Maine state waters, out to 3 miles
Anglers are prohibited from possessing Atlantic wolffish.
ME DMR 2026 · checked · the official rulebook is the final word
Past 3 miles: federal waters Different rule
Protected in federal and Massachusetts waters — release immediately.
NOAA GARFO 2026 · checked 2026-09-20
Often mistaken for
Ocean poutFleshy lips, no tusks, no bars. Tell them apartKeep the wrong fish and its rule applies.
Maine state record
Maine DMR Saltwater Angler Records (Rod & Reel) · checked 2026-08-23
How to tell it
Gray-blue with dark vertical bars and a mouthful of canine tusks built for crushing shellfish. More on the Atlantic wolffish page: every state’s rule, the records, and how anglers catch it.
Atlantic wolffish in other states5 rulebooks
Questions anglers ask3
Can you keep Atlantic wolffish in Maine?
No. Harvest is prohibited in Maine. Release it in the water where you can. Anglers are prohibited from possessing Atlantic wolffish.
What is the Maine record Atlantic wolffish?
30 lb, Perkins Cove, Ogunquit (1990).
How current is this Maine Atlantic wolffish rule?
Source: ME DMR 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.
In the appPoint the camera at an Atlantic wolffish in Maine and this rule is on the screen before you take the picture. No signal needed.
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