New York state waters, out to 3 miles
10" filleted / 12" dressed equivalents apply.
NY DEC 2026 · checked · the official rulebook is the final word
Past 3 miles: federal waters Different rule
Federal-waters minimum size only; most states impose a 1-fish limit that applies once landed.
NOAA GARFO / MAFMC 2026 · checked 2026-09-20
Often mistaken for
Spotted seatroutBigger scattered spots reaching the tail. Tell them apartNot listed by New York: the default applies (No size limit, no bag limit).
Keep the wrong fish and its rule applies.
New York state record
NYSDEC Marine Recreational Angler Records · checked 2026-09-04
How to tell it
Small spots in diagonal rows along the back, yellow-tinged fins, sea-trout body. More on the weakfish page: every state’s rule, the records, and how anglers catch it.
Questions anglers ask5
What is the size limit for weakfish in New York?
16". Measured as total length: snout to the tip of the tail, tail lobes squeezed together.
How many weakfish can you keep in New York?
1.
When is weakfish season in New York?
Open year-round.
What is the New York record weakfish?
19 lb 2 oz (1984).
How current is this New York weakfish rule?
Source: NY DEC 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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