New York saltwater seasons and marine registry — 2026 DEC table
New York requires a free Recreational Marine Fishing Registry for anglers 16+ in the Marine and Coastal District. DEC last changed recreational limits on May 12, 2026. This is a keep-window copy, not a bite forecast.
By Sebastian · Published September 14, 2026
Public-source briefing only. We have not surveyed this water. Official source maps are not a substitute for a navigation chart. Confirm coordinates on the cited agency files and a live NOAA chart before you leave the dock.
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What the state published
- Registry
- Free Recreational Marine Fishing Registry required for anglers 16+ in NY Marine & Coastal District for listed finfish. Not required for crabs, lobster, whelk, or shellfish.
- Table date
- DEC: regulations last changed May 12, 2026
- Striped bass marine 2026
- Slot 28–31 in, 1 fish, April 15–Dec 15 (marine waters beginning Hudson south of GWB, and Delaware River). Hudson north of GWB is a different 23–28 in slot Apr 1–Nov 30.
- Summer flounder 2026
- May 4–Aug 1: 3 at 19 in; Aug 2–Oct 15: 3 at 19.5 in
- Black sea bass 2026
- 16 in; 3 fish May 16–Aug 31; 6 fish Sept 1–Dec 31
- Tautog 2026
- 16 in. LIS region: 2 fish Apr 1–30 and 3 fish Oct 11–Dec 9. NY Bight: 2 fish Apr 1–30 and 4 fish Oct 15–Dec 22.
- Scup 2026
- May 1–Dec 31; shore 9.5 in / vessel 11 in; 30 fish (party/charter bags change in fall)
New York sits next to Cast Cruise’s New Jersey waters — same Mid-Atlantic fish, different printed seasons. If you trailer from Ocean County to Montauk, do not keep fish on the NJ sheet.
Registry
DEC: anglers 16 and older fishing in New York’s Marine and Coastal District must enroll in the free Recreational Marine Fishing Registry for the listed species. Not required for crabs, lobster, whelk, or shellfish (those have other permits). Shark and tuna also need a NOAA HMS permit.
Enroll from the DEC registry.
2026 keep-windows (DEC table; last changed May 12, 2026)
If DEC’s live table disagrees, the state wins.
| Species | 2026 DEC open season / notes |
|---|---|
| Striped bass (marine + Delaware River) | 1 fish, 28–31 in slot, Apr 15–Dec 15. Circle hooks required with bait. |
| Striped bass (Hudson north of GWB) | 1 fish, 23–28 in, Apr 1–Nov 30 |
| Summer flounder | May 4–Aug 1: 3 at 19 in; Aug 2–Oct 15: 3 at 19.5 in |
| Black sea bass | 16 in; 3 May 16–Aug 31; 6 Sept 1–Dec 31 |
| Tautog LIS region | 16 in; 2 fish Apr 1–30; 3 fish Oct 11–Dec 9 |
| Tautog NY Bight | 16 in; 2 fish Apr 1–30; 4 fish Oct 15–Dec 22 |
| Scup | May 1–Dec 31; 30 fish; shore 9.5 in / vessel 11 in |
| Bluefish | All year; 5 private / 7 party-charter |
| Winter flounder | 12 in, 2 fish, Apr 1–May 30 (shorter than NJ’s 2026 winter flounder window) |
| American shad / river herring south of GWB | No possession |
Public access, not secret wrecks
DEC: public access to marine waters and a boat-ramp map. Cast Cruise will add named NY public reefs only when an official coordinate sheet exists — same rule as NJ DEP PDFs.
Compare NJ windows: 2026 NJ seasons.
Sources checked
Electronics and comms, not $10 staples
Fixed-mount VHF for NY Bight runs
Icom IC-M330G
$228.12 when checked on Amazon for the black GPS model
Plotter for public access and wrecks on a live chart
Garmin ECHOMAP UHD2 73sv
$999.99 when checked on Amazon for the GT54 transducer bundle
Backup outside the inlet
Garmin inReach Mini 2
$349.99 on Garmin when checked; Amazon listing for the Mini 2 also live