New recreational fishing rules have been adopted in Massachusetts to increase the conservation of Atlantic striped bass. The size of fish that can be recreationally harvested has been further restricted to end overfishing on the resource, while additional fishing gear requirements have been established to address recreational catch and release mortality. The commercial striped bass fishery has been similarly reduced through a quota cut. These changes were recommended by the Division of Marine Fisheries, approved by the Marine Fisheries Advisory Commission, and take effect on May 1, 2020.
- Slot Limit: Only striped bass measuring at least 28” and less than 35” (total length) may be retained in the recreational fishery. Recreational anglers may harvest and possess one striped bass per day within this slot limit, year-round. Striped bass measuring less than 28”, or 35” and greater, must be immediately released.
- Circle Hooks: Recreational anglers are required to use an in-line circle hook when fishing for striped bass with whole or cut natural baits. A circle hook is defined as a fishing hook designed and manufactured so that the point of the hook is not offset from the plane of the shank and bend and is turned perpendicularly back towards the shank to form a circular or oval shape. (See our Circle Hook Brochure for images).Exceptions. This requirement does not apply in the following circumstances: 1) when a recreational angler is fishing aboard a for-hire vessel on a for-hire trip; and 2) when a recreational angler is fishing with natural bait attached to an artificial lure that is trolled, jigged, or casted and retrieved (e.g., “tube and worm”).
- Non-lethal Removal Devices: When using a device to remove striped bass from the water, recreational anglers must use a non-lethal device. A non-lethal device is defined as any tool used in the removal of striped bass from the water or to assist in the releasing of striped bass that does not pierce, puncture, or otherwise cause invasive damage to the fish that may result in its mortality. This effectively prohibits the gaffing of striped bass by recreational anglers.
Refer to the MA Division of Marine Fisheries list of Frequently Asked Questions for more information. Email us at marine.fish@mass.gov with additional questions, so we can update this list accordingly.
Additional information about recreational saltwater fishing in Massachusetts can be found here: www.mass.gov/recreational-saltwater-fishing
IM GETTING A HEADACHE …..
Disappointed they’ll be limiting fish larger than 35. I would have preferred if they raised the minimum length to 30 but still allow us to keep larger fish. Still, those circle hook measures should have been put in place a long time ago.
Most of the fish over 35 inch are female .Good to let go those large females as there egg numbers are substantial.Take a photo and let it go on to lay millions of eggs.
I think we should keep it the way it is. But allow people to take two fish in between 28 + 35
Let them all go and eat pizza if you keep the 28 to 35 only few will make it to breeding stock age. Its just another species we will again demolish because humans can’t do without.
Catch a keepah ! Realease it you ll feel better…
A step in the right direction with circle hooks. This should have been mandatory years ago.
The natural bait attached to an artificial lure exception is so wildly vague. Could the knot attaching the line to the hook be considered an artificial lure? Could a balloon be argued be an artificial lure? I see no way for this to be enforced. Anyone got any info on what the legal definition of an artificial lure is?
If your that stupid, you should be knitting instead of fishing.
Well Massachusetts nickname coming from the environmental police is poachers Paradise some people have contributed significantly to the decline but don’t feel bad I go fishing down South Carolina every year there fisheries is awesome and they’ve adopted this for redfish for the last 10 years and it’s worked out incredible for them almost anywhere you go on their intercostals you have a awesome opportunity to catch a monster bull red, I’m not saying the recreational anglers are responsible for the stripers decline commercial fishing has put a massive dent on it but that’s a whole nother ball game would be nice if all the good guys can get together and try to corral some of these guys who take take take.
When was there a shortage of bluefish? The daily limit has decreases to 3 fish in MA/RI. Government is taking food off people’s table.
There is a shortage of blue fish .Not many large ones around.
It would be different if these jackasses had a clue what they were talking about but they don’t, circle hooks OK I can understand that,That’s where all the yahoos let the fish swallow the bait, But only one fish that’s a joke there’s no shortage of Stripier,@ they’re just not Migrating As close to shore as they used to because the bait fish are staying out There are a ton of bucks out there, How about one fish 28-35, and one18-28, 2 total, They’re making it where it’s not even worth taking the boat out it’s a crying shame for the true Angler
It would be different if these jackasses had a clue what they were talking about but they don’t, circle hooks OK I can understand that,That’s where all the yahoos let the fish swallow the bait, But only one fish that’s a joke there’s no shortage of Stripier,@ they’re just not Migrating As close to shore as they used to because the bait fish are staying out There are a ton of bucks out there, How about one fish 28-35, and one18-28, 2 total, They’re making it where it’s not even worth taking the boat out it’s a crying shame for the true Angler, Someone needs to step up
too many justice warriors who think one man with rod and reel are gonna effect the atlantic ocean…foreign nets maybe but a few guys?
