Monkfish

Recreational Fishing Regulations

There are currently no recreational possession restrictions for monkfish caught in federal waters. Recreational anglers must still comply with minimum fish size regulations in place for the fishery (Currently for monkfish: 17 inches, whole fish; 11 inches, tail only).

Recreational anglers will need to get a general recreational fishing license either through your state or through NOAA Fisheries to fish recreationally for marine species. Visit our permit office or recreational fishing page for more information.

Reporting A Recreational Catch

This is not applicable for the monkfish fishery. Visit the Greater Atlantic Region's recreational fishing page for more information about recreational reporting in general.

Commercial Fishing Regulations

Days-At-Sea (DAS)

Limited access monkfish vessels are allocated 45.2 Monkfish DAS each fishing year. Of these, only 37 can be used in the Southern Fishery Management Area (SFMA). Each permit holder may also carry-over up to four unused monkfish DAS from the previous year, which can be applied to either area (Northern Fishery Management Area [NFMA] or SFMA). However, DAS that are not usable because they are tied to a Northeast (NE) multispecies DAS may not be carried over.  For more information on DAS, please see the supplemental info page.

Possession Limits and Fish Size Requirements

Minimum fish size: 17 inches total length (whole fish), or 11 inches tail length (tails only) for both commercial and recreational anglers.

Maximum fish size: None

Possession Limits: Monkfish possession limits vary by permit category, area, gear, and DAS use. The specifics of the catch limits for limited access permit holders and incidental catch limits are outlined in the tables below.  When viewing the tables, please be aware of the footnotes that are outlined below.

Possession Limits While on a Monkfish DAS

Northern Fishery Management Area

Southern Fishery Management Area

Possession Limits While on Both a Monkfish DAS and a Northeast Multispecies A DAS

Northern Fishery Management Area

Southern Fishery Management Area

Incidental Possession Limits While on a Northeast Multispecies DAS

Note: If you are fishing under a Northeast multispecies DAS, you may have additional possession restrictions based on the specific fishery in which you are participating (e.g., Regular B-DAS Program, Closed Area I Hook-Gear Haddock Special Access Program, or the U.S./Canada Management Areas). 

Incidental Possession Limits While on a Scallop DAS or in the Sea Scallop Access Area Program

Incidental Possession Limits for Vessels not under a DAS Program

Incidental Possession Limits for Vessels not under a DAS Program that also Hold Permits in Other Fisheries/Special Cases

¹ Any prorated combination of tail weight and whole weight may also be landed based on the conversion factor for tail weight to whole weight of 2.91 (tail weight x 2.91 = whole weight; or whole weight/2.91 = tail weight). A vessel may also possess or land monkfish livers up to 25% of the tail weight of monkfish, or up to 10% of the whole weight of monkfish, per trip. If a vessel possesses or lands both monkfish tails and whole monkfish, the vessel may land livers up to 10% of the whole weight of monkfish per trip using the following weight ratio: (0.10) x [(tail weight x 2.91) + (whole fish x 1)]. Vessels may also land monkfish heads separate from tails, provided the total head weight does not exceed 1.91 times the total weight of tails onboard.

² For vessels with limited access sea scallop permits fishing in an established Sea Scallop Access Area, the monkfish possession limit is per day fished inside the access area (as determined by VMS), not including steaming time.

³ A day is the 24-hour period that begins when the vessel leaves port or, if the vessel has an operational VMS, when the vessel crosses the VMS demarcation line when leaving port and ends when the vessel returns to port or, if the vessel has an operational VMS, crosses the VMS demarcation line on its return to port.

⁴ These vessels are exempt from a NE multispecies DAS provided they meet the vessel size requirements applicable to the limited access NE multispecies small vessel permit category (vessels < 30 ft in length).

⁵ In order to possess monkfish in the scallop dredge exemption areas, small dredges must be used (combined width not to exceed 10.5 ft).

Reporting a Commercial Catch

Vessel Trip Reports 

You must keep on board the vessel, and submit to NOAA Fisheries, Vessel Trip Reports (VTRs) for all fishing trips, regardless of species retained. These reports may be submitted electronically. Get instructions for completing the VTR. VTRs must be received or postmarked within 15 days after the end of the reporting month. For vessels that also hold a Northeast multispecies permit, VTRs must be submitted weekly by Tuesday of the week after the fishing trip ends.

Vessel Monitoring System Requirements

A vessel that meets any of the following criteria must use their Vessel Monitoring System (VMS) unit to declare a monkfish trip:

• Vessel has a Monkfish Category C or D permit if in a sector, or will fish under a northeast multispecies DAS during the year;
• Category F permit (can turn off VMS outside of the offshore fishery season);
• Vessel has another permit that requires the use of a VMS unit; and/or
• Vessel has a Northeast multispecies or scallop permit and are fishing for monkfish outside of an exemption area or under a monkfish DAS.

Please note that vessels with an operational VMS unit that are declaring a trip that either completely shoreward of the VMS demarcation line or both shoreward and seaward of the demarcation line may also declare using the Interactive Voice Response (IVR) system. For trips declared using the IVR system, the vessel owner or operator must call into the IVR system again at the end of the trip.

