Rhode Island saltwater rules: know the legal keeper before you cast
Rhode Island uses different minimum sizes, slots, seasons and bag limits depending on the fish—and sometimes whether you are on shore, a private boat or a licensed party/charter vessel.
This page follows the live rule—not an old fishing screenshot
Current recreational table
8/14/26RIDEM’s current Minimum Sizes & Possession Limits page was revised August 14, 2026.
250-RICR-90-00-3
5/17/26This is the active legal rule used for the detailed exceptions explained below.
In-season changes
Rhode Island expressly warns that seasons and possession limits can change during the season.
Rhode Island’s most-used saltwater limits right now
28″ to less than 31″.
Normally 19″; special shore rule below.
General recreation; 16″.
General recreational anglers.
9.5″ shore / 11″ private boat.
Aug. 1–Oct. 14; 16″ minimum.
Rhode Island marine waters end at three nautical miles
Rhode Island defines its marine waters as tidal and territorial waters out to three nautical miles from the coastline. Farther offshore, federal rules can control.
Shoreline and tidal waters through the state’s territorial three-mile boundary.
Use Rhode Island recreational limits unless a federal rule or species-specific requirement also applies.
Generally begins beyond three nautical miles and extends offshore under federal jurisdiction.
Do not assume a Rhode Island state-water bag limit authorizes harvest farther offshore.
Five questions before a fish goes into the cooler
Identify the fish before applying any length or bag limit.
RI waters, federal waters or a special shore/closed area?
Shore, private/rental boat or licensed party/charter?
Minimum, slot, maximum-size sublimit or special measurement?
Check today’s season, person limit and vessel limit.
The legal decision happens before the fish reaches the dock
You still have the first practical opportunity to return it.
Rhode Island’s definition of possession begins when you exercise control over the resource and decide not to return it.
Measure it, identify it and count it toward the applicable person/vessel possession limit.
Rhode Island recreational saltwater size, season & possession limits
| Species / fishing mode | Minimum | Season / fishing year | Recreational possession |
|---|---|---|---|
| American eel — ordinary angler | 9″ | Jan. 1–Dec. 31 | 25/person/day |
| American eel — party/charter captain & employed crew | 9″ | Jan. 1–Dec. 31 | 50/person/day |
| American eel — paying party/charter customer | 9″ | Jan. 1–Dec. 31 | 25/person/day |
| American plaice / dab | 14″ | Regulatory fishing year May 1–Apr. 30 | Unlimited |
| Black sea bass — general | 16″ | May 16–Dec. 31 | 3/person/day |
| Black sea bass — licensed party/charter | 16″ | May 16–Aug. 31 | 4/person/day |
| Black sea bass — licensed party/charter | 16″ | Sept. 1–Dec. 31 | 6/person/day |
| Bluefish — general | No minimum | Jan. 1–Dec. 31 | 5/person/day |
| Bluefish — licensed party/charter | No minimum | Jan. 1–Dec. 31 | 7/person/day |
| Cod | — | — | RECREATIONAL POSSESSION PROHIBITED |
| Summer flounder / fluke | 19″ | Apr. 1–Dec. 31 | 6/person/day |
| Monkfish / goosefish | 17″ whole or 11″ tail | No recreational closed period specified in active section | 50 lb tails or 166 lb whole/person and vessel/day |
| Haddock | 18″ | Current RIDEM summary: Jan. 1–Dec. 31 | No limit listed |
| Pollock | 19″ | Current RIDEM summary: Jan. 1–Dec. 31 | No limit listed |
| Scup — shore | 9.5″ | May 1–Dec. 31 | 30/person/day |
| Scup — private/rental boat | 11″ | May 1–Dec. 31 | 30/person/day |
| Scup — party/charter | 11″ | May 1–Aug. 31 | 30/person/day |
