Clearnose Skate
Rostroraja eglanteria
Also called Brier skate.
How to tell it
Translucent panes either side of a pointed snout; thorn row down the back; barred, spotted disc.
Often mistaken for
Two fish that get called clearnose skate, and what gives each one away.
- Winter skate: Northern; rounder wings, pale eye-spots. Tell them apart
- Atlantic stingray: Whip tail with a venomous barb — skates have neither. Tell them apart
Rules for
Every state
| State | Size | Bag | Season | Today |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | No size limit | 3 per person | Open year-roundAL MRD 2026 · checked | Open |
| DelawareFederal rule (Mid-Atlantic federal waters) | No size limit | No bag limit | Open all yearNOAA GARFO / MAFMC 2026 · likely · checked | Open |
| MarylandFederal rule (Mid-Atlantic federal waters) | No size limit | No bag limit | Open all yearNOAA GARFO / MAFMC 2026 · likely · checked | Open |
| New JerseyFederal rule (Mid-Atlantic federal waters) | No size limit | No bag limit | Open all yearNOAA GARFO / MAFMC 2026 · likely · checked | Open |
| New YorkFederal rule (Mid-Atlantic federal waters) | No size limit | No bag limit | Open all yearNOAA GARFO / MAFMC 2026 · likely · checked | Open |
| Rhode Island | No size limit | 10/person/day | Open year-roundRI DEM 2026 · checked | Open |
| VirginiaFederal rule (Mid-Atlantic federal waters) | No size limit | No bag limit | Open all yearNOAA GARFO / MAFMC 2026 · likely · checked | Open |
Not specifically regulated in Connecticut, Florida (Atlantic), Florida (Gulf), Georgia, Louisiana, Maine, Massachusetts, Mississippi, New Hampshire, North Carolina, South Carolina, Texas: each state’s rule for unlisted species applies there (on its page).
State records
| State | Weight | When, where | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Connecticut | 9 lb 8 oz | 2017 · Fort Hale Park | CT DEEP Saltwater State Record Fish (Harvested) · checked 2026-08-23 |
On the table
Wings are good eating — scallop-sweet.
In the app
Point the camera at a clearnose skate 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 clearnose skate
How many clearnose skate can you keep?
Alabama: 3 per person; Rhode Island: 10/person/day.
How do you tell clearnose skate from winter skate?
Clearnose Skate: Translucent panes either side of a pointed snout; thorn row down the back; barred, spotted disc. Winter skate: northern; rounder wings, pale eye-spots.
What is the record clearnose skate?
9 lb 8 oz in Connecticut (2017), Fort Hale Park. Other states’ records are in the table.