New England Saltwater Fishing

New England states that border the Atlantic include Connecticut, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Maine.

photo credit: USCG

Striped Bass

Striped bass have several regional names. Known as striped bass, stripers, linesides, rockfish and other names, this fish is highly sought after as a recreational fish, as a commercial species and is even grown in aquaculture operations. Striped bass are fished for extensively in New England and are caught along the shore, around structure and by fishing baits and lures along rips, shoals and other structure.

Weakfish

Weakfish are beautiful fish. Typically, fish have a dark olive back, iridescent blue and copper sides and a silvery white belly. Other identifying features are yellow fins, large canine teeth in the upper jaw and dark spots on the upper part of the body, sometimes forming diagonal lines. Most adult weakfish range from 12 to 18 inches but can grow up to to 3 feet long and weigh 4-18 pounds.

The name "weakfish" comes from the fish's fragile mouth, which tears easily when hooked. Weakfish are members of the drum family, which includes spot, red drum, back drum and Atlantic croaker. This family of fish make a drumming or croaking sound by vibrating its swim bladder using special muscles.

Bluefish

Bluefish are exciting to catch and are highly sought after in New England. They are found all along the coast, sometimes in large schools. The fish are voracious feeders and are known for their sharp teeth and ability to demolish even the strongest tackle.

Atlantic Cod

Atlantic cod are caught along the Northeast coast of North American and in many parts of the North Atlantic Ocean. Cod are cool water fish. They have a delicious mild white flesh and are well suited for a variety of cooking methods.

Atlantic Haddock

Haddock is mild white fish known for its excellent table quality. Haddock is a great source of low-fat protein and is high in magnesium and selenium. Fresh haddock has a fine white flesh and can be cooked in the same ways as cod. Small fresh haddock and cod fillets are often sold as scrod in New England The term refers to the size of the fish which have a variety of sizes, i.e. scrod, markets, and cows.

Tautog

Tautog are stout bodied fish with a blunt nose. They are equipped with a thick-lipped mouth that has large conical teeth in front and flat crushing teeth in back. The single dorsal fin possesses a series of stiff, sharp spines, originates over the gill slit and runs back nearly to the tail. The color of the tautog's body ranges from dark green to black, with these shades mottling a lighter background color of the sides. The belly is only slightly lighter than the sides.

Tautog are very slow growing. Large tautog caught with hook-and-line sometimes exceed 20 pounds although typically anglers may catch fish that weigh 2 to 10 pounds. Males typically grow faster and live longer than females. The maximum age for males appears to be about 35 years.

Fluke (Summer Flounder)

Fluke, also known as summer flounder are primarily found around inlets, jetties and dropoffs. They feed on a variety of small fish and crustaceans. Fluke are an important commercial and recreational fish throughout New England.

Winter Flounder

Winter flounder are an important commercial and recreational fish throughout New England and the Mid-Atlantic. Inshore habitat degradation and overfishing have contributed to serious stock declines throughout the species' range, leaving both fisheries at a fraction of their historical numbers.

Yellowtail Flounder

Yellowtail flounder reach maximum sizes of roughly 22 inches total length and 2.2 pounds in weight. They are found along the Atlantic coast of North America from the Gulf of St. Lawrence, Labrador, and Newfoundland to the Chesapeake Bay. Yellowtail flounder prefer sandy bottoms in waters between 130 and 230 feet.

Butterfish

Butterfish (Peprilus triacanthus), are small, bony fish with a thin oval body. Butterfish are fast-growing and live only a few years. They reach lengths of up to 9-10 inches. Butterfish congregate in schools and are commonly found from Southern New England to Cape Hatteras. In their northern range they are found along the 100-fathom contour of the continental shelf from late autumn through early spring. As waters warm, they move inshore and northward, then back into deeper waters when fall arrives. Butterfish are regulated under the Atlantic Mackerel, Squid, and Butterfish Fishery Management Plan (FMP).

Tuesday, November 24, 2009 - Governor Deval Patrick has signed legislation creating a state saltwater fishing registry that requires saltwater anglers to purchase permits to fish in coastal waters starting in 2011, with proceeds benefitting state marine fisheries programs that improve public access and resource management.

"Many stakeholders have worked together to protect the state's interests in designing this legislation," Governor Patrick said. "I thank the legislators and recreational fishing organizations who crafted this measure and were instrumental in its passage."

"By signing this legislation into law, Governor Patrick demonstrates the Commonwealth's commitment to collecting recreational fishing data in order to comply with federal requirements, which will lead to better management of fisheries off our coast," said Secretary of Energy and Environmental Affairs Ian Bowles.

In 2006, the United States Congress amended the Magnuson-Stevens Act to require a national recreational saltwater fishing registry. Congress charged the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) with creating the registry, which scientists could access to improve recreational fishing data and fisheries management. Under the federal system, saltwater anglers must register online or by telephone in 2010. Beginning in 2011, federal registration will cost from $15 to $25 in states that do not have a saltwater permit systems.

The federal legislation included a provision allowing states to create their own saltwater fishing permit systems in lieu of participation in the federal registry. The law signed by Governor Patrick enables the Department of Fish and Game's Division of Marine Fisheries (DMF) to require saltwater anglers to purchase a saltwater fishing permit beginning in January 2011.

Under the new state law, the Department of Fish and Game (DFG) will propose an individual permit fee of $10, with revenue from permit sales deposited into a state Marine Recreational Fisheries Development Fund administered by DMF in consultation with a newly created Marine Recreational Fisheries Development Panel. The revenue will pay for data collection and administration of the permitting program, programs to improve public access for recreational fishing, and better fisheries management.

"The Massachusetts Department of Fish and Game and its Division of Marine Fisheries look forward to designing a lower cost permit system that will improve fisheries data and provide local benefits to Massachusetts recreational fishermen," said DFG Commissioner Mary Griffin.

"I am pleased that the salt water permit legislation approved by the Legislature and signed by Governor Patrick is reflective of the deliberations of the committee that worked so hard to make sure that the permit will benefit Massachusetts' salt water anglers," said Chuck Casella, chairman of the Recreational Registry Steering Committee.

The Department of Fish and Game (DFG) is responsible for promoting the enjoyment and conservation of the Commonwealth's natural resources. DFG carries out this mission through land preservation and wildlife habitat management, management of inland and marine fish and game species, and enforcement of the Massachusetts Endangered Species Act. DFG promotes enjoyment of the Massachusetts environment through outdoor skills workshops, fishing festivals and other educational programs, and by enhancing access to the Commonwealth's lakes and ponds.

Game Fish of the Saltwater Flats and Shallows

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