|
|
| Rhode Island Fish and Game Resources |
|
 |
|
2004 RECREATIONAL MARINE FISHERIES
Species |
Minimum
size
|
Season
|
Possession Limit
|
| American eel |
6"
|
No closed season, 2004
|
50 fish/person/day
|
| American plaice (dab) |
14"
|
No closed season, 2004
|
No limit
|
| Black sea bass |
12" |
1/1/04 - 9/7/04
9/22/04 - 11/30/04 |
25 fish/person/day |
| Bluefish |
No minimum size
|
No closed season, 2004
|
10 fish/person/day
|
| Cod |
20" (22" fed.)
|
No closed season, 2004
|
No limit
|
| Summer flounder (fluke) |
17.5"
|
April 1 - Dec 31, 2004
|
7 fish/person/day
|
| Monkfish (Goosefish) |
17" whole
11" tail
|
No closed season, 2004
|
No limit
|
| Haddock |
19"
|
No closed season, 2004
|
No limit
|
| Pollock |
19"
|
No closed season, 2004
|
No limit
|
| Scup |
10-1/2"
|
Jan 1 - July 25 and
August 4 - December 31, 2004
|
50 fish/person/day
|
| Striped bass |
28"
|
No closed season, 2004
|
2 fish/person/day
|
| Tautog |
16"
|
May 1-October 14
Oct. 15-Dec. 31, 2004
|
3 fish/person/day
10 fish/person/day
|
| Weakfish (Squeteague) |
16"
|
No closed season, 2004
|
10 fish/person/day
|
| Winter flounder (blackback) |
12"
|
April 17 - May 24
Sept. 25 - Oct 26, 2004 |
4 fish/person/day
|
| The harvesting or possession of winter flounder is PROHIBITED in Narragansett Bay north of the lines from So. Ferry Rd. in Narragansett to Ft. Getty; Ft. Wetherill to Ft. Adams; and Sandy Pt. to High Hill Pt. |
Witch flounder
(gray sole) |
14"
|
No closed season, 2004
|
No limit
|
| Yellowtail flounder |
13"
|
No closed season, 2004
|
No limit
|
|
| |
2004 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES
"Restricted finfish" indicated in Red
Trip limits and open fisheries are subject to change.
For current COMMERCIAL TRIP LIMITS call 423-1920 and press 3
SPECIES |
MINIMUM SIZE
|
SEASON
|
CURRENT
COMMERCIAL
TRIP LIMIT
|
ANNUAL QUOTA
|
| American eel |
6"
|
No closed season
|
No limit
|
None
|
| American plaice (dab) |
14"
|
No closed season
|
No limit
|
None
|
| American shad |
None
|
6/18 - 12/31/2004
|
No limit
|
None
|
| Black sea bass |
11"
|
Sub-Periods
1/1 - 4/30 - 25%
5/1 - 7/31 25%
8/1 - 10/31 - 25%
11/1 - 12/31 - 25%
|
100 lbs.
|
Yes
|
| Bluefish |
No minimum
|
January 1 - June 30
July 1 - Dec. 31
|
No limit
|
Yes
|
| Cod |
19"
|
No closed season
|
No limit
|
None
|
| Spiny Dogfish |
None
|
Sub-Periods
5/1/04 - 10/31/04
11/1/04 - 4/30/05
|
600 lbs./day
300 lbs./day
|
Yes
|
| Summer flounder (fluke) |
14"
|
Sub-Periods
1/1 - 4/30 - 54%
5/1 - 7/31 - 12%
8/1 - 10/31 - 23%
11/1 - 12/31 - 11%
|
500 lbs./day
as of 10/9/04
|
Yes
|
| Monkfish |
17" whole/
11" tail
|
No closed season
|
No limit
|
None
|
| Haddock |
19"
|
No closed season
|
No limit
|
None
|
| Pollock |
19"
|
No closed season
|
No limit
|
None
|
| Scup |
9"
|
Sub-Periods
Jan - Apr
May - Jun
Jul - Sept 15
Sept 16 - Oct 31
|
100/day
|
Yes
|
|
Floating traps
9"
|
May 1 - 31
Jun 1 - Aug 31
Sept 1 - Oct 31
|
opens
5/1/04
|
Yes
|
| Striped bass |
34"
|
Sub-Periods
June 1 - August 31
Sept. 1 - Dec. 31
|
Closed
as of 9/13/04
Re-opens
6/1/05 at 4 fish
per day/per person
|
Yes
|
|
Floating traps
28"
|
Jan 1 -90% harvest
Aug 27-10% harvest
|
no limit - EXCEPT: Once 80% of the first sub-period allocation is harvested a 500 lb. poss. limit will be imposed for the remainder of that sub-period.
