Maine state waters, out to 3 miles
Listed on the 2026 Maine sheet with no size or bag limit.
ME DMR 2026 · checked · 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 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
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 Maine?
No size limit.
How many cusk can you keep in Maine?
No bag limit.
When is cusk season in Maine?
Open year-round.
What is the Maine record cusk?
33.42 lb, Perkins Cove, Ogunquit (2002).
How current is this Maine cusk 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 a cusk in Maine and this rule is on the screen before you take the picture. No signal needed.
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