Monkfish Regulations in Maine (2026)

Where

Statewide

Size limit

Minimum fish sizes (total length): Monkfish ……………………………………………………………….17 (43.2 cm) Monkfish. Monkfish tails may be removed from the fish but must measure at least 11 inches (27.9 cm).

Bag limit

Monkfish. It shall be unlawful for persons who do not possess a federal groundfish permit to fish for, take, possess or land more than150 lbs (68 kg) of monkfish tails or 498 lbs (225.9 kg) of whole monkfish taken from Maine’s territorial waters per vessel per trip.

• Otter and beam trawl. The minimum mesh size for any otter or beam trawl net on a vessel, or used by any vessel fishing in Maine's territorial waters, shall be 6 inches diamond mesh or 6.5 inches square mesh in the body and wings, and 6.5 inches diamond mesh or square mesh in the cod end.
• Gill net. Sink gillnets must have a mesh size of at least 6.5 inches and be labeled with the owner’s commercial fishing license number. Gillnet fishermen may not fish more than fifty sink gillnets at one time. Sink gillnets with mesh measuring less than 6.5 inches are illegal and subject to seizure.
• Hooks. The use of hooks on any commercial fishing vessel engaged in tub trawling or long lining shall be 12/0 or greater circle hooks and limited to 250 in number except as provided for Atlantic Halibut in this chapter.
• Unless otherwise specified under this chapter, the minimum fish size applies to the whole fish or any part of a fish while possessed on board a vessel and to whole fish only, after landing. Fish or parts of fish must have skin on while possessed on board a vessel and at the time of landing in order to meet minimum size requirements. “Skin on” means the entire portion of the skin normally attached to the portion of the fish or fish parts possessed.

Official source