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    New York Fishing Regulations: State and Federal Rules

    By Breakpoint Team
    New York Fishing Regulations: State and Federal Rules

    Inside 3 miles you fish New York’s rules. Past that line, federal rules take over, and for some species the numbers do not match. The New York fishing regulations below show whose rules apply across New York’s offshore grounds, what the numbers are, and where each official page lives. Check the agency page before you fish.

    New York Fishing Official Government Organizations

    New York Fishing Official Government Organizations

    The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC) governs the Marine and Coastal District: shore to 3 miles, covering the Atlantic Ocean, Long Island Sound and the embayments, plus the tidal Hudson River south of the Governor Mario M. Cuomo Bridge. Federal law fixes the boundary at 3 geographical miles. Federal waters, the exclusive economic zone, run from 3 to 200 miles, along New York’s coast just as they do off other US states. New York regulations cover the inshore 3 miles, and federal rules cover everything beyond.

    Anglers 16 and older must enroll in the Recreational Marine Fishing Registry. It applies to saltwater fish in the Marine and Coastal District, and to migratory fish of the sea in the tidal Hudson River and its tributaries, the Delaware River and the Mohawk River. Enrollment has no fee and lasts 365 days. You can enroll online through DECALS, by phone at 1-866-933-2257, or at a license issuing agent. Choosing email delivery avoids the $1 or $2 printing fee.

    Some anglers do not need to enroll:

    • Customers aboard a licensed party or charter boat.
    • Connecticut and Rhode Island license holders.
    • New Jersey license holders and other out-of-staters must enroll.

    A New York registration is valid in federal waters, Connecticut waters and Rhode Island waters. New Jersey waters (Raritan Bay, Sandy Hook Bay, Upper Bay and the New Jersey side of the tidal Hudson) require New Jersey’s registry.

    Tuna and sharks need a NOAA Highly Migratory Species (HMS) permit on top of the registry, even in state waters. HMS permits are vessel permits and apply in both state and federal waters. The two types are the HMS Angling permit and the HMS Charter/Headboat permit.

    Measure carefully. Total length runs from the snout tip, mouth closed, to the tip of the longest tail lobe with the lobes squeezed together, fish laid flat. Black sea bass are measured to the farthest extremity of the tail, not including the tail filament. Some federal limits use fork length instead, including those for cobia, the mackerels and sharks.

    Report violations to the DEC Law Enforcement Dispatch Center, open 24 hours, at 1-844-332-3267 (1-844-DEC-ECOS).

    The bodies that write and enforce the rules:

    • New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, Division of Marine Resources – Sets and enforces state-waters rules (6 NYCRR Part 40) from Kings Park, 631-444-0430, and licenses party and charter boats. It publishes a list of licensed party boats.
    • NOAA Fisheries Greater Atlantic Regional Fisheries Office – Manages federal-waters rules for summer flounder, scup, black sea bass, bluefish, tilefish and Northeast groundfish, and requires electronic trip reports from for-hire vessels with Greater Atlantic permits.
    • NOAA Fisheries Southeast Regional Office – Administers federal rules for dolphin, wahoo, and king and Spanish mackerel.
    • NOAA Fisheries Atlantic Highly Migratory Species (permits) – Issues the HMS Angling and HMS Charter/Headboat vessel permits for tunas, billfish, swordfish and sharks.
    • Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council – Develops federal measures for summer flounder, scup, black sea bass, bluefish and tilefish with the Greater Atlantic Regional Fisheries Office.
    • South Atlantic Fishery Management Council – Develops the federal dolphin, wahoo and coastal migratory pelagic (mackerel) rules that reach New York’s federal waters.
    • Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission – Coordinates interstate management of striped bass and cobia, which states like New York put into state rules.

    New York Offshore Fishing Regulations by Species

    Each species below has four bullets: length, bag limit, season, and gear and permits. Each ends with a link to the agency’s rules page. Where state and federal numbers differ, both are printed and labeled. The agency page takes precedence over any summary here, so check it before you fish. For the wider picture of fishing the Northeast coast, start with the regional guide.

    Striped bass

    Striped bass are a state-waters fish. Federal waters are closed to fishing for, possessing or retaining them. One exception covers transit through Block Island Sound, north of the Montauk Light to Block Island Southeast Light line and west of the Point Judith Light to Block Island Southeast Light line. The vessel must be in continuous transit with no fishing from it in the EEZ.

