The Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Council has finalized recreational management measures for the 2026 and 2027 black sea bass seasons, authorizing a coastwide harvest liberalization of up to 20%, depending of course on the region in which you’re fishing. Under the approved 2026 framework, the Northern Region (MA, RI, CT, and NY) is granted a liberalization not to exceed 27%, while the Southern Region (DE, MD, VA, and NC) is allocated a 16.5% increase.
New Jersey has been assigned the remaining liberalization balance, which anglers will know for sure what that comprises on Thursday, March 26 when the New Jersey Marine Fisheries Council meets at 5 p.m. at the Stafford Township Firehouse at 133 Stafford Avenue in Manahawkin. The March meeting – where black sea bass and fluke are typically finalized – is usually held early in the month, but due to the inner-workings of the ASMFC this particular meeting was pushed back to March 26 in order to get all the options squared away.
Summer flounder remains the same as in 2025, with an open season from May 4 to September 25 with an 18-inch minimum size and three fish bag (special NJ management zone regs include 17-inch minimum and three fish bag west of COLREGS on Delaware Bay and 16-inch minimum and two per angler at IBSP).
As a reminder, Atlantic Coastal states are also able to liberalize bluefish regulations this season, increasing the private angler bag limit to five fish, seven fish for those on for-hire boats. Any and all regulatory updates for the 2026 season will be delivered to the public at the Stafford Township Firehouse on Thursday, March 26. For details call 609-292-7794.
While Southern Region (DE, MD, VA, and NC) black sea bass limits are currently in the works, the Northern Region (MA, RI, CT, and NY) recreational black sea bass regulations for 2026 look to be as follows:
- Rhode Island: Private and shore anglers will see a 16-inch minimum size with a three-fish limit from May 16 through December 31. Anglers on For-Hire boats will transition from a four-fish limit (May 16 to August 31) to a six-fish limit starting September 1 that runs through the end of the year.
- Connecticut: Shore and private boaters will benefit from a 15.5-inch minimum size, with a four-fish limit (May 16 to November 25). The for-hire fleet will fish under the same regs until September 1 when they’ll see a bag limit increase to six fish, through December 31.
- Massachusetts: Both for-hire and recreational fishermen will fish under the same rules; a 16-inch minimum size, with a four fish bag limit from May 16 to August 31 and a two fish limit from September 1 to October 14.
- New York: All modes will fish under the same split regulations: a 16-inch minimum size, with a four-fish limit from May 16 to August 31, as of September 1 they’ll enjoy a bag limit increase to six fish, through December 31.
Add the March 26, 2026 New Jersey Marine Fisheries Council Meeting to your calendar here.