Atlantic Butterfish
Peprilus triacanthus
Also called Dollarfish.
How to tell it
A round silver coin of a fish with no ventral fins at all; slippery to hold.
Often mistaken for
One fish that gets called Atlantic butterfish, and what gives it away.
- Atlantic bumper: Has ventral fins and a black tail-base saddle. Tell them apart
Rules for
Every state
| State | Size | Bag | Season | Today |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DelawareFederal rule (Mid-Atlantic federal waters) | No size limit | No bag limit | Open all yearNOAA GARFO / MAFMC 2026 · checked | Open |
| MarylandFederal rule (Mid-Atlantic federal waters) | No size limit | No bag limit | Open all yearNOAA GARFO / MAFMC 2026 · checked | Open |
| New JerseyFederal rule (Mid-Atlantic federal waters) | No size limit | No bag limit | Open all yearNOAA GARFO / MAFMC 2026 · checked | Open |
| New YorkFederal rule (Mid-Atlantic federal waters) | No size limit | No bag limit | Open all yearNOAA GARFO / MAFMC 2026 · checked | Open |
| VirginiaFederal rule (Mid-Atlantic federal waters) | No size limit | No bag limit | Open all yearNOAA GARFO / MAFMC 2026 · checked | Open |
Not specifically regulated in Alabama, Connecticut, Florida (Atlantic), Florida (Gulf), Georgia, Louisiana, Maine, Massachusetts, Mississippi, New Hampshire, North Carolina, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Texas: each state’s rule for unlisted species applies there (on its page).
On the table
Excellent fried whole — a delicacy in Japan.
In the app
Point the camera at an Atlantic butterfish and the name appears before you take the picture, with these rules for the water you’re standing in. No signal needed, and every catch goes in the log.
Get the appQuestions anglers ask about Atlantic butterfish
How do you tell Atlantic butterfish from Atlantic bumper?
Atlantic Butterfish: A round silver coin of a fish with no ventral fins at all; slippery to hold. Atlantic bumper: has ventral fins and a black tail-base saddle.