Interactive Voice Response System Requirements

A vessel that is not required to use a VMS unit, or has an operational VMS unit and will be fishing both inside and outside of the demarcation line on the same trip, must declare through calling the IVR system at 1-(888) 284-4904 prior to leaving port. For trips declared using the IVR system, the vessel owner or operator must call into the IVR system again at the end of the trip. 

DAS Adjustment for Trip Limit Overage Provision

A limited access monkfish vessel may land up to one additional day’s trip limit worth of monkfish than would otherwise be allowed based on the vessel’s actual monkfish DAS usage for that trip. The vessel must declare the extra fish via VMS prior to crossing the demarcation line upon returning to port, or via the IVR line 1 hour prior to landing, to land the additional day’s worth of monkfish. To account for the trip limit overage, the monkfish DAS charge will be rounded to the next 24-hr period plus 1 minute.

Example: If you have two days’ (trip limits') worth of monkfish on board and you have declared into the monkfish DAS program for 15 hours, once you declare or call in this overage provision, you would be permitted to land 2 days’ worth of monkfish. Your DAS charge for the trip would be adjusted from 15 hours to 24 hours and 1 minute. Also, after using the DAS adjustment provision, you may go right back out to start a new trip, even if the additional time has not passed for which your previous trip was charged.

Monkfish Option

To have the flexibility to land monkfish caught in excess of the incidental limit when fishing on a Northeast multispecies A DAS, a vessel must first declare the ‘monkfish option’ on the vessel’s VMS unit before leaving port, and can only fish in the Northern Fishery Management Area (NFMA). If this has been done, the vessel can change the trip declaration from a Northeast multispecies A DAS to a Monkfish DAS declaration before crossing the demarcation line on its return to port. When this is initiated, both Northeast multispecies A DAS and Monkfish DAS are charged in conjunction for the course of the trip, although the VMS declaration will show Monkfish DAS. For assistance with your VMS codes, call our Office of Law Enforcement VMS team at (978) 281–9149.

Requirement for Vessels Fishing Exclusively in the NFMA without a VMS Unit

Because the regulations for the Southern Fishery Management Area (SFMA) are more restrictive (lower possession limits) than the NFMA, a federally permitted monkfish vessel fishing exclusively in the NFMA without an operational vessel monitoring system (VMS) on board must obtain a monkfish letter of authorization (LOA) from NOAA Fisheries. This LOA is issued for a minimum of 7 days and may be obtained by calling our Permit Office at (978) 282-8438. The non-VMS vessel must also make the proper trip declaration through the IVR call-in system. If a vessel has not obtained the LOA and makes a trip declaration through the IVR, it is presumed to have fished in the SFMA, and will be held to the more restrictive requirements of the SFMA.

This does not apply to vessels with an operational VMS unit. Instead of obtaining the LOA and declaring the trip through IVR, vessels with VMS on board must instead declare the area to be fished using VMS.

Requirement for Vessels Fishing Exclusively in the NFMA and Transiting Through the SFMA

A vessel that has declared into the NFMA (LOA and IVR, or through VMS), may transit the SFMA, provided the vessel does not harvest or possess monkfish or any other fish from the SFMA, and all fishing gear is properly stowed and not available for immediate use.

Observer Requirements

The monkfish fishery does not have specific observer requirements, but must abide by Northeast multispecies and/or scallop regulations if fishing on a DAS for one of those fisheries. Also, all sector vessels fishing on a monkfish DAS are required to participate in the at-sea monitoring program, because all catch of allocated groundfish stocks on that trip (including discards) counts against sector ACE. Additionally, all federally permitted vessels are obligated to carry an observer if randomly selected by the National Observer Program.

Commercial Gear Information

Gear Requirements

The monkfish fishery has some gear requirements that vary based on permit category, other types of permits owned, and planned fishing activity. All of the following gear requirements apply while fishing for monkfish under a Monkfish day-at-sea (DAS) unless otherwise noted.

Dredge

Dredge gear is prohibited on a Monkfish DAS. You may not have a dredge onboard your vessel while fishing on a Monkfish DAS trip.

Trawl

The minimum mesh size is 10-inch square or 12-inch diamond mesh throughout the codend for at least 45 continuous meshes forward of the terminus of the net. The minimum mesh size for the remainder of the trawl net is the regulated mesh size specified by the regulated mesh area being fished, as outlined in the Northeast multispecies regulations.

Exception: If you have a Monkfish Category C, D, or H permit and are fishing with trawl gear under both a monkfish and Northeast multispecies DAS, you are subject to the minimum mesh size determined by the Northeast multispecies fishery.

The maximum roller size in the Southern Fishery Management Area (SFMA) is 6 inches in diameter.

Gillnet*

The minimum mesh size is 10-inch diamond mesh.

