Atlantic Cod regulations
Massachusetts · Curated reference from cited public sources · listings, not permission to fish or retain a catch · This selected Massachusetts saltwater reference subset is not a complete rulebook.
SPECIES LINKS
FIELD GUIDE
Gadus morhua
speciesREVIEWEDA fish of the family Gadidae, widely consumed by humans and commercially known as cod or codling. In the western Atlantic, distributed north of Cape Hatteras and around Greenland and the Labrador Sea.
HABITAT
Coastal shoreline down to 300 m (1,000 ft) along the continental shelf.
SIZE
typically 100–140 cm (40–55 in)
IDENTIFY
Atlantic cod are heavy-bodied, with a large head, blunt snout, a barbel under the lower jaw, speckling, and a clear lateral line. Use the barbel and full profile together.
LOOK-ALIKES
Look for cod's lower-jaw barbel and speckling, then compare with the haddock thumbprint described in the NOAA haddock profile before confirming.
WHERE
In the Northwest Atlantic, cod range from Greenland to Cape Hatteras, North Carolina. They live near the ocean floor along rocky slopes and ledges, preferring cold water at around 30 to 500 feet on bottoms with coarse sediments.
WHEN
NOAA describes cod spawning near the ocean floor from winter to early spring. Seasonal presence, stock boundary, and management measures are not interchangeable.
TECHNIQUE
Cod are top predators in the bottom ocean community, feeding on a variety of invertebrates and fish. Cod are commonly harvested by anglers using lures or bait. Treat this as a technique category only and check current gear and retention rules.
HANDLE
For release, NOAA recommends not fighting a fish to exhaustion, dehooking in the water whenever possible, minimizing air exposure, handling the fish as little as possible with wet hands, and avoiding its eyes and gills.
CONSERVATION
NOAA says Atlantic cod populations are below target levels and are managed under a rebuilding plan that allows limited harvest. That status is not a current legal determination for a trip.
RULES
Use the current groundfish listing for the jurisdiction, stock area, water boundary, method, vessel, season, and size or possession measure. This page does not determine legal applicability.
SOURCE
FACT-CHECKED 2026-09-03 · REVIEWER fact-check-lane
TEXT CONDENSED FROM WIKIPEDIA, AVAILABLE UNDER CC BY-SA 4.0
Atlantic Cod identification is educational; species identification does not establish legal applicability for Massachusetts.
- LAST LISTED/REFERENCE LIMITS
- 1 fish during the listed season. · minimum 23 inches
- LISTED SEASON WINDOWS
- Sep 1, 2026 through Oct 31, 2026 · 1 fish listed
- APPLICABILITY
- Western Gulf of Maine state waters; conservation closures and federal-water exceptions apply.
- SOURCE AUTHORITY
- Massachusetts DMF recreational finfish table and groundfish notes; 322 CMR is the official code.
UPDATED April 28, 2026 · CHECKED Aug 10, 2026, 12:00 PM UTC · EFFECTIVE YEAR 2026
Massachusetts DMF source table ↗The DMF page is an unofficial summary; 322 CMR is the official code.
LAUNCH SITES
Curated launch sites in Massachusetts (5)
Gulf of Maine · MARINA
Gulf of Maine · DOCK
Gulf of Maine · MARINA
Gulf of Maine · MARINA
Gulf of Maine · MARINA
This reference does not grant permission to fish or retain a catch. Location, method, vessel, species identification, and emergency closures can change what applies. Verify the applicable official rules.