When is landlocked atlantic salmon season in Massachusetts?

Open year-round under MA regulation; bounded by DCR reservoir-access seasons — Quabbin ~3rd Sat April – 3rd Sat October (boat), Wachusett 1st Sat April – Nov 30. 2 / day, 15 in minimum on both waters. Those are the 2026 Massachusetts dates; always confirm against Massachusetts Division of Fisheries & Wildlife (freshwater) + MA Division of Marine Fisheries (saltwater) before a trip, because an emergency order can shift an opener with little notice.

What is the Massachusetts bag limit for landlocked atlantic salmon?

The Massachusetts daily bag limit for landlocked atlantic salmon is 2 / day (statewide — applies on Quabbin + Wachusett). The possession limit is 2 in possession. Some named waters set a different limit — check the water-body overrides above.

What size landlocked atlantic salmon can you keep in Massachusetts?

The Massachusetts size rule for landlocked atlantic salmon is 15 in minimum length. Trophy rule: MA state-record landlocked salmon 10 lb 2 oz from Wachusett Reservoir (Richard Gagne, 1985); Quabbin + Wachusett both produce 5–8 lb trolling fish; the current catch-and-release length record stands at 27.25 in (Quabbin).

Do you need a license to fish for landlocked atlantic salmon in Massachusetts?

Yes. Massachusetts requires a valid fishing license to fish for landlocked atlantic salmon, with the usual exemptions for young children, state free-fishing days, and some senior or disabled-veteran categories. A license is valid only in the state that issued it, so non-residents need a Massachusetts license — compare resident and non-resident Massachusetts fees on the state regulations page below.

Are there gear restrictions for landlocked atlantic salmon in Massachusetts?

Yes. In Massachusetts, landlocked atlantic salmon fishing carries these gear rules: Quabbin Reservoir: MassWildlife Quabbin Boat Permit required to launch a boat; DCR season + access-gate rules apply; Wachusett Reservoir: shore-and-restricted-boat under DCR shoreline rules; Both are closed-watershed unfiltered drinking-water reservoirs — observe all DCR/MWRA access restrictions; MA does NOT issue a separate Trout/Salmon Stamp — the standard freshwater licence covers landlocked salmon; Landlocked salmon are found ONLY in Quabbin + Wachusett — no other MA waters hold the species.

Do specific Massachusetts waters have different landlocked atlantic salmon rules?

Yes. 2 named Massachusetts waters carry rules that override the statewide landlocked atlantic salmon regulation, including Quabbin Reservoir, Wachusett Reservoir. See the named water-body overrides above for the exact rule on each.

2026 regulation year

Massachusetts Landlocked Atlantic salmon 2026 — Season, Bag Limit, Size Rules

Salmo salar

Last updated June 3, 2026

Massachusetts stocks landlocked Atlantic salmon into its two great coldwater reservoirs — Quabbin and Wachusett — to build a put-grow-take trophy fishery on the classic New England model. MassWildlife and partners release thousands of salmon annually (about 10,000 went into Quabbin in 2022), and the fish grow fast on the reservoirs' dense smelt and alewife forage. The statewide rule is the same on both waters: 2 fish per day with a 15-inch minimum length. The MA state record — 10 lb 2 oz — was taken from Wachusett Reservoir by Richard Gagne in 1985, and both reservoirs give up 5–8 lb salmon to trollers working lead-core line and downriggers along the thermocline from ice-out through early summer, then again in the fall. Quabbin (24,500 acres) is the larger, deeper, more famous salmon water and requires a MassWildlife Quabbin Boat Permit to launch; Wachusett (4,135 acres) is shore-and-restricted-boat under DCR rules. Both are closed-watershed, unfiltered drinking-water reservoirs with DCR-set access seasons. Landlocked salmon are the same species as sea-run Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) — a freshwater-resident form that completes its whole life cycle without going to sea.

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Season

Open year-round under MA regulation; bounded by DCR reservoir-access seasons — Quabbin ~3rd Sat April – 3rd Sat October (boat), Wachusett 1st Sat April – Nov 30. 2 / day, 15 in minimum on both waters.