Exception 1: If you have a Category C, D, or H permit and a Northeast multispecies permit, fishing in the Northern Fishery Management Area (NFMA), and switch from a Northeast multispecies VMS declaration to a monkfish VMS declaration by using the "monkfish option" on your VMS unit, you may continue to use gillnet gear with less than 10-inch diamond mesh. However, you must go by the more restrictive mesh sizes as outlined in the Northeast multispecies regulations.

Exception 2: If you have a Category C, D, or H permit and a Northeast multispecies permit, and you are fishing in the SFMA on a monkfish DAS and a Northeast multispecies DAS, you may fish with standup gillnets as small as 6.5 inches.

If you have a Category A or B permit, you may not fish with, haul, possess, or set more than 160 gillnets at any time.

If you have a Category C, D, F, or H permit and a limited access Northeast multispecies permit, you may not fish with, haul, possess, or set more than 150 gillnets at any time. Note: If you are also fishing on a Northeast multispecies DAS, you must go by the more restrictive net limits of the Northeast multispecies regulated mesh areas (§ 648.80).

All gillnets must be tagged with one tag per net, and cannot be longer than 300 ft.
 

*Gillnet and trap/pot fisheries also have Protected Resources requirements to protect marine mammals and other protected species. Please contact the Protected Resources Division at (978) 281-9328 for more information, or visit their web page.

Exempted Fishing

What is an Exempted Fishery?

Exempted fisheries allow vessels to fish for specific species without being subject to certain Northeast multispecies regulations, including days-at-sea, provided the bycatch of regulated species is minimal. To be approved and implemented, exemption programs must have demonstrated that incidental catch of Northeast multispecies is less than five percent of the total catch, by weight, and that the exemption will not jeopardize fishing mortality objectives.

Monkfish Fishery Exemptions

To fish a monkfish day-at-sea (DAS) as monkfish-only DAS (not also using scallop or Northeast multispecies DAS), you must fish exclusively in an exemption area or exempted fishery. If you choose to fish outside of the exemption area or an exempted fishery, you are also required to use a Northeast multispecies or scallop DAS simultaneously with your monkfish DAS.

Monkfish Exemption Areas

There are five main exemption areas that apply to the monkfish fishery. Visit the provided summary pages for more detailed information about each one.

• Gulf of Maine (GOM)/Georges Bank (GB) Monkfish Gillnet Exemption
• Southern New England (SNE) Monkfish Trawl Exemption Area
• SNE Monkfish Gillnet Exemption Area
• Mid-Atlantic (MA) Exemption Area
• MA Monkfish Exempted Gillnet Fishery

Possession Limits and Mesh Sizes Associated with the SNE and MA Exemption Areas
If you are using trawl gear, you need to be aware that your monkfish incidental trip limits depend upon whether you are fishing on either the east side or the west side of the boundary between the SNE and MA exemption areas. The chart below depicts this area and the table at the end of this section shows the different incidental trip limits.

Minimum mesh size is defined by the summer flounder regulations when fishing west of the SNE/MA Exemption Area boundary, but is defined by the Northeast multispecies regulations when fishing east of this boundary in the SNE Regulated Mesh Area and Exemption Areas. For a specific breakdown of areas, gear, and trip limits, refer to the table below.

Southern Exemption Area Trip Limits by Mesh Size

_{¹Any prorated combination of tail weight and whole weight may also be landed based on the conversion factor for tail weight to whole weight of 2.91 (tail weight x 2.91 = whole weight; or whole weight/2.91 = tail weight). A vessel may also possess or land monkfish livers up to 25% of the tail weight of monkfish, or up to 10% of the whole weight of monkfish, per trip. If a vessel possesses or lands both monkfish tails and whole monkfish, the vessel may land livers up to 10% of the whole weight of monkfish per trip using the following weight ratio: (0.10) x [(tail weight x 2.91) + (whole fish x 1)]. Vessels may also land monkfish heads separate from tails, provided the total head weight does not exceed 1.91 times the total weight of tails onboard.}

_{²A day is the 24-hour period that begins when the vessel leaves port or, if the vessel has an operational VMS, when the vessel crosses the VMS demarcation line when leaving port and ends when the vessel returns to port or, if the vessel has an operational VMS, crosses the VMS demarcation line on its return to port.}

A vessel's monkfish incidental catch limit is based upon the mesh size of the smallest mesh fished during the trip. For example, if you are fishing for squid using a 1-⁷/₈-inch diamond mesh and for summer flounder using a 5.5-inch diamond mesh on the same trip west of the 72˚ 30’ W boundary line, you are subject to the more restrictive possession limit of 50 lb tail weight per day, up to 150 lb tail weight per trip.

Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Organization (NAFO) Regulatory Area Exemption Program

A vessel issued a valid High Seas Fishing Compliance Permit and that complies with the associated requirements is exempt from monkfish permit, mesh size, effort-control, and possession limit restrictions while transiting the EEZ with monkfish on board the vessel, or landing monkfish in U.S. ports that were caught while fishing in the NAFO Regulatory Area. A letter of authorization is required for participation in the NAFO Exemption Program, and other requirements and restrictions may apply. For more information, visit the NAFO website.