| Scup — party/charter | 11″ | Sept. 1–Oct. 31 | 40/person/day |
| Scup — party/charter | 11″ | Nov. 1–Dec. 31 | 30/person/day |
| Skate | No minimum | Jan. 1–Dec. 31 | 10/person/day |
| Striped bass | 28″ to less than 31″ | Jan. 1–Dec. 31 | 1/person/day |
| Tautog — Apr. 1–May 31 | 16″ | Open | 3/person/day |
| Tautog — Jun. 1–Jul. 31 | 16″ | CLOSED | 0 |
| Tautog — Aug. 1–Oct. 14 | 16″ | Open | 3/person/day |
| Tautog — Oct. 15–Dec. 31 | 16″ | Open | 5/person/day |
| Weakfish / squeteague | 16″ | Jan. 1–Dec. 31 | 1/person/day |
| Winter flounder | 12″ | Mar. 1–Dec. 31 | 2/person/day + area restrictions |
| Witch flounder / gray sole | 14″ | Regulatory fishing year May 1–Apr. 30 | Unlimited |
| Yellowtail flounder | 13″ | Regulatory fishing year May 1–Apr. 30 | Unlimited |
| Cobia | 43″ | Jan. 1–Dec. 31 | 1/person/day; maximum 2/vessel/day |
| Spanish mackerel | 14″ | Jan. 1–Dec. 31 | 15/person/day |
31 inches is already outside Rhode Island’s keeper slot
A recreational striped bass must measure at least 28 inches but less than 31 inches. The possession limit is one fish per angler per day.
Three rules beyond size
- Circle hooks are required when recreationally fishing for striped bass with bait.
- Recreational gaffing or attempted gaffing of striped bass is prohibited.
- A striped bass taken with an unapproved method must be returned immediately without unnecessary injury.
Keep the rack—the ruler still needs evidence
Head, tail and body must remain intact so legal length can still be determined.
No more than two fillets representing one legal striped bass per angler.
Racks/fillets cannot be possessed while actively fishing with lines still in the water.
Private boats must keep the rack until docked/removed and fillets have been offloaded.
Two 17-inch fluke can be legal—but only at eight named shore sites
Rhode Island’s normal summer-flounder minimum is 19 inches. While fishing from one of the designated shore sites below, two fish within the six-fish possession limit may measure at least 17 inches.
17″+
17″+
19″+
19″+
19″+
19″+
Special shore locations
Providence
Warwick
Warwick
Tiverton
Harbor of Refuge / Narragansett
Harbor of Refuge / Narragansett
Jamestown
Newport
Same fish, different minimum depending on where you stand
Shore fishing
9.5″
May 1–Dec. 31
30 fish/person/day
Private boat
11″
May 1–Dec. 31
30 fish/person/day
Licensed for-hire boat
11″
30/day through Aug. 31
40/day Sept.–Oct.
30/day Nov.–Dec.
Two closures, then two different open-season bag limits
Jan. 1–Mar. 31
Apr. 1–May 31
Jun. 1–Jul. 31
Aug. 1–Oct. 14
Oct. 15–Dec. 31
Licensed party/charter vessels are exempt from this vessel cap.
Legal size does not make the location legal
No harvest or possession
- Narragansett Bay north of the COLREGS line
- Potter Pond
- Point Judith Pond
- Harbor of Refuge
Four details that matter after you know the bag limit
No transfer at sea
Regulated finfish may not be transferred or attempted to be transferred from one vessel to another at sea.
No recreational sale
Recreational fishing is for personal use rather than sale.
Spanish mackerel
A recreational Spanish mackerel must measure at least 14 inches and be landed with the head and fins intact.
Unregulated finfish by net
If a marine finfish taken recreationally by nets has no other size, possession or season rule, the active regulation applies a two-quart/person/day fallback limit.
Fish you should release rather than search for a bag-limit number
First identify the shark—then measure it
Protected species?
Rhode Island prohibits recreational possession of numerous species including sandbar, sand tiger, whale, basking, white, dusky, longfin mako and bigeye thresher sharks.
