Commercial Fishing Regulations
Days-At-Sea (DAS)
Each fishing year, limited access monkfish vessels are allocated 35 Monkfish DAS for use in the Northern Fishery Management Area (NFMA) and 37 Monkfish DAS for use in the Southern Fishery Management Area (SFMA). These allocations are reduced by 0.4 DAS in each area; the reduction is put towards the Monkfish Research Set-Aside program. Also, no limited access monkfish vessel may use more than 46 of the annually allocated DAS in a given fishing year.
In addition to the DAS allocated annually, each permit holder may also carry-over up to four unused monkfish DAS from the previous year, which can be applied to either area (Northern Fishery Management Area [NFMA] or SFMA). However, DAS that are not usable because they are tied to a Northeast (NE) multispecies DAS may not be carried over. Carryover DAS do not count towards the annual 46 DAS restriction. For more information on DAS, please see the supplemental info page.
Possession Limits and Fish Size Requirements
Minimum fish size: 17 inches total length (whole fish), or 11 inches tail length (tails only) for both commercial and recreational anglers.
Maximum fish size: None
Possession Limits: Monkfish possession limits vary by permit category, area, gear, and DAS use. The specifics of the catch limits for limited access permit holders and incidental catch limits are outlined in the tables below. When viewing the tables, please be aware of the footnotes that are outlined below.
Possession Limits While on a Monkfish DAS
Northern Fishery Management Area
Permit CategoryA or CB or DLanding Limit1 in tail weight per DAS1,250 lb (3,638 lb whole weight)600 lb (1,746 lb whole weight)
Southern Fishery Management Area
Permit CategoryA or CB, D, or HFLanding Limit1 in tail weight per DAS700 lb (2,037 lb whole weight)575 lb (1,673 lb whole weight)1,600 lb (4,656 lb whole weight)
Possession Limits While on Both a Monkfish DAS and a Northeast Multispecies A DAS
Northern Fishery Management Area
Permit CategoryC or DLanding Limit1Unlimited
Southern Fishery Management Area
Permit CategoryCDLanding Limit1 in tail weight per DAS700 lb (2,037 lb whole weight)575 lb (1,673 lb whole weight)
Incidental Possession Limits While on a Northeast Multispecies DAS
AreaNFMASFMAPermit CategoryCDE, F, or HE or HC, D, or HGearAll GearNon-TrawlTrawlLanding Limit1 in tail weight per DAS900 lb (2,619 lb whole weight)750 lb (2,183 lb whole weight)Up to 25% (converted to tail weight1) of the total weight of fish on board, not to exceed 300 lb50 lb (146 lb whole weight)300 lb (873 lb whole weight)
Note: If you are fishing under a Northeast multispecies DAS, you may have additional possession restrictions based on the specific fishery in which you are participating (e.g., Regular B-DAS Program or the U.S./Canada Management Areas).
Incidental Possession Limits While on a Scallop DAS or in the Sea Scallop Access Area Program
Sea Scallop Access Area DAS Program2Scallop DAS ProgramAreaNFMA and SFMAGearAll GearLanding Limit1 in tail weight per DAS300 lb (873 lb whole weight)
Incidental Possession Limits for Vessels not under a DAS Program
ProgramAreaGearLanding Limit1 (in tail weight per trip unless stated otherwise)No DASGulf of Maine (GOM) or Georges Bank (GB) Regulated Mesh Areas (RMAs)Minimum mesh size or larger. See “Gear” or “Exempted Fisheries” tabs for more information Up to 5% (converted to tail weight1) of the total weight of fish on boardSouthern New England (SNE) RMA east of the Mid-Atlantic (MA) Exemption Area boundary at 72° 30′ W longitudeUp to 5% (converted to tail weight1) of the total weight of fish on board, not to exceed 50 lb (146 lb whole weight) per day3, up to 150 lb (437 lb whole weight) per tripMA Exemption area west of the MA Exemption Area boundaryUp to 5% (converted to tail weight1) of the total weight of fish on board, not to exceed 450 lb (1,310 lb whole weight) per tripNFMA or SFMAMesh smaller than the minimum (See tabs mentioned above)50 lb (146 lb whole weight) per day3, or partial day, not to exceed 150 lb (437 lb whole weight) per tripRod and reel or handlines onlyNo DAS and fishing under a skate bait Letter of AuthorizationSNE RMAMinimum mesh size or larger (See tabs mentioned above)Up to 5% (converted to tail weight1) of the total weight of fish on board, not to exceed 50 lb (146 lb whole weight) per day3, up to 150 lb (437 lb whole weight) per trip
Incidental Possession Limits for Vessels not under a DAS Program that also Hold Permits in Other Fisheries/Special Cases
Additional Permit/ ConditionAreaGearLanding Limit1 (in tail weight per trip unless stated otherwise)NE Multispecies Small Vessel Permit4NFMA or SFMAAll Gear50 lb (146 lb whole weight) per day3, or partial day, not to exceed 150 lb (437 lb whole weight) per tripSurfclam or Ocean Quahog PermitHydraulic clam dredge or mahogany quahog dredgeSea Scallop PermitScallop dredge only (except scallop dredge exemption areas)5If in a scallop dredge exemption area, 50 lb (146 lb whole weight) per trip. Otherwise, 50 lb per day3, or partial day, not to exceed 150 lb (437 lb whole weight) per trip
1 Any prorated combination of tail weight and whole weight may also be landed based on the conversion factor for tail weight to whole weight of 2.91 (tail weight x 2.91 = whole weight; or whole weight/2.91 = tail weight). A vessel may also possess or land monkfish livers up to 25% of the tail weight of monkfish, or up to 10% of the whole weight of monkfish, per trip. If a vessel possesses or lands both monkfish tails and whole monkfish, the vessel may land livers up to 10% of the whole weight of monkfish per trip using the following weight ratio: (0.10) x [(tail weight x 2.91) + (whole fish x 1)]. Vessels may also land monkfish heads separate from tails, provided the total head weight does not exceed 1.91 times the total weight of tails onboard.
2 For vessels with limited access sea scallop permits fishing in an established Sea Scallop Access Area, the monkfish possession limit is per day fished inside the access area (as determined by VMS), not including steaming time.
3 A day is the 24-hour period that begins when the vessel leaves port or, if the vessel has an operational VMS, when the vessel crosses the VMS demarcation line when leaving port and ends when the vessel returns to port or, if the vessel has an operational VMS, crosses the VMS demarcation line on its return to port.
4 These vessels are exempt from a NE multispecies DAS provided they meet the vessel size requirements applicable to the limited access NE multispecies small vessel permit category (vessels < 30 ft in length).
5 In order to possess monkfish in the scallop dredge exemption areas, small dredges must be used (combined width not to exceed 10.5 ft).
