Fishing Rhode Island waters means working under two rulebooks, and the line between them sits at 3 nautical miles. A run to the Northeast canyons and ledges puts state rules, federal rules and HMS permits in the same cooler. Below are the size, bag, season and gear rules by species, and the agency page that sets each one.
Rhode Island Fishing Official Government Organizations
Rhode Island marine waters run from the coastline to 3 nautical miles. RIDEM’s Division of Marine Fisheries sets the rules there under the Rhode Island Code of Regulations, 250-RICR-90-00. The federal exclusive economic zone runs from 3 to 200 miles, and rules there come from NOAA Fisheries, the fishery management councils and ASMFC. Summer flounder and black sea bass caught in federal waters follow the measures of the state where you land them. Rules also change at state lines: cross into Connecticut or Massachusetts water and you are under their rules (see other states).
Anyone taking finfish or squid recreationally, including by spearfishing, needs a recreational saltwater fishing license in Rhode Island marine waters and offshore federal waters. In federal waters, a Federal registration or a reciprocal-state license also qualifies. Carry the license on the vessel, or within walking distance of the exit point when fishing from shore, and show it on demand. Fees are $7 for a resident annual license, $10 for a non-resident annual license and $5 for a 7-day license. The license is free for residents over 65 and for active military stationed in Rhode Island. You need no license if you are:
- under 16
- a passenger on a licensed party or charter vessel, or an operator fishing in party and charter mode
- on leave from active military duty
- blind or permanently disabled
- the holder of a valid Atlantic HMS permit
Designated free fishing days are also exempt. Anyone claiming an exemption must show proof and photo ID on request. Rhode Island honors licenses from New York, Connecticut, Massachusetts and Maine, and Rhode Island residents may use their license in those 4 states under the same reciprocity. Buy a license at rio.ri.gov (Rhode Island Outdoors) or at certain bait and tackle shops.
For-hire boats carrying recreational passengers in Rhode Island waters need a Rhode Island party and charter boat license from DEM. In federal waters they need Federal charter/party permits for summer flounder, black sea bass and tilefish, and a Federal charter vessel/headboat permit for dolphin and wahoo.
Check the agency page before you fish. The bodies that set and enforce the rules:
- RIDEM Division of Marine Fisheries – Sets and publishes state-waters finfish rules from the Marine Fisheries Laboratory, 3 Fort Wetherill Rd., Jamestown, (401) 423-1942.
- Rhode Island Environmental Police – Enforces marine fisheries rules and takes violation reports at (401) 222-3070.
- NOAA Fisheries GARFO – Administers federal rules from 3 to 200 miles off Rhode Island under 50 CFR part 648.
- New England Fishery Management Council – Recommends federal groundfish measures, including Southern New England cod.
- Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council – Recommends federal measures for summer flounder, scup, black sea bass, bluefish and tilefish.
- ASMFC – Sets the interstate plans that Rhode Island follows, and sets summer flounder, scup and black sea bass recreational measures with the Mid-Atlantic Council.
- NOAA Fisheries Atlantic HMS – Manages tunas, billfish, swordfish and sharks, and issues the HMS permits, including the HMS Angling permit.
Rhode Island Offshore Fishing Regulations by Species
Rhode Island limits split by mode: shore, private and rental boats, and licensed party and charter vessels. Lengths are total length, snout tip to tail tip, unless noted. The exceptions are black sea bass, measured without the tail tendril, and sharks, measured at the fork. Fish taken recreationally may not be sold. Seasons and possession limits can change by DEM notice or federal in-season action, and you are responsible for following the change. Species run from inshore to offshore, in the order of a run out of Point Judith.
Striped bass
Striped bass are legal to keep only in state waters. The one exception is the Block Island Sound transit area: the federal waters north of a line from Montauk Light to Block Island Southeast Light and west of a line from Point Judith Light to Block Island Southeast Light. You may possess bass there if you do not fish from the vessel in federal waters and stay in continuous transit.
- Length28 to under 31 inches total length, the slot limit.
- Bag limit1 per person per day, within the slot. In federal waters, fishing for, harvesting or possessing striped bass is unlawful. See the federal striped bass prohibition.
- SeasonOpen all year in state waters.
- Gear and permitsCircle hooks are required when fishing with bait. The rule does not apply to an artificial lure with bait attached. Gaffing is unlawful. Racks stay whole (head, tail and body) and are kept until the vessel is secured to a dock or removed from the water. No more than 2 fillets per legal fish. No racks or fillets in possession while lines are in the water.