Get a commercial striper license for your boat meat bag.you could kill 30 fish a week?it will be worth it
?
So the charter guys can kill the fish everyday with boatloads of people. I just do not understand why a charter boat And the pressures they place on the water can use regular hooks. Crazy…
I STILL HAVE A HEAD ACHE !
It’s really not that complicated..
Why is it that every comment on here is from people who want to keep more fish? Talking about being a true sportsman? Give me a break! If you can catch that big fish and let it go. knowing it will repopulate and give someone else a chance to catch it, is the true definition of a sportsman.
Where have you all been? This stuff has been going on debate since 2011 I think!
You should bea le to keep two 18” to 24” strippers. Rest released.
its called freedom(I am heading to south carolina)…either we have a national emergency or we dont..now we will have our rights portioned out to us under strict adherence guidlines? Your predictions of millions dead was thankfully wrong now stop taking advantage of it. We are not all idiots that need daddy to tell us to wear a mask or dont get to close. Open up and do the math..its the phlu
You’re a retard
Look at the drastic decline in flu death since the virus took over, look at the payment a hospital receives on reporting a positive virus patient ? just saying!
Limits and stats can always be manipulated !
Have a great striper season and stay safe!
“Its the phlu”. Maybe you can order a headstone with these words. You may dismiss it but don’t infect anyone else with your phlu or your ignorance. As to freedom, are you talking about the “freedom” to infect anyone you want? I’m glad you don’t live next door to me.
Yikes..
spellcheck activated FLU hooked on phonics worked for me and can work for you too!
Let the Stripers repopulate,not the virus.God gave you a brain use it!!
I’ve been striper fishing Rhode Island bays for the last 12 years. When I started Spring was an exciting time and used to catch and release tons of fish. Then the Blues would come in and enjoyed catching them all the way through till Oct. About 6 years ago commercial boats started showing up with nets circling around the Rhode Island shallow bays. That’s when the stripers started dissappearing as well as the blues. People can say all they want but I can tell you first hand the biggest factor I’ve seen is the nets. Either taking the stripers or the menhaden, it killed fishing in the bays. I think these new rules are awesome and in the end will help preserve the species. Just my opinion, sorry if you disagree.
WOOOOOW!
Another way to squeeze more and more rules! What a joke. Any other States don’t.
Until you enforce these new restrictions on the Federal level nothing will work.
Good luck the season and happy fishing to all.
GD
I agree wholeheartedly. It must be uniform all the way up and down the East Coast.
last fall from the canal to Barnstable harbor there a was kill off of fish, lobster and other marine life. there was going to be a study but I never saw anything. will this affect the migration along sandy neck, the harbor or Brewster flats?
I agree with Jay.
Years ago I used to work on fishing charter boats out of Oak Bluffs, Martha’s Vineyard Island. Early one spring the ‘trash’ boats, New Jersey registrations, came up the sound from Gay Head to towards Nantucket. Following that trawling procedure it was difficult for our customers to catch 1/4 of what was caught the year before.
I don’t agree with “for hire” boats being able to escape the circle hook regulation! Was the rule created by guides to give them special rules that do not help the species in which these rules are written to protect? It’s senseless. It’s like saying only some people that are infected with covid have to quarantine depending on WHO you are!
Last year I caught a 42” , it was awesome. They should have raised the minimum. Circle hooks same rules should apply to all. So what next year I’ll have to have the fish show some ID ,do a back round check, take his temperature and look into his immigration status
Take the next 5 years and make stripers a game fish..no keepahs for nun-ya
Be responsible n preserve our fish but have fun . I dont agree with all the rules but try very hard not to give our kind a bad name. We are the first line of defence for our favorite species n our favorite sport. Act accordingly, good luck out there everybody
This is a good rule and I get how we need to release the big ones that are on eggs:)
So there is no chance that the record can be broken because over 35 you release how can a record be broken it cant
I was skeptical at first about the slot but after witnessing all a big fish being thrown back in the canal I’m happy as a clam about time they made a good move and screw those commercial guys from the canal that have helped tremendously