Which legal-size group?
Some harvestable species have no minimum; another group uses a 54-inch fork length; scalloped, smooth and great hammerheads use a 78-inch fork-length minimum.
Shore or vessel?
Shore-based and vessel-based possession calculations differ. A shark transported by vessel is treated as vessel-based.
Shore-based possession
Generally one shark/person/day, plus one additional bonnethead and one additional Atlantic sharpnose, subject to protected-species exceptions. Smoothhound sharks are treated separately.
Vessel-based possession
Generally one shark/vessel/day or trip, plus one additional bonnethead and one additional Atlantic sharpnose, subject to protected-species exceptions.
- Recreational sharks may be taken only by rod and reel or qualifying handline.
- Vessels using rod and reel must use corrodible circle hooks except with flies or artificial lures.
- Heads, tails and fins must remain naturally attached when landing recreational sharks.
- Recreational sharks may not be filleted or cut into pieces at sea.
Which saltwater authorization applies to you?
Recreational anglers and spearfishers taking finfish or squid in Rhode Island marine waters generally need a valid recreational saltwater fishing authorization unless an exemption applies.
Rhode Island license
The standard Rhode Island recreational saltwater license.
Reciprocal-state license
Rhode Island currently recognizes qualifying saltwater licenses from Massachusetts, Connecticut, Maine and New York.
National registration
The active Finfish rule also recognizes a national saltwater angler registration.
Check before paying
Several categories do not need the ordinary license.
License exemptions in the active rule
License exemption.
License exemption while covered by the vessel.
Express exemption.
Express exemption.
Express exemption.
Express exemption.
License not required for the designated day.
An exempt person must provide qualifying proof and photo ID when requested by enforcement.
Rhode Island recreational saltwater license cost
Resident or nonresident.
Obtain the no-fee license.
American eel: do not apply “50” to every person on a charter
Clams, oysters and scallops use a different regulatory system
A finfish saltwater license is not a universal shellfish permit. Rhode Island shellfish harvest has separate residency, licensing, management-area, size, season and water-quality rules.
| Shellfish | Minimum / season | Resident — outside management area | Licensed nonresident — outside management area |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bay quahog | 1″ hinge width / year-round | ½ bushel | 1 peck |
| Soft-shell clam | 2″ longest axis / year-round | ½ bushel | 1 peck |
| Oyster | 3″ / Sept. 15–May 15 | ½ bushel | 1 peck |
| Bay scallop | No seed possession; special Nov.–Dec. gear seasons | 1 bushel | Residents only |
| Surf clam | 5″ longest axis / year-round | ½ bushel | 1 peck |
| Channeled / knobbed whelk | 2¼” shell height / year-round | ½ bushel | Residents only |
Nonresident recreational shellfish license
Valid 14 consecutive days; one per person per calendar year.
Rhode Island lobster privileges are resident-only
Pot/diver recreational license.
Carapace length.
At one time; trap tags required.
Three very different recreational rules
Blue crab
25/dayRhode Island residents only. Minimum 5 inches measured spike-tip to spike-tip.
Egg-bearing females may not be possessed.
Jonah crab
50/dayRecreational season is open all year. The recreational limit is 50 whole Jonah crabs/person/day.
Horseshoe crab
5/dayResident harvest only, 7-inch minimum prosomal width and Horseshoe Crab Harvest Permit required.
Rhode Island saltwater pre-trip checklist
- Identify your fishing mode: shore, private/rental boat or licensed party/charter.
- Confirm jurisdiction: Rhode Island waters or beyond the three-nautical-mile state boundary.
- Save the species rule: minimum, maximum/slot, season and possession limit.
- Carry a rigid measuring device: especially for striped bass, fluke, scup, tautog and black sea bass.
- Striped bass with bait: have a legal circle-hook setup ready.
