Recreational anglers across New England are gearing up for the highly anticipated return of the Atlantic cod fishery. Under the federal Northeast multispecies groundfish species program, the recreational fishing season for Gulf of Maine cod will officially reopen on September 1 and run through October 31. This limited, two-month window offers recreational participants a structured opportunity to target one of the region’s most iconic groundfish species.
To ensure sustainable harvest levels during this open season, all participating anglers must observe a strict minimum size limit of 23 inches for Gulf of Maine cod. Furthermore, the daily possession limit remains highly conservative to support ongoing stock rebuilding efforts. Private anglers and those fishing aboard party or charter vessels are restricted to a daily limit of one fish per person.
Anglers who wish to take advantage of this fall codfish season should pay close attention to boundary and transit regulations, particularly regarding the neighboring Southern New England Stock Area. While the direct harvest and retention of cod in the Southern New England Stock Area is strictly prohibited, regulatory frameworks provide a transit exemption for traveling fishermen. Vessels that are actively in possession of cod landed in the permitted area, are legally permitted to transit through the Southern New England Stock Area, provided that all retained fish meet the specified one-fish possession limit, the 23-inch minimum size requirement, and were harvested during the legal open season within the authorized stock area.
Anglers are encouraged to familiarize themselves with all local boundary lines and ensure their measuring equipment is accurate before hitting the water this fall.