    • LengthMarine waters: 28 to 31 inch slot, total length. Hudson River north of the George Washington Bridge: 23 to 28 inch slot, total length.
    • Bag limit1 per day.
    • SeasonState waters: marine waters April 15 to December 15; Hudson River north of the George Washington Bridge April 1 to November 30. Federal waters: closed, under the federal striped bass closure.
    • Gear and permitsNon-offset (inline) circle hooks are required with bait, meaning any live or dead whole or part of a marine or aquatic organism or terrestrial invertebrate. Circle hooks are not required with an artificial lure, even if tipped with bait. No gaffs. Registry required.

    NYSDEC recreational fishing regulations

    Summer flounder (fluke)

    Federal recreational measures for fluke are waived through conservation equivalency. Recreational vessels and federally permitted party and charter vessels in federal waters follow the measures of the state where they land. If you fish past 3 miles and land in New York, New York’s fluke rules apply.

    • Length19 inches total length from May 4 to August 1; 19.5 inches from August 2 to October 15.
    • Bag limit3 per person per day.
    • SeasonMay 4 to October 15.
    • Gear and permitsNo removing heads or tails, and no cleaning, cutting, filleting or skinning until on shore. A legal fluke’s white-side fillet or white skin may be taken for bait. The carcass with the dark side intact must be kept for inspection and counts toward the limit.

    NYSDEC recreational fishing regulations

    Black sea bass

    Conservation equivalency applies here as it does for fluke, so the landing state’s rules govern. See the black sea bass guide for where they hold.

    • Length16 inches total length, measured without the tail filament.
    • Bag limit3 per person per day from May 16 to August 31; 6 per person per day from September 1 to December 31.
    • SeasonMay 16 to December 31.
    • Gear and permitsRegistry required, or a licensed party or charter boat covers its customers.

    NYSDEC recreational fishing regulations

    Scup (porgy)

    Vessels with a federal permit follow the more restrictive of the federal or state measure. The numbers differ by jurisdiction, so both are printed.

    • LengthState waters: shore 9.5 inches, vessel 11 inches total length. Federal waters: 10 inches.
    • Bag limitState waters: 30 per day. Party and charter customers get 30 from May 1 to August 31, 40 from September 1 to October 31, and 30 from November 1 to December 31. Federal waters: 40 per person.
    • SeasonState waters: May 1 to December 31. Federal waters: January 1 to December 31.
    • Gear and permitsA party or charter customer landing more than 30 scup from September 1 to October 31 must carry a dated original fare receipt from the licensed vessel. Federally permitted vessels follow the more restrictive measure.

    NOAA Greater Atlantic recreational fishing regulations by species

    Bluefish

    State and federal rules match.

    • LengthNo size limit, state and federal.
    • Bag limit5 per private angler; 7 for anglers aboard a licensed party or charter boat, state and federal.
    • SeasonAll year.
    • Gear and permitsRegistry required for private anglers. Customers on a licensed party or charter boat are exempt.

    NOAA Greater Atlantic recreational fishing regulations by species

    Tautog (blackfish)

    Tautog (blackfish) (New York Fishing Regulations)

    New York splits tautog into two state regions. The Long Island Sound region is east of the Throgs Neck Bridge and west of a line from Orient Point, NY to Watch Hill, RI. The New York Bight region is all other marine waters.

    • Length16 inches total length.
    • Bag limitLong Island Sound: 2 per day April 1 to 30, 3 per day October 11 to December 9. New York Bight: 2 per day April 1 to 30, 4 per day October 15 to December 22.
    • SeasonLong Island Sound: April 1 to 30 and October 11 to December 9. New York Bight: April 1 to 30 and October 15 to December 22.
    • Gear and permitsRegistry required.

    NYSDEC recreational fishing regulations

    Weakfish

    Weakfish rules are state-waters rules.

    • Length16 inches total length, or 10 inches filleted or 12 inches dressed.
    • Bag limit1 per day.
    • SeasonAll year.
    • Gear and permitsRegistry required.

    NYSDEC recreational fishing regulations

    Atlantic cod

    Atlantic cod (New York Fishing Regulations)

    Cod shows the widest gap between state and federal rules on this page. The state allows harvest. Federal waters off New York, the Southern New England stock area, allow no retention for private or party and charter anglers.

