As we move toward April and the start of another fishing season, New York’s saltwater anglers are beginning to get a clearer picture of what the 2026 regulatory landscape will look like. During a recent meeting of the New York Marine Resources Advisory Council (MRAC), state fisheries managers reviewed several species and outlined the regulations now being advanced through emergency rulemaking for the upcoming season.
Among the more notable changes discussed was an adjustment to black sea bass regulations. For the 2026 season, the minimum size will be set at 16 inches, with a two-tier bag structure that anglers have become familiar with in recent years. The fishery will open May 16 through August 31 with a three-fish daily bag limit, followed by a fall season running September 1 through December 31 with a six-fish bag limit.
For anglers fishing the waters around Long Island, the mid-May opener should line up well with the seasonal return of sea bass to nearshore structure. By that point, fish are typically moving back onto local wrecks, reefs and rocky bottom after wintering offshore in deeper water. In many seasons anglers report seeing sea bass staged on shallow structure weeks before the opener, so the May 16 start should allow fishermen to take advantage of that early push of fish settling back onto the grounds.
Another adjustment expected for the upcoming season involves the Atlantic bluefish fishery. Recreational anglers will see the daily bag limit increase to five fish per person, while party and charter boat passengers will be allowed seven fish per person. Bluefish fishing in New York remains open year-round, but the revised bag limits will give anglers a little more flexibility when the spring and summer runs arrive.
Bluefish have long been one of the most accessible species in the Northeast fishery. From the arrival of springtime choppers to the summertime schools of cocktail blues that flood the bays and harbors, they provide steady action for anglers fishing both from shore and boat. Bag limits were tightened several years ago as part of coastwide rebuilding efforts, but recent stock assessments have allowed managers to ease those restrictions slightly heading into the 2026 season.
Not all of the regulatory news pointed toward expanded opportunity. Officials also indicated that Atlantic cod will likely remain closed to recreational possession in New York state waters for the 2026 season. Cod fishing was once a winter staple in the New York Bight, but stock conditions throughout much of the Northeast continue to raise concerns among fisheries managers. As a result, regulators remain cautious when it comes to reopening the fishery in state waters.
Meanwhile, anglers targeting two of the region’s most popular summer species—summer flounder (fluke) and scup (porgy)—should see little change heading into the coming year. Both fisheries are expected to remain status quo for the 2026 season, continuing under the same general framework anglers fished under last year.
For summer flounder, the season will again feature a two-tier size structure with a consistent bag limit. The fishery will open May 4 through August 1 with a 19-inch minimum size and a three-fish daily limit. Beginning August 2 through October 15, the minimum size will increase slightly to 19.5 inches, while the three-fish bag limit remains unchanged. This structure is designed to maintain overall harvest levels while still allowing anglers to take advantage of the early and mid-summer fluke fishery in both the bays and the ocean.
The scup (porgy) fishery will also remain unchanged for the upcoming season, continuing under the familiar regulations anglers have fished under in recent years. Rules vary slightly depending on whether anglers are fishing from shore or from a vessel.
For shore-based anglers, the minimum size will remain 9.5 inches, with a 30-fish daily bag limit from May 1 through December 31.
For anglers fishing from private vessels, the minimum size will be 11 inches, with a 30-fish daily limit running May 1 through December 31.
Anglers fishing aboard party and charter boats will also fish under an 11-inch minimum size, but with a tiered bag limit structure throughout the season. The limit will be 30 fish per person from May 1 through August 31, 40 fish per person from September 1 through October 31, and 30 fish per person from November 1 through December 31.
Scup continue to be one of the most dependable fisheries in New York waters, providing steady action across Long Island Sound, the bays, and nearshore ocean structure for much of the year.
While the MRAC discussions offer a solid preview of what anglers can expect, the regulations still move through the state’s formal rulemaking process before becoming official. Emergency rulemaking allows the state to finalize seasonal regulations in time for the start of the fishing season so anglers, tackle shops and the for-hire fleet have clear guidance before the action begins.
With April just around the corner, many anglers are already preparing their boats, organizing tackle and watching water temperatures begin to creep upward. Soon enough the early spring fisheries will be underway, and another season will begin unfolding across New York’s coastal waters.
