Federal rule (Gulf of Maine federal waters) · Massachusetts lists none of its own
MA state waters dropped to 17 in for 2026; outside the Gulf of Maine there's no bag limit.
NOAA GARFO / MA DMF 2026 · checked · the official rulebook is the final word
Often mistaken for
Atlantic codPale lateral line, no thumbprint. Tell them apart
PollockNo thumbprint, undershot jaw. 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
BLACK lateral line and the 'devil's thumbprint' smudge above the pectoral; tall pointed first dorsal. More on the haddock page: every state’s rule, the records, and how anglers catch it.
Haddock in other states7 rulebooks
Questions anglers ask5
What is the size limit for haddock in Massachusetts?
18 in total length. Measured as total length: snout to the tip of the tail, tail lobes squeezed together.
How many haddock can you keep in Massachusetts?
15 per day.
When is haddock season in Massachusetts?
Apr 1 – Feb 28 (closed March). As of Sep 21, 2026 it is open.
What is the Massachusetts record haddock?
20 lb, Boston Lightship (tie with Stellwagen Bank, 1972) (1974).
How current is this Massachusetts haddock rule?
Source: NOAA GARFO / MA DMF 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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