Ralph's  Fishing Station & Marina

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Recreational Saltwater Fishing Seasons, Size and Possession Limits
NYS Dept. of Environmental Conservation     Marine Fisheries Office     

Laws and regulations are frequently amended by the Legislature or NYS DEC

EFFECTIVE MAY 5, 2008

You should check with the Marine fisheries office to ensure that the requirements set fourth in this notice remain in effect.

 SPECIES                 MINIMUM SIZE                 DAILY POSSESSION LIMITS                 OPEN SEASONS
_______________________________________________________________________________________

Summer flounder  (fluke)       20.5                                             4                                              May 15 - Sept 1

Winter flounder                     12                                               10                                             April 1 - May 30

Tautog (blackfish)                 14                                                4                                               Oct 1 - Dec 20
                                                                                                                                                 Jan 17- April 30

Bluefish                        No minimum size                                  15                                              All Year
(including snappers)      limit for first 10 fish                     No more than 10 of which
                                    12" TL for the next 5                  shall be less than 12" TL

Weakfish                              16                                                6                                               All Year
                                  10" filleted & 12" dressed

Atlantic Cod                         22                                          No Limit                                          All Year

Pollock                                 19                                          No Limit                                          All Year

Haddock                              19                                          No Limit                                          All Year

Striped bass                     28 to 40                                            1                                               April 15 - Dec 15
anglers not aboard               >40                                               1                       
party/charter boats

Scup (Porgy)                       10.5                                              10                                              May 24 - Sept 26
anglers not aboard
party/charter boats

Black Sea Bass                    12                                                 25                                              All Year

American Shad              No size limit                                         5                                                All Year

Hickory Shad                No size limit                                         5                                                All Year

Cobia                                  37                                                 2                                                All Year

American Eel                       6                                                  50                                               All Year

 

 

* Summer flounder may not have heads or tails removed or be otherwise cleaned, cut, filleted, or skinned until brought to shore, with the following exception: the wide side fillet or white skin only of a legal size fluke may be removed to use as bait.  The carcass of the fluke with dark side completely intact must be retained for inspection of size limit and counts against possession limit.

For the purposes of these regulations, Long Island Sound includes all adjacent bays and harbors.

** Marine waters--South of George Washington Bridge

++ Lobsters and crabs in spawn (eggs visible thereon) may not be taken or possessed.

Check periodically for changes in saltwater fishing regulations.  The above information is available as a taped telephone message 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at the Regulations Hotline: 1-800-REGS-DEC (available in Westchester County, New York City, and Long Island only).