Size, bag and season for recreational striped bass in Massachusetts waters, as published by Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries.
Also on the agency page: Measured snout/jaw (mouth closed) to tail tip with tail squeezed. Inline circle hooks required with whole/cut natural bait (except bait on artificial lure); gaffing prohibited; no high-grading or keeping alive on stringer/livewell; filleting restrictions apply.
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.
Striped bass rules along the coast are built around a slot. A fish below the minimum or above the maximum goes back, so a measuring device on board is part of the rig.
Massachusetts rules apply in state waters, generally out to 3 nautical miles. Possession of striped bass is prohibited in federal waters (the EEZ, beyond 3 nautical miles). Fishing for them there is also prohibited. Only state waters can be fished. 50 CFR Part 697 · eCFR ↗
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 | 28"–31" inclusive total length (slot) | 1 fish per person per day | Openas of Oct 13 |
| New Hampshire | 28" to less than 31" total length (slot) | 1 fish per day | Openas of Oct 13 |
| Massachusetts | 28" to less than 31" total length (slot) | 1 fish | Openas of Oct 13 |
| Rhode Island | 28" to less than 31" total length (slot) | 1 fish per person per day | Openas of Oct 13 |
| Connecticut | 28" to less than 31" total length (slot) | 1 fish per angler per day | Openas of Oct 13 |
All 13 states for striped bass →
Attributed operator claims, not verified catches. The full Bite Wire →
Jimmy Fee's October 1 report described striped bass concentrated at the Canal East End on 3-to-5-ounce paddletails, with fish from schoolies to over 40 inches. School bluefin tuna turned up off Provincetown again after the storm; Captain Bobby Rice's boat found them on trolling and RonZ lures.
