Registration for 2012 is valid through December 31, 2012.
Laws and regulations are frequently amended by the Legislature or DEC. Please check with the Bureau of Marine Resources to ensure that the fishing limits below are in effect (contact information can be found in the column to the right). Links to the actual text of the Marine Fish Regulations (Part 40) and Lobster and Crab Regulations (Part 44) are in the Important Links column to the right. Additionally, a printable PDF copy of the following regulations can be found in the column to the right.
Effective Date for Regulations: April 17, 2012
Marine Recreational Fishing Limits Species Size Limits
(Total Length in Inches) Daily Possession Limits :dance :dance
(Number of Fish) Open Seasons
Summer flounder (fluke) 19.5 4 May 1 - Sept 30
Winter flounder 12 2 April 1 - May 30
Tautog (blackfish) 16 4 Oct 8 - Dec 4
Bluefish (including "snappers") No minimum size for first 10 fish
12 TL for the next 5 15
No more than 10 of which shall be less than 12" TL All year
Weakfish 16
10 filleted
12 dressed 1 All year
Atlantic cod* 22 10* All year
Pollock 19 No limit All year
Haddock 18 No limit All year
Striped bass: marine waters**
Anglers aboard licensed party/charter boats 28 2*** Apr 15 - Dec 15
Striped bass: marine waters**
All other anglers 28 - 40
>40 1
1 Apr 15 - Dec 15
Striped bass: Hudson River north of George Washington Bridge 18 1 Mar 16 - Nov 30
Red drum No minimum size No limit for fish less than 27" TL.
Fish greater than 27" shall not be possessed. All year
Spanish mackerel 14 15 All year
King mackerel 23 3 All year
Cobia 37 2 All year
Atlantic sturgeon Moratorium Moratorium Moratorium
Black Sea Bass 13 15 June 15 - Dec 31
Scup (Porgy)
Anglers aboard licensed party/charter boats 11 20
40***
20 May 1 - Aug 31
Sept 1 - Oct 31***
Nov 1 - Dec 31
Scup (Porgy)
All other anglers 10.5 20 May 1 - Dec 31
American eel 6 50 All year
Monkfish (goose fish) 17
11 tail length Any number All year
American Shad Possession Prohibited Possession Prohibited Possession Prohibited
Hickory Shad No size limit 5 All year
Yellowtail flounder 13 No limit All year
Oyster toadfish 10 3 July 16 - May 14
Horseshoe crabs No size limit 5 All year
Blue Crab+
Hard Shell
Soft Shell
Peeler/Shedder++ 4 1/2"
3 1/2"
3" 50 All year
All Other Crabs+ No size limit 50 All year
American lobster+ (Recreational permit required) 3 3/8" minimum carapace length 51/4" maximum carapace length 6 All year
*Anglers on board federally permitted party or charter vessels may possess any number of Atlantic cod, consistent with federal rules.
Laws and regulations are frequently amended by the Legislature or DEC. Please check with the Bureau of Marine Resources to ensure that the fishing limits below are in effect (contact information can be found in the column to the right). Links to the actual text of the Marine Fish Regulations (Part 40) and Lobster and Crab Regulations (Part 44) are in the Important Links column to the right. Additionally, a printable PDF copy of the following regulations can be found in the column to the right.
Effective Date for Regulations: April 17, 2012
Marine Recreational Fishing Limits Species Size Limits
(Total Length in Inches) Daily Possession Limits :dance :dance
(Number of Fish) Open Seasons
Summer flounder (fluke) 19.5 4 May 1 - Sept 30
Winter flounder 12 2 April 1 - May 30
Tautog (blackfish) 16 4 Oct 8 - Dec 4
Bluefish (including "snappers") No minimum size for first 10 fish
12 TL for the next 5 15
No more than 10 of which shall be less than 12" TL All year
Weakfish 16
10 filleted
12 dressed 1 All year
Atlantic cod* 22 10* All year
Pollock 19 No limit All year
Haddock 18 No limit All year
Striped bass: marine waters**
Anglers aboard licensed party/charter boats 28 2*** Apr 15 - Dec 15
Striped bass: marine waters**
All other anglers 28 - 40
>40 1
1 Apr 15 - Dec 15
Striped bass: Hudson River north of George Washington Bridge 18 1 Mar 16 - Nov 30
Red drum No minimum size No limit for fish less than 27" TL.
Fish greater than 27" shall not be possessed. All year
Spanish mackerel 14 15 All year
King mackerel 23 3 All year
Cobia 37 2 All year
Atlantic sturgeon Moratorium Moratorium Moratorium
Black Sea Bass 13 15 June 15 - Dec 31
Scup (Porgy)
Anglers aboard licensed party/charter boats 11 20
40***
20 May 1 - Aug 31
Sept 1 - Oct 31***
Nov 1 - Dec 31
Scup (Porgy)
All other anglers 10.5 20 May 1 - Dec 31
American eel 6 50 All year
Monkfish (goose fish) 17
11 tail length Any number All year
American Shad Possession Prohibited Possession Prohibited Possession Prohibited
Hickory Shad No size limit 5 All year
Yellowtail flounder 13 No limit All year
Oyster toadfish 10 3 July 16 - May 14
Horseshoe crabs No size limit 5 All year
Blue Crab+
Hard Shell
Soft Shell
Peeler/Shedder++ 4 1/2"
3 1/2"
3" 50 All year
All Other Crabs+ No size limit 50 All year
American lobster+ (Recreational permit required) 3 3/8" minimum carapace length 51/4" maximum carapace length 6 All year
*Anglers on board federally permitted party or charter vessels may possess any number of Atlantic cod, consistent with federal rules.