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Rules · Bluefish · blues / snappers / choppers

Bluefish size and bag limits by state

The East Coast bluefish rulebook, north to south. Managed under the ASMFC / Mid-Atlantic Council joint plan. Core fishery: Maine to Florida. Rules on file here for 13 states, Maine to Florida.

  1. MEMaine
    Size
    No minimum size
    Bag
    5 fish per angler per day
    Season
    No season restriction listed
    Openas of Oct 13Checked Oct 8, 2026Agency page ↗
  2. NHNew Hampshire
    Size
    No minimum size stated
    Bag
    5 fish per day (7 per day from a licensed saltwater for-hire vessel)
    Season
    No closed season stated
    Openas of Oct 13Checked Oct 10, 2026Agency page ↗
  3. MAMassachusetts
    Size
    No minimum size
    Bag
    5 fish (shore and private vessel); 7 fish (for-hire vessel)
    Season
    Year-round
    Openas of Oct 13Checked Oct 8, 2026Agency page ↗
  4. RIRhode Island
    Size
    No minimum size
    Bag
    5 fish per person per day (licensed party/charter: 7 fish per person per day)
    Season
    January 1 – December 31
    Openas of Oct 13Checked Oct 8, 2026Agency page ↗
  5. CTConnecticut
    Size
    No minimum length
    Bag
    5 fish per angler per day (including snappers); 7 for party/charter paying passengers
    Season
    Open year-round
    Openas of Oct 13Checked Oct 10, 2026Agency page ↗
  6. NYNew York
    Size
    No size limit
    Bag
    5 fish for individuals; 7 for anglers aboard licensed party/charter boats
    Season
    Open all year
    Openas of Oct 13Checked Oct 10, 2026Agency page ↗
  7. NJNew Jersey
    Size
    No size limit
    Bag
    5 fish per person; 7 per person on a party/charter vessel
    Season
    No closed season
    Openas of Oct 13Checked Oct 10, 2026Agency page ↗
  8. DEDelaware
    Size
    No minimum size
    Bag
    5 (private vessel or shore); 7 (charter boat or headboat)
    Season
    All year
    Openas of Oct 13Checked Oct 10, 2026Agency page ↗
  9. MDMaryland
    Size
    8" minimum
    Bag
    Shore or private boat: 5 per person; for-hire boat: 7 per person
    Season
    Open year-round
    Openas of Oct 13Checked Oct 10, 2026Agency page ↗
  10. VAVirginia
    Size
    No minimum size
    Bag
    5 per person (shore, rented/private vessel, and for-hire/charter)
    Season
    No closed season listed
    Openas of Oct 13Checked Oct 10, 2026Agency page ↗
  11. NCNorth Carolina
    Size
    No minimum size (DMF page lists 'None')
    Bag
    5 per person per day (private); 7 per person per day on for-hire vessels
    Season
    No closed season listed
    Openas of Oct 13Checked Oct 10, 2026Agency page ↗
  12. SCSouth Carolina
    Size
    No size limit listed
    Bag
    5 per person per day (7 per person in the for-hire fishery)
    Season
    No closed season listed
    Openas of Oct 13Checked Oct 10, 2026Agency page ↗
  13. FLFlorida (Atlantic)
    Size
    12" fork length minimum (Atlantic state waters)
    Bag
    3 per person per day (Nassau through Miami-Dade counties)
    Season
    No closed season listed
    Openas of Oct 13Checked Oct 10, 2026Agency page ↗

Status is derived from each row's season dates on Oct 13, 2026. Rules change in season, and the agency page controls. A state missing from this list is one we have not verified yet. It may still have a rule.

The trap on this fish

Bluefish rules are mostly about the bag limit, and a state can set a different bag for for-hire customers than for private anglers.

Federal waters

Bluefish are jointly managed by ASMFC and the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council. Federal recreational measures apply in federal waters. NOAA Fisheries · bluefish ↗

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