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Rhode Island Saltwater Fishing Regulations (2026)

Recreational size limits, bag limits and seasons for 26 saltwater species in Rhode Island, from the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management, Division of Marine Fisheries. Last checked November 7, 2026. Where a species has several rules (by area or water), the table shows the first; open the species for all of them.

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Official Rhode Island regulations · Saltwater fishing license

Inshore

SpeciesSize limitBag limitSeason
American eel9"25 eels/person/day; 50 eels/vsl/day for licensed party/charter vessels1/1 - 12/31
Striped Bass28"-<31"1 fish/person/day1/1 - 12/31
Weakfish (Squeteague)16"1 fish/person/day1/1 - 12/31

Reef fish

SpeciesSize limitBag limitSeason
Black Sea Bass (2 rules)16"3 fish/person/day5/16 - 12/31
Scup (3 rules)9.5"30 fish/person/day5/1 - 12/31
Tautog (2 rules)16 in minimum4/1 - 5/31: 3 fish/person/day; 6/1 - 7/31: CLOSED; 8/1 - 10/14: 3…4/1 - 5/31; 6/1 - 7/31 (CLOSED); 8/1 - 10/14; 10/15 - 12/31

Offshore & pelagic

SpeciesSize limitBag limitSeason
Bluefish (2 rules)No minimum5 fish/person/day1/1 - 12/31

Groundfish & flatfish

SpeciesSize limitBag limitSeason
American plaice (dab)14"No limit1/1 - 12/31
CodNAProhibited1/1 - 12/31
Haddock18"No limit1/1 - 12/31
Monkfish (Goosefish)17" whole; 11" tail50 lbs tails/day or 166 lbs whole/day1/1 - 12/31
Pollock19"No limit1/1 - 12/31
SkateNo minimum10 fish/person/day1/1 - 12/31
Summer Flounder (Fluke)19"6 fish/person/day4/1 - 12/31
Winter Flounder (Blackback)12"2 fish/person/day3/1 - 12/31
Witch Flounder (Gray Sole)14"No limit1/1 - 12/31
Yellowtail Flounder13"No limit1/1 - 12/31

Crabs, lobster & shrimp

SpeciesSize limitBag limitSeason
American Lobster3.375 in minimumRecreational Diver License allows the individual to dive and collect…—
Blue Crab5 in minimum25 per person—
Horseshoe Crab—5 per personNo person shall harvest horseshoe crabs from waters or shoreline of…

Clams, oysters & scallops

SpeciesSize limitBag limitSeason
Bay Quahaug1" hinge widthNon-Management Area: Resident 1/2 Bushel; Non-Resident 1 Peck…1/1 - 12/31
Channeled and Knobbed Whelk (Conch)2 1/4" shell heightNon-Management Area: Resident 1/2 Bushel; Non-Resident Residents…1/1 - 12/31
Oyster3" longest axisNon-Management Area: Resident 1/2 Bushel; Non-Resident 1 Peck…9/15 - 5/15
ScallopNo seed possessionNon-Management Area: Resident 1 Bushel; Non-Resident Residents Only…1st Sat Nov - 12/31 Dip Nets; 12/1 - 12/31 Dredge
Soft-shelled clam2" longest axisNon-Management Area: Resident 1/2 Bushel; Non-Resident 1 Peck…1/1 - 12/31
Surf Clam5" longest axisNon-Management Area: Resident 1/2 Bushel; Non-Resident 1 Peck…1/1 - 12/31