minimum fork length

Status as of Oct 13, 2026, from each row's season dates:OpenClosed or catch and release onlyOpen in some areas or modes· Not in our verified table

By state

Maine5 species
New Hampshire2 species
Massachusetts7 species
Rhode Island7 species
Connecticut7 species
New York10 species
New Jersey11 species
Delaware11 species
Maryland13 species
Virginia13 species
North Carolina12 species
South Carolina11 species
Georgia10 species
Florida (Atlantic)10 species

By species

Striped bass13 states
Summer flounder13 states
Black sea bass13 states
Bluefish13 states
Red drum9 states
Tautog9 states
Scup9 states
Spotted seatrout7 states
Weakfish12 states
Black drum8 states
Sheepshead6 states
Cobia8 states
Spanish mackerel9 states

Start with the controlling source

Saltwater fishing rules can change in-season and differ by species, permit, vessel type, area, and state. Our newsroom explains changes; it does not replace the regulation.

Atlantic HMS statusCurrent fishery status, sizes and retention limits · NOAA Fisheries ↗Federal rules & noticesRegional and species-specific federal material · NOAA Fisheries ↗50 CFR Part 635The controlling federal HMS regulation text · eCFR ↗

Our rule for rules

Every regulation story gets a date, geographic scope, practical consequence, and primary-source link. If the source is ambiguous, we say so. If a summary and the law conflict, the law controls.

Atlantic tuna permits and rules: what New Jersey anglers need

Bluefin tuna in federal waters, beyond three nautical miles from the New Jersey shore, fall under federal HMS authority. Before running offshore from Barnegat Light, Belmar, or Highlands, a private vessel needs an HMS Angling permit; a for-hire boat needs an HMS Charter/Headboat permit. NOAA Fisheries issues both. The Angling permit is free and has no prior-history requirement. Apply through the HMS Permit Shop at hmspermits.noaa.gov. The permit must be on board before the trip.

What any boat can retain depends on which category is open and at what limit on the day of the trip. Recreational anglers on private vessels fish under the Angling Category; for-hire boats running recreational trips use the same schedule. Both categories can close mid-season with limited notice when quota is projected to be met. The HMS status page above shows current status, size minimums, and daily limits. For how the categories and size classes interact, see the Atlantic bluefin tuna permit and category guide on this site.

In New Jersey state waters, anglers on private vessels need a state saltwater fishing license. Season dates, size limits, and any NJ-specific tuna reporting requirements are at the NJDEP Marine Fisheries recreational licenses and permits page. For-hire vessels must submit catch reports through NOAA's HMS electronic reporting system; private-vessel anglers can report voluntarily.