Massachusetts state waters, out to 3 miles
No limits, but cusk is a NOAA species of concern — consider releasing them.
NOAA GARFO 2026 · checked · likely · the official rulebook is the final word
Often mistaken for
Ocean poutFrog face and fleshy lips. Tell them apart
Red hakeSeparate dorsal fins, ribbon ray. Tell them apartNot listed by Massachusetts: the default applies (No limit, no bag limit).
Keep the wrong fish and its rule applies.
Massachusetts state record
MA DMF Saltwater Game Fish Records · checked 2026-09-04
How to tell it
Eel-tailed cod relative — one long dorsal and anal fin running into the rounded tail; leathery brown skin. More on the cusk page: every state’s rule, the records, and how anglers catch it.
Cusk in other states2 rulebooks
Questions anglers ask5
What is the size limit for cusk in Massachusetts?
No size limit.
How many cusk can you keep in Massachusetts?
No bag limit.
When is cusk season in Massachusetts?
Open year-round.
What is the Massachusetts record cusk?
34 lb 4 oz, Stellwagen Bank (1990).
How current is this Massachusetts cusk rule?
Source: NOAA GARFO 2026, last checked Sep 7, 2026. A watchman re-reads the agency's pages nightly. Rules change mid-season by proclamation; the official rulebook is the final word.
In the appPoint the camera at a cusk in Massachusetts and this rule is on the screen before you take the picture. No signal needed.
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