American lobster Regulations in Massachusetts (2026)

Where

Gulf of Maine Management Area

Size limit

Minimum carapace 3 1/4"; maximum carapace 5"

Bag limit

Bag Limit: 15 lobsters per day. Lobsters may be stored and retrieved in excess of this limit, providing fishing activity is not occurring.

Season

Closed Season: All buoyed trap gear must be removed from the water by November 1 and may not be reset until May 16. Closure may be lifted after April 30 or extended past May 15 based on the observed presence or absence of right whales.

• Escape vent: One rectangular vent 1 15/16 in × 5 3/4 in or two circular vents of 2 7/16 in in diameter
• Trap Limit: With trap endorsement, a maximum of 10-traps.
• Buoy Line Rules: Buoy lines may not be positively buoyant except in bottom 1/3 of buoy line; may not exceed 5/16" diameter; and are to be marked with a 4" red mark midway up the line.
• Night Closure: Hauling trap gear or taking lobsters is prohibited from 1/2 hour after sunset to 1/2 hour before sunrise.
• V-Notched Female Lobsters: Illegal to retain, possess, or land any female lobster that bears a v-notch or indentation located at the base of the tail flipper immediately to the right of the center tail flipper as viewed from the rear of the lobster with the undersized facing down that is at least as deep as 1/8" with or without setal hairs.
• Egg Bearing Female Lobsters: Illegal to retain, possess, or land any lobster that is egg bearing, from which eggs have been forcibly removed, or that has come into contact with any substance capable of removing eggs.

Official source

Where

Outer Cape Cod Management Area

Size limit

Minimum carapace 3 3/8"; maximum carapace N/A

Bag limit

Bag Limit: 15 lobsters per day. Lobsters may be stored and retrieved in excess of this limit, providing fishing activity is not occurring.

Season

Closed Season: All buoyed trap gear must be removed from the water by November 1 and may not be reset until May 16. Closure may be lifted after April 30 or extended past May 15 based on the observed presence or absence of right whales.

• Escape vent: One rectangular vent 2 in. × 5 3/4 in or two circular vents of 2 5/8 in in diameter
• Trap Limit: With trap endorsement, a maximum of 10-traps.
• Buoy Line Rules: Buoy lines may not be positively buoyant except in bottom 1/3 of buoy line; may not exceed 5/16" diameter; and are to be marked with a 4" red mark midway up the line.
• Night Closure: Hauling trap gear or taking lobsters is prohibited from 1/2 hour after sunset to 1/2 hour before sunrise.
• V-Notched Female Lobsters: Illegal to retain, possess, or land any female lobster that bears a v-notch or indentation located at the base of the tail flipper immediately to the right of the center tail flipper as viewed from the rear of the lobster with the undersized facing down that is at least as deep as 1/8" with or without setal hairs.
• Egg Bearing Female Lobsters: Illegal to retain, possess, or land any lobster that is egg bearing, from which eggs have been forcibly removed, or that has come into contact with any substance capable of removing eggs.

Official source

Where

Southern New England Management Area

Size limit

Minimum carapace 3 3/8"; maximum carapace 5 1/4"

Bag limit

Bag Limit: 15 lobsters per day. Lobsters may be stored and retrieved in excess of this limit, providing fishing activity is not occurring.

Season

Closed Season: All buoyed trap gear must be removed from the water by November 1 and may not be reset until May 16. Closure may be lifted after April 30 or extended past May 15 based on the observed presence or absence of right whales.

• Escape vent: One rectangular vent 2 in × 5 3/4 in or two circular vents of 2 5/8 in in diameter
• Trap Limit: With trap endorsement, a maximum of 10-traps.
• Buoy Line Rules: Buoy lines may not be positively buoyant except in bottom 1/3 of buoy line; may not exceed 5/16" diameter; and are to be marked with a 4" red mark midway up the line.
• Night Closure: Hauling trap gear or taking lobsters is prohibited from 1/2 hour after sunset to 1/2 hour before sunrise.
• V-Notched Female Lobsters: Illegal to retain, possess, or land any female lobster that bears a v-notch or indentation located at the base of the tail flipper immediately to the right of the center tail flipper as viewed from the rear of the lobster with the undersized facing down that is at least as deep as 1/8" with or without setal hairs.
• Egg Bearing Female Lobsters: Illegal to retain, possess, or land any lobster that is egg bearing, from which eggs have been forcibly removed, or that has come into contact with any substance capable of removing eggs.

Official source

Where

Federal waters (EEZ) (ocean)

Size limit

Lobster size limits vary by area. Check our Management tab for instructions on how to measure a lobster.

Bag limit

6 per person on board the vessel

Season

All year

• Federal (EEZ) regulation published by NOAA Fisheries GARFO; Massachusetts state-waters rules may differ.
• Allowed by diving. Fishing with pots for lobsters requires a commercial permit. Size is measured by carapace length. No possession of V-notched or egg-bearing lobsters allowed.

Official source