2026 regulation year
Plum Island Sound + Merrimack River mouth 2026 — Massachusetts Fishing Regulations
Massachusetts statewide rules apply unless overridden below.
Last updated
Plum Island Sound + Merrimack River mouth carries 2 special-regulation overlays on top of Massachusetts's 2026 fishing rules — covering Striped bass (rockfish). Verify the agency booklet before launching: in-season changes are not yet wired to this page.
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Watch Plum Island Sound + Merrimack River mouth (MA) and we'll email you when a season, bag limit, slot, or closure changes. Free while in beta.
State-level special regulation
Major north-coast surf-fishing destination; striped bass spring + fall migration; bluefish + striped bass blitz at Newburyport jetty + Plum Island beach; DMF rules apply; MA Saltwater Permit required
Source: Massachusetts special-water list
Per-species rules on Plum Island Sound + Merrimack River mouth
Striped bass (rockfish) regulations →
28–31 in slot, 1 / day; spring + fall jetty migration
Official source
Massachusetts Division of Fisheries & Wildlife (freshwater) + MA Division of Marine Fisheries (saltwater) publishes the authoritative 2026 Massachusetts fishing regulations. Special-regulation lakes and rivers are listed in the agency booklet — always verify before fishing.
Visit official Massachusetts fishing regulations →
Emergency-order channel
In-season closures, slot-limit changes, and run-count-driven harvest pauses are posted to Massachusetts Division of Fisheries & Wildlife's emergency-order feed — check it before any Massachusetts trip during the active season.
Other special-regulation waters in Massachusetts
Frequently asked questions
- What special fishing regulations apply at Plum Island Sound + Merrimack River mouth?
- Plum Island Sound + Merrimack River mouth carries 2 special-regulation overlays that override Massachusetts' statewide 2026 rules, covering Striped bass (rockfish). One of them reads: "Major north-coast surf-fishing destination; striped bass spring + fall migration; bluefish + striped bass blitz at Newburyport jetty + Plum Island beach; DMF rules apply; MA Saltwater Permit required." Every overlay on this water body is listed in full above.
- Do I need a fishing license to fish Plum Island Sound + Merrimack River mouth?
- Yes. Plum Island Sound + Merrimack River mouth is in Massachusetts, so a valid Massachusetts fishing license is required just as it is anywhere else in the state, issued by Massachusetts Division of Fisheries & Wildlife (freshwater) + MA Division of Marine Fisheries (saltwater). The special regulations on this page change the bag, size, slot, or gear rules for Plum Island Sound; they do not waive the license requirement. Free-fishing days and youth exemptions follow the statewide Massachusetts rules.
- Do Plum Island Sound + Merrimack River mouth's special rules replace Massachusetts' statewide limits?
- Only where they conflict. Massachusetts' statewide 2026 regulations apply on Plum Island Sound by default; the overlays above replace the matching statewide rules for the species or gear they name, while everything not specifically overridden still follows the statewide rule. When a water-body rule and the statewide rule disagree, the water-body rule wins.
- Which species have special rules on Plum Island Sound?
- Striped bass (rockfish) has a water-body-specific rule on Plum Island Sound + Merrimack River mouth, each linking to its full Massachusetts regulations above. Species not listed here follow the statewide Massachusetts limits.