Massachusetts state waters, out to 3 miles
Must be released alive if tunas, billfish, or swordfish are retained on the trip.
MA DMF 2026 · checked · the official rulebook is the final word
Often mistaken for
Shortfin makoNo white dorsal patch, single keel. 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
Stocky cold-water mako cousin — white patch on the first dorsal's rear tip and a second small tail keel. More on the porbeagle page: every state’s rule, the records, and how anglers catch it.
Questions anglers ask5
What is the size limit for porbeagle in Massachusetts?
54" min. Measured as fork length: snout to the fork of the tail.
How many porbeagle can you keep in Massachusetts?
1 shark per trip (aggregate). Counts toward the Sharks (1 per trip) aggregate.
When is porbeagle season in Massachusetts?
Open year-round.
What is the Massachusetts record porbeagle?
495 lb, Martha's Vineyard (2011).
How current is this Massachusetts porbeagle rule?
Source: MA DMF 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.
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