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2013 Rhode Island Marine Recreational FISHING REGULATIONS A Saltwater Fishing License is required to fish in Rhode Island waters. For more information GO HERE To obtain your license from RIDEM online CLICK HERE These are the Rhode Island recreational size and bag limits of common saltwater species. Bookmark this page for future updates and revisions. Species Bag limit / Minimum Size American Eel 50 fish/day - 6 inch minimum (no closed season) Black Sea Bass 13 inch minimum June 15 to Aug 31 - 3 fish/day Sept 1 to Dec 31 - 4 fish/day Bluefish 15 fish/day - No minimum size (no closed season) Cod 10 fish/day - 22 inch minimum (no closed season) Note: Fillet length is 14" minimum with 2 sq. inches of skin Haddock No bag limit / 19 inch minimum no bag limit (no closed season) Menhaden (Bunker, Pogies) *see special section below no minimum size 200 per vessel per day no closed season Pollock No bag limit / 19 inch minimum (no closed season) Scup Shore and Private Boat 30 fish/day - 10 inch minimum May 1 to Dec 31 Special Shore - 1 year test Fishing from shore (only at) India Point Park, Providence, RI; or at Conimicut Park, Warwick, RI; or at Stone Bridge, Tiverton, RI 30 scup/day - 9 inch minimum May 1 through Dec 31 Party and Charter Boat 10 inch minimum May 1 - Aug 31: 30 fish/person/day Sept 1 - Oct 31: 40 fish/person/day Nov 1 - Dec 31: 30 fish/person/day Striped Bass 2 fish./day - 28 inch minimum (no closed season) Summer Flounder (Fluke) 8 fish/day - 18 inch minimum May 1 to Dec 31 Tautog 16 inch minimum SPLIT SEASON April 15 to May 31 (3 fish/day) June 1 - July 31 (closed) August 1 to October 19 (3 fish/day) October 20 to December 31 (6 fish/day) In addition there is a 10 fish boat maximum per day   Weakfish (squeteague) 1 fish/day - 16 inch minimum (no closed season) Winter Flounder Special note: All of Narragansett Bay, and in Potter Pond, Point Judith Pond and the Harbor of Refuge is closed. (section 11.19, RI fish regs) 2 fish - 12 inch minimum Season: 1 April 28 to May 27 Season: 2 September 29 to October 28

RI Marine Recreational Fishing Regulations and Limits

The changes to the Rhode Island recreational 2012  regulations have been made.
Here is a synopsis of what has changed:

RI 2012 Fluke Regs (summer flounder)
Bag limit will increase by one fish, now 8 per day
Fluke minimum size: 18.5"
RI Fluke Fishing Season Open May 1 to Dec 31

RI 2012 Scup Regs - individual anglers
bag limit will double & 23 days added to season Scup Fishing Season
Scup minimum size: 10.5"
RI Scup Season open May 1 to Dec 31
20 Scup  a day

RI Scup Regs - party/charter boats
size: 11"
May 1-Aug 31..11”...20 fish
Sep 1-Oct 31...11”...40 fish
Nov 1-Dec 31...11”...20 fish

RI Black sea bass Regs
Black Sea Bass bag limit will increase and 3 weeks added to Sea Bass Season
Black Sea Bass minimum size: 13"
15 Black Sea Bass a day
RI Black Sea Bass Season June 15 to Dec 31

DEM REVISES REGULATIONS SO THAT FELT-SOLED FOOT GEAR IS PROHIBITED ONLY IN STATE FRESHWATERS

PROVIDENCE - The Department of Environmental Management has filed a technical revision to the 2012-2013 Freshwater Fishing Regulations related to the use of felt-soled foot gear in State waters.

DEM's Division of Fish and Wildlife has modified the regulation prohibiting the use of foot gear with external felt soles so that it applies only to the fresh waters of the State. The technical revision becomes effective immediately. The revision was made once it became apparent that an all-waters ban on the use of felt-soled foot gear was not intended by the Department in adopting this regulation.

"DEM supports regulations that add a strong measure of prevention to the establishment and spread of exotic invasive species," noted DEM Director Janet Coit. "The Department will continue to work in partnership with Rhode Island saltwater anglers and other constituency groups to address the problems caused by invasive species and develop measures to protect our state's waters and the native plant and animal communities which inhabit them."

The ban on felt-soled foot gear was initiated to prevent the establishment and spread of invasive species in the state's waters. The transportation of some of these organisms has been attributed to felt-soled foot gear. Felt-soled wading gear can harbor microscopic forms of the aquatic invasive organisms, which can remain viable for weeks in the damp felt. Aquatic invasive species, plant or animal, can present a great risk of permanent damage to aquatic ecosystems.

Director Coit also noted that there is a need to continue to raise public awareness about invasive species and encourage everyone that recreates in or otherwise utilizes the State's waters to adopt best management practices to prevent the inadvertent spread of aquatic invasive species. Such practices include the inspection and sanitation of all equipment and clothing that comes into contact with ambient waters.