Winter Skate
Leucoraja ocellata
How to tell it
Round-winged skate, scattered dark spots and usually a pale eye-spot near each wing base; blunt nose.
Often mistaken for
One fish that gets called winter skate, and what gives it away.
- Clearnose skate: Pointed snout with translucent panes, southern. Tell them apart
Rules for
Every state
| State | Size | Bag | Season | Today |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | No size limit | 3 per person | Open year-roundAL MRD 2026 · likely · 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 | 17 lb 6 oz | 1995 · Watch Hill, Rhode Island | CT DEEP Saltwater State Record Fish (Harvested) · checked 2026-08-23 |
On the table
Skate wings — good eating.
In the app
Point the camera at a winter 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 winter skate
How many winter skate can you keep?
Alabama: 3 per person; Rhode Island: 10/person/day.
How do you tell winter skate from clearnose skate?
Winter Skate: Round-winged skate, scattered dark spots and usually a pale eye-spot near each wing base; blunt nose. Clearnose skate: pointed snout with translucent panes, southern.
What is the record winter skate?
17 lb 6 oz in Connecticut (1995), Watch Hill, Rhode Island. Other states’ records are in the table.