Apr 18 – Oct 17Quabbin Reservoir (boat season)
DCR-set boat-access season; Quabbin Boat Permit required; ~10,000 salmon stocked annually
Apr 4 – Nov 30Wachusett Reservoir
DCR shoreline-access season; MA state-record salmon water

Bag & possession

Daily bag: 2 / day (statewide — applies on Quabbin + Wachusett)
Possession: 2 in possession

Size, slot, trophy rules

Size: 15 in minimum length
Trophy rule: MA state-record landlocked salmon 10 lb 2 oz from Wachusett Reservoir (Richard Gagne, 1985); Quabbin + Wachusett both produce 5–8 lb trolling fish; the current catch-and-release length record stands at 27.25 in (Quabbin)

Gear restrictions

Quabbin Reservoir: MassWildlife Quabbin Boat Permit required to launch a boat; DCR season + access-gate rules apply
Wachusett Reservoir: shore-and-restricted-boat under DCR shoreline rules
Both are closed-watershed unfiltered drinking-water reservoirs — observe all DCR/MWRA access restrictions
MA does NOT issue a separate Trout/Salmon Stamp — the standard freshwater licence covers landlocked salmon
Landlocked salmon are found ONLY in Quabbin + Wachusett — no other MA waters hold the species

Named water-body overrides

Where statewide rules differ on specific Massachusetts waters:

Quabbin Reservoir
2 / day, 15 in minimum; Quabbin Boat Permit required to launch; ~10,000 salmon stocked annually
Wachusett Reservoir
2 / day, 15 in minimum; MA state-record salmon water (10 lb 2 oz, 1985)

Official source

Massachusetts Division of Fisheries & Wildlife (freshwater) + MA Division of Marine Fisheries (saltwater) publishes the authoritative 2026 Massachusettsfishing regulations. Always verify the current rule before fishing — emergency closures and in-season changes can override what's published here.

The landlocked atlantic salmon rules on this page are sourced from Massachusetts Division of Fisheries & Wildlife (freshwater) + MA Division of Marine Fisheries (saltwater)'s official landlocked atlantic salmon regulation page.

Visit official Massachusetts fishing regulations →

Emergency-order channel

Landlocked Atlantic salmon closures, slot-limit changes, and harvest pauses are posted to Massachusetts Division of Fisheries & Wildlife's emergency-order feed — check it before any Massachusetts trip during the active season.

Frequently asked questions

When is landlocked atlantic salmon season in Massachusetts?: Open year-round under MA regulation; bounded by DCR reservoir-access seasons — Quabbin ~3rd Sat April – 3rd Sat October (boat), Wachusett 1st Sat April – Nov 30. 2 / day, 15 in minimum on both waters. Those are the 2026 Massachusetts dates; always confirm against Massachusetts Division of Fisheries & Wildlife (freshwater) + MA Division of Marine Fisheries (saltwater) before a trip, because an emergency order can shift an opener with little notice.
What is the Massachusetts bag limit for landlocked atlantic salmon?: The Massachusetts daily bag limit for landlocked atlantic salmon is 2 / day (statewide — applies on Quabbin + Wachusett). The possession limit is 2 in possession. Some named waters set a different limit — check the water-body overrides above.
What size landlocked atlantic salmon can you keep in Massachusetts?: The Massachusetts size rule for landlocked atlantic salmon is 15 in minimum length. Trophy rule: MA state-record landlocked salmon 10 lb 2 oz from Wachusett Reservoir (Richard Gagne, 1985); Quabbin + Wachusett both produce 5–8 lb trolling fish; the current catch-and-release length record stands at 27.25 in (Quabbin).
Do you need a license to fish for landlocked atlantic salmon in Massachusetts?: Yes. Massachusetts requires a valid fishing license to fish for landlocked atlantic salmon, with the usual exemptions for young children, state free-fishing days, and some senior or disabled-veteran categories. A license is valid only in the state that issued it, so non-residents need a Massachusetts license — compare resident and non-resident Massachusetts fees on the state regulations page below.
Are there gear restrictions for landlocked atlantic salmon in Massachusetts?: Yes. In Massachusetts, landlocked atlantic salmon fishing carries these gear rules: Quabbin Reservoir: MassWildlife Quabbin Boat Permit required to launch a boat; DCR season + access-gate rules apply; Wachusett Reservoir: shore-and-restricted-boat under DCR shoreline rules; Both are closed-watershed unfiltered drinking-water reservoirs — observe all DCR/MWRA access restrictions; MA does NOT issue a separate Trout/Salmon Stamp — the standard freshwater licence covers landlocked salmon; Landlocked salmon are found ONLY in Quabbin + Wachusett — no other MA waters hold the species.
Do specific Massachusetts waters have different landlocked atlantic salmon rules?: Yes. 2 named Massachusetts waters carry rules that override the statewide landlocked atlantic salmon regulation, including Quabbin Reservoir, Wachusett Reservoir. See the named water-body overrides above for the exact rule on each.

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