Maine’s recreational black sea bass season reopens today through Dec. 31

Maine’s second black sea bass window opens today. The Department of Marine Resources’ 2026 saltwater recreational regulations, posted as current as of July 1, 2026, list black sea bass at a 13-inch minimum and 10 fish per angler per day. The season is May 19 through Sept. 21 and Oct. 18 through Dec. 31, inclusive. The method of take for this species is hook and line only.

The sheet says lengths are total length, not fork length, and that recreational anglers may not sell their fish. It also says the rules can change and tells anglers to check with Marine Patrol. A separate line on the same summary says some recreational saltwater fishermen must register with the Maine Saltwater Recreational Fishing Registry.

The first window ended Sept. 21, so the fishery has been closed since Sept. 22. Today’s date, Oct. 18, is the printed reopening. The Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission’s 2026–2027 state measures table lists the same Maine size, bag, and season windows.

This is a The Gillnet news desk summary, not a reprint.

Source: Maine DMR — 2026 saltwater recreational fishing regulations (PDF) (current as of July 1, 2026; linked from the recreational regulations page). Also: ASMFC — 2026–2027 black sea bass recreational measures table (PDF).