    • LengthState waters: 23 inches total length. Federal waters: no retention.
    • Bag limitState waters: 5 per day. Federal waters: no retention.
    • SeasonState waters: September 1 to May 31. Federal waters: no retention.
    • Gear and permitsRegistry required.

    NOAA Greater Atlantic recreational fishing regulations by species

    Haddock

    State and federal waters match off New York. The federal figure applies outside the Gulf of Maine Regulated Mesh Area.

    • Length18 inches.
    • Bag limitNo possession limit.
    • SeasonAll year.
    • Gear and permitsRegistry required.

    NOAA Greater Atlantic recreational fishing regulations by species

    Pollock

    State and federal rules match.

    • Length19 inches.
    • Bag limitNo possession limit.
    • SeasonAll year.
    • Gear and permitsRegistry required.

    NOAA Greater Atlantic recreational fishing regulations by species

    Cobia

    When state limits differ from federal ones, the vessel operator follows the more restrictive limit in the waters off that state. The measure also changes with the jurisdiction: state waters use total length, federal waters use fork length.

    • LengthState waters: 43 inches total length. Federal waters: 36 inches fork length.
    • Bag limitState waters: from shore 1 per angler; from a vessel 1 per angler, maximum 2 per vessel. Federal waters: 1 per person per day, maximum 6 per vessel per day.
    • SeasonState waters: all year. Federal waters: no closed season listed.
    • Gear and permitsLand with head and fins intact. The fish may be eviscerated, gilled and scaled. Federal authorized gear: automatic reel, bandit gear, handline, rod and reel, pelagic longline, spear.

    eCFR 50 CFR 697.28, Atlantic migratory group cobia

    King mackerel

    State waters fall under NYSDEC. Federal waters follow the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council and Southeast Region rules for the Atlantic migratory group. The state figure is total length and the federal figure is fork length. Both are printed, and the agency page settles which applies to your trip.

    • LengthState waters: 23 inches total length. Federal waters: 24 inches fork length.
    • Bag limit3 per person, state and federal. Federal for-hire extension: on a charter or headboat trip longer than 24 hours with two licensed operators and a trip-length receipt for each passenger, up to 2 daily bag limits may be possessed.
    • SeasonState waters: all year. Federal waters: no closed recreational season listed.
    • Gear and permitsFor-hire vessels need the Atlantic coastal migratory pelagic charter/headboat permit on board. Land with head and fins intact.

    eCFR 50 CFR 622.380, king and Spanish mackerel

    Spanish mackerel

    The same split applies as for king mackerel: state waters use total length and federal waters use fork length.

    • LengthState waters: 14 inches total length. Federal waters: 12 inches fork length.
    • Bag limit15 per person, state and federal. On a charter or headboat trip longer than 24 hours with two licensed operators and a trip-length receipt for each passenger, up to 2 daily bag limits may be possessed.
    • SeasonState waters: all year. Federal waters: no closed recreational season listed.
    • Gear and permitsFor-hire vessels need the Atlantic coastal migratory pelagic charter/headboat permit on board. Land with head and fins intact.

    eCFR 50 CFR 622.380, king and Spanish mackerel

    Sharks

    Sharks (New York Fishing Regulations)

    NYSDEC sets state-waters shark rules. An HMS permit is needed for sharks. Federal-waters size, possession, endorsement and prohibited species are set by NOAA HMS.

    • Length54 inches fork length: tiger, blacktip, bull, lemon, nurse, spinner, blue, porbeagle and common thresher. 78 inches fork length: great, scalloped and smooth hammerhead. No size limit: Atlantic sharpnose, bonnethead and finetooth. No size limit and any number: smooth and spiny dogfish. Federal waters: see the NOAA HMS recreational compliance guide.
    • Bag limit1 shark per vessel per trip, plus 1 additional Atlantic sharpnose and 1 additional bonnethead per angler per trip. Federal waters: see the agency page.
    • SeasonSee the agency page.
    • Gear and permitsBaited hooks need non-stainless steel, non-offset circle hooks, in state and federal waters and for tournament anglers. Keep wire or bolt cutters at hand. Rod and reel or handline only, retrieved without mechanical means. Shore anglers may not chum except with mollusks or crustaceans, may not use a baited hook on a metal leader over 18 inches, and may deploy baits only by casting. A shark not kept stays in the water. Land kept sharks with head, tail and fins attached. No finning, no sale. HMS permit required. Prohibited species, which must stay in the water and be released immediately: Atlantic angel, basking, bigeye sand tiger, bigeye thresher, bignose, blacknose, Caribbean sharpnose, dusky, Galapagos, longfin mako, narrowtooth, night, oceanic whitetip, reef, sand tiger, sandbar, sharpnose sevengill, shortfin mako, silky, bigeye sixgill, bluntnose sixgill, smalltail, whale and white.

