(1)
Definitions.
Atlantic Bonito means that species of
fish known as Sarda sarda
Atlantic mackerel means that species
known as Scomber scombrus.
Commercial Fisher means any person
fishing under the authority of a commercial fishing permit issued in accordance
with M.G.L. c. 130, § 80 and
322
CMR 7.01(2):
Commercial Fishing Permits and (4): Special
Permits.
False Albacore means that species
known as Euthynnus alletteratus
Sand Lance means those species of fish
known as American sand lance (Ammodytes americanus) and
Northern sand lance (Ammodytes dubius).
Weakfish means that species of fish
known as Cynoscion regalis.
White Perch means that species of fish
known as Morone americana.
(2)
Sand Lance. It
shall be unlawful for any person to retain, possess or land more than 200
pounds of sand lance per calendar day or trip, whichever period of time is
longer.
(3)
Weakfish. It shall be unlawful for:
(a) any person to retain, possess or land
weakfish less than 16 inches in total length.
(b) recreational fishermen to retain, possess
or land more than one weakfish per calendar day.
(c) commercial fishermen to retain, possess
or land more than 100 pounds of weakfish per calendar day or trip, whichever
period is longer.
(4)
White Perch.
(a) It
shall be unlawful for any person to retain, possess, or land white perch less
than eight inches in total length.
(b) It shall be unlawful for any person to
retain, possess, or land more than 25 white perch at any time.
(c) These limits apply only to white perch
harvested in coastal waters as defined by M.G.L. c. 130, § 1.
(5)
False Albacore and
Atlantic Bonito. It shall be unlawful for any person to:
(a) Retain, possess, or land a false albacore
or Atlantic bonito less than 16 inches total length.
(b) Retain, possess, or land more than five
false albacore or Atlantic bonito in aggregate.
(c)
Exception. The
size and possession limits at
322
CMR
6.42(5) shall not apply
to commercial fishers who incidentally catch and retain false albacore and
Atlantic bonito in fish weirs authorized pursuant to M.G.L. c. 130, § 29
and 322 CMR
4.03:
Fish
Weir Buffer Zone and
322
CMR
7.01(4):
Special
Permits, and when using mechanized jigs, including hand gurdy gear, to
commercially fish for Atlantic mackerel.
Notes
Amended, Mass Register
Issue 1259, eff. 4/25/2014.
Amended by
Mass
Register Issue 1265, eff. 7/18/2014.
Amended by
Mass
Register Issue 1296, eff. 6/5/2015.
Amended by
Mass
Register Issue 1324, eff.
10/21/2016.
Amended by
Mass
Register Issue 1336, eff.
4/7/2017.
Amended by
Mass
Register Issue 1363, eff.
4/20/2018.
Amended by
Mass
Register Issue 1391, eff.
5/17/2019.
Amended by
Mass
Register Issue 1405, eff.
11/29/2019.
Amended by
Mass
Register Issue 1416, eff.
5/1/2020.
Amended by
Mass
Register Issue 1445, eff.
6/11/2021.
Amended by
Mass
Register Issue 1469, eff.
5/13/2022.
Amended by
Mass
Register Issue 1491, eff.
1/20/2023.
Amended by
Mass
Register Issue 1500, eff.
7/21/2023.
Amended by
Mass
Register Issue 1547, eff.
5/9/2025.
