Federal rule (Mid-Atlantic federal waters) · Delaware lists none of its own
Minimum size 17 inches whole or 11 inches for tails; skin must remain attached for sizing.
NOAA GARFO / MAFMC 2026 · checked · the official rulebook is the final word
Often mistaken for
Oyster toadfishSmall fry by comparison; no lure. Tell them apartNot listed by Delaware: the default applies (No size limit, no daily limit).
Keep the wrong fish and its rule applies.
How to tell it
All head and mouth — flattened and fringed, with a built-in fishing-lure spine on the snout. More on the monkfish page: every state’s rule, the records, and how anglers catch it.
Monkfish in other states9 rulebooks
Questions anglers ask4
What is the size limit for monkfish in Delaware?
17 in whole (11 in tail). Measured as total length: snout to the tip of the tail, tail lobes squeezed together.
How many monkfish can you keep in Delaware?
No bag limit.
When is monkfish season in Delaware?
Open all year.
How current is this Delaware monkfish rule?
Source: NOAA GARFO / MAFMC 2026, last checked Sep 20, 2026. A watchman re-reads the agency's pages nightly. Rules change mid-season by proclamation; the official rulebook is the final word.
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