Black sea bass rules in Rhode Island
Size, bag and season for recreational black sea bass in Rhode Island waters, as published by Rhode Island DEM Division of Marine Fisheries.
- Size
- 16" minimum (not including tail tendril)
- Bag
- General recreational: 3 fish per person per day; party/charter: 4 fish (May 16 – Aug 31), 6 fish (Sept 1 – Dec 31)
- Season
- May 16 – December 31 (closed January 1 – May 15)
Also on the agency page: Primary rule is general recreational (private/shore). Party/charter differs as shown.
This rule has area, mode or permit conditions that do not fit in a summary. Read the agency page before you keep a 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
Rhode Island 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 |
| New York | 16" minimum (excluding tail filament) | 3 fish (May 16–Aug 31); 6 fish (Sept 1–Dec 31) | Openas of Oct 13 |