Recreational Saltwater Fishing Regulations

Enroll in the Recreational Marine Fishing Registry

All anglers (16 years and older) fishing in New York's Marine & Coastal District must enroll in the Recreational Marine Fishing Registry when angling for the fish species listed below. Anglers fishing for shark and tuna must also apply for NOAA Fisheries Highly Migratory Species permit. Visit Recreational Shark Fishing for information about prohibited shark species and shark fishing in New York.

The Registry is not required for harvesting crabs, lobsters, whelk, or shellfish.

• A Lobster Recreational Permit is required for New York State residents to harvest lobsters.
• Visit Crabbing in New York for more information on how to get started crabbing.
• For recreational shellfishing information, visit Shellfish Harvest Limits.

Saltwater Fishing Limits

*Regulations were last changed on April 8, 2025 and are subject to change at any time.* 

(1) Total length is the longest straight line measurement from the tip of the snout, with the mouth closed, to the longest lobe of the tail, with the lobes squeezed together, and the fish laid flat on the measuring device.    
(2) Non-offset (inline) circle hooks must be used when recreationally fishing for striped bass using bait defined as any live or dead, whole or part of a marine or aquatic organism or terrestrial invertebrate. Exemption: Circle hooks are not required when fishing with an artificial lure, whether or not they are tipped with bait as previously defined.    
(3) A party/charter boat customer who lands and possesses more than 30 scup during September 1 - October 31 must obtain a dated original fare receipt from the licensed vessel.    
(4) 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 white 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 the possession limit.    
(5) Black sea bass are measured from the tip of the snout (or jaw), with the mouth closed, to the farthest extremity of the tail, not including the tail filament.    
(6) The fillet length is the longest straight line measurement from end to end of any fleshy side portion of the fish cut lengthwise away from the backbone, which must have the skin intact, laid flat on the measuring device.    
(7) Dressed length is the longest straight line measurement from the most anterior portion of the fish, with the head removed, to the longest lobe of the caudal fin(tail), with the caudal fin intact and with the lobes squeezed together, laid flat on the measuring device.    
(8) Anadromous river herring is defined in 6 NYCRR Part 10 (except the Hudson River and its tributaries and embayments north of the George Washington Bridge at river mile 11).

Recreational Shark Minimum Size and Possession Limits

*Regulations were last changed on August 27, 2025, and are subject to change at any time.*

(1) Fork length means the straight-line measurement of a fish from the tip of the snout to the fork of the tail. The measurement is not made along the curve of the body.    

(2) "Take" is defined in New York's Environmental Regulations - 6 NYCRR Section 40.6 and includes pursuing, capturing and killing sharks. Any angler who is making an effort to catch a prohibited shark species is pursuing or targeting that species in violation of 6 NYCRR 40.6(c)(1). Do not fish for or target prohibited sharks in New York waters. If captured, prohibited sharks must remain in the water and must be released immediately, without undue harm. These rules apply to all vessel-based and shore-based anglers.   

Other provisions: All landed sharks must have head, tails and fins attached. No sale allowed. No finning. Sharks, excluding spiny dogfish, shall not be taken for commercial or recreational purposes by baited hooking except with the use of non-stainless steel non-offset circle hooks. No person shall conduct, sponsor or participate in any shark tournament unless said tournament's rules and regulations require the exclusive use of non-stainless steel, non-offset circle hooks.

For all other shark fishing regulations, visit the Recreational Shark Fishing webpage. 

Recreational Crab, Lobster, and Whelk Limits

*Regulations were last changed on May 11, 2022, and are subject to change at any time.*

(1) Lobsters and crabs with eggs may not be taken or possessed.    
(2) Peeler/shredder is when the crab is about to molt or shed its hard outer shell. At this stage, the crab has a fully formed soft shell beneath the hard outer shell. The impending shedding process is evident by the white coloration along the outer rim of the paddle-like appendages on the crab's fifth pair of legs.    
Other provisions: Terrapin Excluder Devices (TEDs) must be used on all non-collapsible crab pots or traps that are fished in creeks, coves, rivers, tributaries, and near-shore harbors of the Marine and Coastal District. TEDs shall be securely fastened inside each funnel entrance of the crab pot to effectively reduce the size of the funnel opening to no larger than 4-3/4 inch by 1-3/4 inch.

Recreational Bait Crab Limits

3. State law limits recreational harvest to no more than 50 crabs of any single species or combination of species may be taken per person per day.
4. No person shall knowingly introduce into a free-living state European Green Crab or any other regulated invasive species, although such species shall be legal to possess, sell, buy, propagate and transport (see 6 CRR-NY 575.4). Green Crabs may be transported and sold alive but must be dead before being used as bait.
5. Anglers may purchase and possess any number of live or dead Green Crabs from harvesters and/or dealers who hold the Food Fish and Crustacea (FF&C) Dealers and Shippers License. Keeping a proof of purchase is encouraged. Bait shops are required to purchase Green Crabs from harvesters or dealers who hold a FF&C license. Bait shops are required to hold a commercial crab permit if they are harvesting Green Crabs for retail.   
6. No person shall sell, import, purchase, transport, introduce or propagate Asian shore crabs (see 6 CRR-NY 575.3). Asian shore crabs may be used as bait at the location where they are taken but must be dead before being used as bait. 

Download and Print Recreation Saltwater Fishing Regulations

• Recreational Saltwater Fishing Limits (PDF)
• Recreational Shark Fishing Limits (PDF)
• Recreational Crab, Lobster, and Whelk Limits (PDF)

Translations for Saltwater Fishing Regulations

Below are copies of New York Saltwater Fishing Regulations in Spanish. For additional language access services, contact DEC Division of Marine Resources at [email protected] or call 631-444-0430.

• Español: Límites de pesca recreativa en agua salada (PDF)