|
Yes
|
| Tautog |
16"
|
Sub-Periods
4/15 - 5/31/04
8/1 - 9/15/04
10/15 - 12/15/04
|
re-opens
10/15/04
10 fish per vessel
|
Yes
|
| Weakfish (Squeteague) |
16"
|
No closed season
6/1 - 6/30; and
8/7 - 11/8
All other times
|
unlimited possession
300 lbs. per vessel/day
|
None
|
| The harvesting or possession of winter flounder is PROHIBITED in Narragansett Bay north of the lines from So. Ferry Rd. in Narragansett to Ft. Getty; Ft. Wetherill to Ft. Adams; and Sandy Pt. to High Hill Pt. |
Winter flounder
In open areas of the Coastal Marine Life Area (CMLMA) |
12"
|
March 1-Sept 30-or quota
Oct 1-Nov 15-or quota
|
100 lbs./day in the coastal ponds
300 lbs./day in other open areas |
Call DFW for details
|
| Yellowtail flounder |
13"
|
No closed season
|
No limit
|
None
|
| Sea herring |
No
minimum size
|
Closed annually
Oct 1-Oct 21
|
No limit
|
Call DFW
|
|
For daily trip limits or possession on quota managed species call the Division of Fish and Wildlife (DFW) at (401) 789-3094; 423-1923 or 783-2304
|
|
|
|
LOBSTERS, BLUE CRABS,
and HORSESHOE CRABS
Minimum Sizes and Possession Limits
The possession of egg-bearing lobsters and blue crabs is PROHIBITED.
For more detailed lobster, blue crab, or horseshoe crab regulations click here
Lobsters: Harvesting by licensed residents only, all lobsters must be measured IMMEDIATELY.
All lobsters measuring less than the legal minimum size of 3-3/8" carapace length must be returned immediately to the water from which taken. Measuring: The carapace length is measured from the rear of the eye socket along a line parallel to the centerline of the body shell to the rear end of the body shell.
Blue Crabs: Harvesting by residents only, by crab net, dip net, scoop net, handline and trot line only. It is illegal to harvest crabs from sunset to sunrise. All blue crabs measuring less than the legal minimum size of five inches (5") from spike-end to spike-end must be returned immediately to the water from which taken. No person shall possess, take, or attempt to take more than twenty-five (25) blue crabs from any of the waters of Rhode Island except when taken by a scoop or crab net, trot, or hand line. Measuring: A direct line measured from the end of one spike across the body shell to the end of the opposite spike must be no less than five inches (5").
Horseshoe Crabs: No person shall harvest horseshoe crabs from waters or shoreline of the state during the 48-hour period preceding and the 48-hour period following the new and full moons during the months of May, June, and July annually. No person shall harvest horseshoe crabs for commercial or recreational purposes on or within 100 feet seaward of Patience and Prudence Islands in Narragansett Bay. Commercial: It is illegal for any person to harvest horseshoe crabs in Rhode Island for commercial purposes without a Multi-Purpose Commercial Marine license and a Horseshoe Crab Harvest Permit. There is an annual commercial harvest quota allocated to the State of Rhode Island by the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC). Recreational: It is illegal for any person to harvest horseshoe crabs in Rhode Island for recreational purposes without a Horseshoe Crab Harvest Permit. Any resident with a Horseshoe Crab Harvest Permit may possess not more than five (5) horseshoe crabs in any calendar day. Horseshoe Crab Harvest Permits are obtainable from Scott Olszewski at the Division of Fish and Wildlife.
SHELLFISH
Minimum Sizes
Shellfishing is prohibited statewide between sunset and sunrise
Species |
Minimum size
|
| Bay Quahaug Mercenaria mercenaria |
1" hinge width
|
| Soft-shelled clam Mya arenaris |
1 ½" longest axis
|
| Mussel Mytilus edulis |
1 ½" longest axis
|
| Oyster Crassostrea virginica |
3" longest axis
|
| Scallop Argopecten irradians |
No seed possession
|
| Surf Clam Spisula solidissima |
5" longest axis
|
|
| [<---Go back last page ] |
|
|
|
|
|
|
