Rhode Island state waters, out to 3 miles
RI DEM 2026 · checked · the official rulebook is the final word
Often mistaken for
Oyster toadfishSmall fry by comparison; no lure. Tell them apartNot listed by Rhode Island: the default applies (No size limit, no limit (hook and line); 2 quarts/person/day if taken by net).
Keep the wrong fish and its rule applies.
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 ask4
What is the size limit for monkfish in Rhode Island?
17" whole / 11" tail. Measured as total length: snout to the tip of the tail, tail lobes squeezed together.
How many monkfish can you keep in Rhode Island?
50 lbs tails/day or 166 lbs whole/day.
When is monkfish season in Rhode Island?
Open year-round.
How current is this Rhode Island monkfish rule?
Source: RI DEM 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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