    NYSDEC recreational shark fishing

    Bluefin tuna

    Atlantic bluefin tuna are a federal HMS species managed by quota and in-season action, so this page prints no limits.

    • LengthSee the agency page.
    • Bag limitSee the agency page.
    • SeasonSee the agency page.
    • Gear and permitsAn HMS vessel permit is required in state and federal waters: HMS Angling for private boats, HMS Charter/Headboat for for-hire. The Recreational Marine Fishing Registry is also required in state waters.

    NOAA HMS permit site

    Yellowfin tuna

    Yellowfin tuna are a federal HMS species managed by quota and in-season action, so this page prints no limits.

    • LengthSee the agency page.
    • Bag limitSee the agency page.
    • SeasonSee the agency page.
    • Gear and permitsAn HMS vessel permit is required in state and federal waters: HMS Angling for private boats, HMS Charter/Headboat for for-hire. The Recreational Marine Fishing Registry is also required in state waters.

    HMS vessel permits

    Bigeye tuna

    Bigeye tuna are a federal HMS species managed by quota and in-season action, so this page prints no limits.

    • LengthSee the agency page.
    • Bag limitSee the agency page.
    • SeasonSee the agency page.
    • Gear and permitsAn HMS vessel permit is required in state and federal waters: HMS Angling for private boats, HMS Charter/Headboat for for-hire. The Recreational Marine Fishing Registry is also required in state waters.

    HMS permits for bigeye tuna

    Swordfish and billfish

    Marlin, sailfish and swordfish are HMS species with no NYSDEC limits. Federal rules apply.

    • LengthSee the agency page.
    • Bag limitSee the agency page.
    • SeasonSee the agency page.
    • Gear and permitsAn HMS vessel permit is required, Angling or Charter/Headboat.

    NOAA Atlantic HMS recreational compliance guide

    Mahi-mahi

    Mahi-mahi (dolphin) fall under federal South Atlantic rules, and NYSDEC lists no state limits. See the mahi-mahi guide for where they show up.

    • LengthNo minimum size off New York. The 20-inch fork length minimum applies only off Florida, Georgia and South Carolina.
    • Bag limit10 per person per day, not to exceed 54 per vessel, whichever is less. Headboats: 10 per paying passenger.
    • SeasonNo closed season listed.
    • Gear and permitsFor-hire vessels need the Atlantic Dolphin and Wahoo charter/headboat permit on board. Land with head and fins intact. The fish may be eviscerated, gilled and scaled. Authorized gear: automatic reel, bandit gear, handline, pelagic longline, rod and reel, spearfishing gear.

    eCFR 50 CFR 622.277, dolphin and wahoo

    Wahoo

    Wahoo fall under the same federal management as dolphin.

    • LengthNo minimum size listed off New York.
    • Bag limit2 per person per day.
    • SeasonNo closed season listed.
    • Gear and permitsFor-hire vessels need the Atlantic Dolphin and Wahoo charter/headboat permit on board. Land with head and fins intact. The fish may be eviscerated, gilled and scaled. Authorized gear: automatic reel, bandit gear, handline, pelagic longline, rod and reel, spearfishing gear.

    eCFR 50 CFR 622.277, dolphin and wahoo

    Golden tilefish

    Federal rules apply from the Virginia and North Carolina border north, including New York. See the golden tilefish guide for the grounds.

    • LengthNo minimum size.
    • Bag limit8 per angler per trip.
    • SeasonAll year.
    • Gear and permitsRod and reel, maximum 5 hooks per rod. Private vessels need the free Private Recreational Tilefish Vessel Permit and must file an electronic trip report within 24 hours of any trip that targets or keeps tilefish. For-hire vessels need the federal charter/party tilefish permit and file electronic trip reports.

    NOAA golden tilefish species page

    Blueline tilefish

    Blueline tilefish follow the same federal rules from the Virginia and North Carolina border north.

    • LengthNo minimum size.
    • Bag limitPer person per trip: 3 on a private vessel, 5 on a Coast Guard uninspected for-hire vessel, 7 on a Coast Guard inspected for-hire vessel.
    • SeasonMay