Tautog Bag Limit Jumps to 5 Fish in MA and RI October 15

One beautiful Blackfish. Photo/Tom Richardson

Autumn bottom fishing action across southern New England is about to hit high gear. Effective today, October 15, 2026, recreational bag limits for blackfish—locally known as tautog, or simply ‘tog—are officially increasing in Rhode Island and Massachusetts. As coastal waters cool and mature fish move toward deeper structure like wrecks, reefs and boulder fields, these relaxed regulations arrive at the perfect time to take extra advantage of these tasty, hard-fighting and tough-lipped brawlers.

Author Tom Schlichter holds one very large tautog. Photo/Tom Richardson

According to the newly updated Rhode Island DEM Marine Fisheries Table and the Massachusetts DMF Recreational Fishing Framework, the daily possession limit has stepped up to five fish per angler, per day. This seasonal adjustment marks a substantial bump from the early-fall limit of three fish that governed the early-October stretch of blackfish season.

While individual bag limits have expanded, critical conservation measures remain firmly in place. The baseline minimum size requirement is unchanged at 16 inches for all harvested ‘tog in both states. Furthermore, anglers are strictly restricted to retaining only one fish over 21 inches as part of their five-fish daily limit.

Boaters heading out on private vessels must also stay mindful of aggregate possession caps. Both states continue to enforce a strict 10-fish private boat limit, regardless of how many licensed anglers are aboard. This collective vessel cap helps ensure sustainable harvest rates even as the fish concentrate heavily around their favorite haunts during the second half of October through the end of the season.

Successfully targeting structure-loving ‘tog requires select presentations, with crabs serving as the undisputed kings of bait. Local sharpies rely heavily on green crabs and Asian shore crabs, often cutting the larger “greenies” into halves or quarters and trimming the legs to expose their scent. Removing the top shell also helps disperse more scent but leaving it on can discourage short fish from biting which may increase the odds of hooking a trophy-sized “bulldogs” getting a crack at your offering. The smaller Asian crabs are usually fished whole. Both crabs species can be hooked by inserting the point through a leg socket and out the back (rear) of the crab so the barb fully protrudes for solid hook sets.

Standard terminal rigs for blackfish should be kept simple but rugged to survive the snaggy bottom ‘tog prefer. Traditional two-hook bottom rigs or specialized tautog jigs tipped with a piece of crab are generally preferred. Over especially rough wrecks and reefs, many anglers opt for a single hook rig to lessen the chances of getting caught on the bottom.