Federal rule (Gulf of Maine federal waters) · Massachusetts lists none of its own
Georges Bank runs the same 1-fish fall season; south and west of Cape Cod, cod is fully closed.
NOAA GARFO 2026 · checked · the official rulebook is the final word
Often mistaken for
HaddockBlack lateral line and the thumbprint blotch. Tell them apart
PollockGreenish, faint line, pointed snout. Tell them apartKeep the wrong fish and its rule applies.
Massachusetts state record
MA DMF Saltwater Game Fish Records · checked 2026-09-04
How to tell it
Blotchy brown-green with a PALE lateral line arching over the pectorals, a chin barbel, and a square tail. More on the Atlantic cod page: every state’s rule, the records, and how anglers catch it.
Atlantic cod in other states7 rulebooks
Questions anglers ask5
What is the size limit for Atlantic cod in Massachusetts?
23 in total length. Measured as total length: snout to the tip of the tail, tail lobes squeezed together.
How many Atlantic cod can you keep in Massachusetts?
1 per day.
When is Atlantic cod season in Massachusetts?
Sept 1 – Oct 31 (2026). As of Sep 21, 2026 it is open.
What is the Massachusetts record Atlantic cod?
92 lb, Jeffreys Ledge (1987).
How current is this Massachusetts Atlantic cod rule?
Source: NOAA GARFO 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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