Summer flounder (fluke)
Fluke caught in federal waters and landed in Rhode Island follow Rhode Island’s measures. State-caught fish may cross the Block Island Sound transit area under the conditions described under striped bass. Bait and hooks must be off the rods and the fish stored in a cooler or container.
- Length19 inches total length. At the special shore sites, 2 of the 6 fish may be 17 inches and the other 4 must be 19 inches. The sites are India Point Park, Conimicut Park, Rocky Point, Stone Bridge, the East and West Walls of the Harbor of Refuge, Fort Wetherill and Fort Adams.
- Bag limit6 per person per day. Fish from federal waters landed in Rhode Island follow these state measures under the federal landing-state rule.
- SeasonApril 1 through December 31.
- Gear and permitsParty and charter vessels carrying passengers for hire need a Federal charter/party summer flounder permit.
Rhode Island finfish regulations
Black sea bass
The landing-state rule applies to black sea bass as it does to fluke. The Block Island Sound transit area works the same way for state-caught fish.
- Length16 inches. The measurement does not include the tendril on the tail fin.
- Bag limitPrivate, rental and shore: 3 per person per day. Licensed party and charter: 4 per person per day May 16 through August 31, and 6 per person per day September 1 through December 31. Federal in-season changes are posted in the NOAA recreational management measures.
- SeasonClosed January 1 through May 15. Open May 16 through December 31.
- Gear and permitsFor-hire vessels need a Federal charter/party black sea bass permit.
Rhode Island finfish regulations
Scup
Scup rules differ between state and federal waters, and from shore.
- LengthIn state waters: 11 inches on private and rental boats, 9.5 inches from shore and 11 inches on party and charter. In federal waters: 10 inches total length.
- Bag limitIn state waters: 30 per person per day for private, rental and shore. Party and charter: 30 May 1 through August 31, 40 September 1 through October 31, and 30 November 1 through December 31. In federal waters: 40 per person per trip, the federal scup possession limit.
- SeasonMay 1 through December 31 in state waters. In federal waters, open January 1 through December 31.
- Gear and permitsScup may not be landed with the skin removed.
Rhode Island finfish regulations
Tautog
Rhode Island’s tautog season is split, with a vessel cap. Licensed party and charter boats are exempt from that cap.
- Length16 inches. Only 1 fish may be larger than 21 inches.
- Bag limitApril 1 through May 31: 3 per person per day. August 1 through October 14: 3 per person per day. October 15 through December 31: 5 per person per day. Maximum 10 fish per vessel per day. Licensed party and charter vessels are not subject to the vessel limit.
- SeasonClosed January 1 through March 31 and June 1 through July 31.
- Gear and permitsNo species-specific gear rule. The state license rules apply.
Rhode Island finfish regulations
Bluefish
State and federal bag limits match. For-hire anglers get a higher limit.
- LengthNo minimum size, in state or federal waters.
- Bag limit5 per person per day. Licensed party and charter vessels: 7 per person per day. In federal waters the limit is the same, with the 7 applying on vessels holding a Federal bluefish charter/party permit.
- SeasonOpen all year.
- Gear and permitsFor-hire vessels in federal waters need a Federal bluefish charter/party permit for the 7-fish limit.
Rhode Island finfish regulations
Winter flounder and weakfish
Winter flounder has closed waters inside the bay and ponds.
- LengthWinter flounder 12 inches. Weakfish 16 inches.
- Bag limitWinter flounder 2 per person per day in state waters. In federal waters, winter flounder possession is unlimited. Weakfish 1 per person per day.
- SeasonWinter flounder March 1 through December 31 in state waters, and open all year in federal waters. Weakfish open all year.
- Gear and permitsWinter flounder harvest or possession is prohibited in Narragansett Bay north of the COLREGS line, Potter Pond, Point Judith Pond and the Harbor of Refuge.
Rhode Island finfish regulations
Cobia and Spanish mackerel
Both species have state rules, and cobia carries a vessel cap.
- LengthCobia 43 inches. Spanish mackerel 14 inches.
- Bag limitCobia 1 per person per day, no more than 2 per vessel per day. Spanish mackerel 15 per person per day.
- SeasonOpen all year for both.
- Gear and permitsSpanish mackerel are landed with head and fins intact.
Rhode Island finfish regulations
Cod, haddock and pollock
Federal waters off Rhode Island fall in the Southern New England cod stock area and the Georges Bank haddock stock area. Cod is prohibited in both state and federal waters.
- LengthCod: no legal size, retention prohibited. Haddock 18 inches. Pollock 19 inches. In federal waters, the 18 inch haddock minimum applies outside the Gulf of Maine regulated mesh area.
