Maine state waters, out to 3 miles
ME DMR 2026 · checked · the official rulebook is the final word
Often mistaken for
Oyster toadfishSmall fry by comparison; no lure. Tell them apartNot listed by Maine: the default applies (No size limit, no bag limit).
Keep 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
All head and mouth — flattened and fringed, with a built-in fishing-lure spine on the snout. More on the monkfish page: every state’s rule, the records, and how anglers catch it.
Monkfish in other states9 rulebooks
Questions anglers ask5
What is the size limit for monkfish in Maine?
17" min. Measured as total length: snout to the tip of the tail, tail lobes squeezed together.
How many monkfish can you keep in Maine?
No bag limit.
When is monkfish season in Maine?
Open year-round.
What is the Maine record monkfish?
49 lb 12 oz, Perkins Cove, Ogunquit (1991).
How current is this Maine monkfish 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 monkfish in Maine and this rule is on the screen before you take the picture. No signal needed.
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