Black sea bass rules in Massachusetts
Size, bag and season for recreational black sea bass in Massachusetts waters, as published by Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries.
- Size
- 16" minimum (not including tail filament)
- Bag
- 4 fish (May 16 – Aug 31); 2 fish (Sept 1 – Oct 14)
- Season
- May 16 – August 31; September 1 – October 14
Also on the agency page: Same for private and for-hire per 2026 posters. May be filleted but not skinned at sea; max two fillets per fish.
Stale: this row was last checked Oct 8, 2026, past our 30-day limit. Treat it as history and go to the agency page.
Rules change in season, sometimes by emergency notice. This page summarizes the agency page on the date shown. If this summary and the agency page disagree, the agency page controls.
What to know before you keep one
Black sea bass seasons often come in several windows with different bag limits. Read the whole season line, not the first date.
State water or federal water
Massachusetts rules apply in state waters, generally out to 3 nautical miles. North of Cape Hatteras, federal recreational measures come from the Mid-Atlantic Council and NOAA Fisheries. South of Cape Hatteras, black sea bass is a South Atlantic snapper-grouper species with its own federal rules. NOAA Fisheries · black sea bass ↗
Across the state line
Rules for the same fish change at the state line. If you run across it or land in the next state, those rules apply.
| State | Size | Bag | Status as of Oct 13, 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Maine | 13" minimum total length | 10 fish per angler per day | Closedas of Oct 13 · Opens Oct 18 |
| Massachusetts | 16" minimum (not including tail filament) | 4 fish (May 16 – Aug 31); 2 fish (Sept 1 – Oct 14) | Openas of Oct 13 · Open through Oct 14 |
| Rhode Island | 16" minimum (not including tail tendril) | General recreational: 3 fish per person per day; party/charter: 4 fish (May 16 – Aug 31), 6 fish (Sept 1 – Dec 31) | Openas of Oct 13 |
| Connecticut | 15.5" minimum (excluding tail filament) | 4 fish per angler per day (private/shore); party/charter paying passengers: 4 fish May 16–Aug 31, 6 fish Sept 1–Dec 31 | Openas of Oct 13 · Open in part from Nov 26 |