- Bag limitCod harvest, landing and possession are prohibited in state waters. Southern New England cod has no retention all year in federal waters. Haddock and pollock are unlimited.
- SeasonIn state waters, the haddock and pollock fishing year runs May 1 through April 30. In federal waters, both are open all year.
- Gear and permitsIn federal waters, one line per angler, with all other gear stowed. Fillets need at least 2 square inches of contiguous skin.
federal groundfish recreational rules
Coastal sharks
State rules cover size, bag and gear. A federal HMS permit with shark endorsement is needed in federal waters. Shortfin mako, sandbar, dusky, sand tiger, white and basking sharks are prohibited, along with others listed by DEM.
- LengthFork length. No minimum for smooth dogfish, atlantic sharpnose, finetooth, blacknose and bonnethead. 54 inches for tiger, blacktip, spinner, bull, lemon, nurse, porbeagle, common thresher, oceanic whitetip and blue shark. 78 inches for scalloped, smooth and great hammerhead.
- Bag limitFrom shore: 1 shark per person per day, plus 1 bonnethead and 1 atlantic sharpnose. From a vessel: 1 shark per vessel per day or per trip, whichever is less, plus 1 bonnethead and 1 atlantic sharpnose per vessel. Smoothhound sharks unlimited.
- SeasonNo state season is set. Federal seasons are set by NOAA Fisheries. Check the HMS page.
- Gear and permitsRod and reel or handline only. Corrodible circle hooks on rod and reel, except with flies or artificial lures. Head, tail and fins attached naturally, with no filleting at sea. HMS permit with shark endorsement in federal waters.
Rhode Island finfish regulations
Golden and blueline tilefish
Tilefish are federal-only, and even private boats need a permit to keep them.
- LengthNo minimum size.
- Bag limitGolden tilefish 8 per angler per trip. Blueline tilefish: 3 per person per trip on private vessels, 5 on uninspected for-hire vessels and 7 on Coast Guard inspected for-hire vessels.
- SeasonGolden open all year. Blueline open May 15 through November 14, closed November 15 through May 14.
- Gear and permitsPrivate vessels need a Federal recreational tilefish vessel permit. Party and charter vessels need a Federal charter/party tilefish permit. Golden tilefish are taken by rod and reel only, with at most 5 hooks per rod.
federal tilefish recreational rules
Mahi-mahi and wahoo
Rhode Island has no state section for mahi-mahi or wahoo, so federal rules apply.
- LengthNo minimum size in federal waters off Rhode Island.
- Bag limitMahi-mahi 10 per person per day, not to exceed 54 per vessel, whichever is less. On a headboat, 10 per paying passenger. Wahoo 2 per person per day.
- SeasonOpen all year.
- Gear and permitsHead and fins intact. Authorized gear: automatic reel, bandit gear, handline, pelagic longline, rod and reel and spearfishing gear. For-hire vessels need a Federal charter vessel/headboat permit for dolphin and wahoo.
federal dolphin and wahoo rules
Bluefin tuna
Atlantic bluefin tuna are federal HMS, and limits move with quota and in-season action.
- LengthSet by NOAA Fisheries. Check the HMS page.
- Bag limitSet by NOAA Fisheries and adjusted by quota. Check the HMS page.
- SeasonSet by NOAA Fisheries and adjusted by quota. Check the HMS page.
- Gear and permitsAn Atlantic HMS permit is required, such as the HMS Angling permit. It also exempts you from the Rhode Island license.
Yellowfin and bigeye tuna
Yellowfin and bigeye follow the same federal HMS rules as bluefin.
- LengthSet by NOAA Fisheries. Check the HMS page.
- Bag limitSet by NOAA Fisheries and adjusted by quota. Check the HMS page.
- SeasonSet by NOAA Fisheries and adjusted by quota. Check the HMS page.
- Gear and permitsAn Atlantic HMS permit is required, such as the HMS Angling permit. It also exempts you from the Rhode Island license.
NOAA Atlantic HMS permits
Billfish and swordfish
White marlin, other billfish and swordfish are federal HMS.
- LengthSet by NOAA Fisheries. Check the HMS page.
- Bag limitSet by NOAA Fisheries and adjusted by quota. Check the HMS page.
- SeasonSet by NOAA Fisheries and adjusted by quota. Check the HMS page.
- Gear and permitsAn Atlantic HMS permit is required, such as the HMS Angling permit. It also exempts you from the Rhode Island license.
NOAA Atlantic HMS permits