- Fluke from shore: verify you are at one of the eight designated special sites before using the 17-inch provision.
- Tautog: confirm today’s seasonal phase and the one-fish-over-21-inch restriction.
- Winter flounder: check both closed waters and nighttime restrictions.
- License: carry it or keep it within the legally defined close proximity.
- Shellfish: check separate licenses, management-area limits and current pollution closures.
Twelve Rhode Island mistakes a simple bag-limit graphic may not prevent
The keeper slot ends below 31 inches.
The bait rule requires one.
Keep legal-size evidence through required offload.
Private/rental vessels use 11 inches.
Only two fish at eight designated shore locations.
Possession is closed June 1–July 31.
Only one fish may exceed 21 inches.
Recreational possession is prohibited.
Several areas are fully closed or night-restricted.
Head and fins must remain intact through landing.
Vessel-to-vessel transfer is prohibited.
Shellfish and crustaceans have separate privilege rules.
Ask Rhode Island Marine Fisheries the exact question
3 Fort Wetherill Road
Jamestown, RI 02835
DEM.MarineFisheries@dem.ri.gov
“I’m fishing from [shore/private boat/charter] at [exact location] on [date], targeting [species]. Can you confirm the current legal size, possession limit, season and any special-area, vessel or gear rule?”
Final live checks before fishing
The practical rules have been brought into this article first. These links are for final verification, licensing and any in-season amendment.
Rhode Island saltwater fishing regulation questions
What is the Rhode Island striped bass limit in 2026?
Recreational anglers may possess one striped bass per person per day. The legal keeper slot is at least 28 inches but less than 31 inches.
Do I need a circle hook for striped bass in Rhode Island?
Yes when recreationally fishing for striped bass with bait. The circle-hook rule does not apply merely because bait is attached to an artificial lure.
What is Rhode Island’s fluke limit?
Summer flounder has a six-fish daily limit, a standard 19-inch minimum and an April 1 through December 31 season. At eight designated shore-angling sites, two fish within the six-fish limit may be at least 17 inches.
What is the Rhode Island shore scup minimum?
Shore anglers use a 9.5-inch minimum and 30-fish daily limit. Private and rental vessels use an 11-inch minimum.
What is the Rhode Island tautog limit right now?
From August 1 through October 14, the recreational limit is three fish per person per day. Minimum size is 16 inches and only one fish may be greater than 21 inches.
Can recreational anglers keep cod in Rhode Island?
No. Recreational harvest, landing and possession of cod in Rhode Island marine waters are prohibited.
How many bluefish can I keep?
General recreational anglers may keep five bluefish per person per day. Anglers on licensed party and charter vessels may keep seven per person per day.
Do children need a Rhode Island recreational saltwater license?
Persons under age 16 are exempt from Rhode Island’s recreational saltwater license requirement.
Do passengers on a licensed Rhode Island charter need individual saltwater licenses?
Passengers fishing aboard a properly licensed Rhode Island party or charter vessel are included among the license-exempt categories in the active Finfish rule.
How far do Rhode Island marine waters extend offshore?
Rhode Island defines its marine waters as tidal and territorial waters extending out to three nautical miles from the coastline. Federal jurisdiction generally applies farther offshore.
Can nonresidents catch blue crabs recreationally in Rhode Island?
No. Recreational blue-crab harvest is restricted to Rhode Island residents. The minimum size is five inches and the daily possession limit is 25; egg-bearing females may not be possessed.
Can nonresidents recreationally lobster in Rhode Island?
Rhode Island non-commercial lobster pot and diver licenses are available to Rhode Island residents only.
Species + water + fishing mode + legal size + current season
That five-part check is safer than memorizing a single Rhode Island bag-limit graphic. Shore exceptions, charter limits, closed areas, vessel caps and the three-mile state boundary can all change the answer.
Regulation research reviewed . RIDEM’s live recreational minimum-size and possession page is marked revised August 14, 2026.