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Fishing & Shellfish Regulations
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The Nantucket Police Department at 4 Fairgrounds Road is responsible for issuing all commercial and non-commercial permits for shellfishing. The resident/property owner (proof required) permit is $35 and the non-resident permit is $125. Both are for individuals over the age of 14. Free for retired scallopers and residents over 60. For information regarding shellfishing, please call the Natural Resources Department at 508-228-7230. For your convenience, the Chamber of Commerce website www.nantucketchamber.org offers a link to the MA Division of Marine Fisheries site which contains helpful information about regulations and permits for both commercial and recreational fishing.
BAY SCALLOPS: Closed season, April 1 - October 1; recreational season (WednesdaySunday only) October 1 - March 31; commercial season, November 1 - March 31, Monday-Friday. Permit required; recreational limit is one bushel per week. Scallops must have a well-defined raised growth ring.
BLUE CLAW CRABS:
Open season; no permit required unless using traps. Return egg-bearing females. Minimum size is 5-inch shell width, spine to spine. Limit 25 crabs daily per person. Season closed January 1 - April 30.
EELS: Open season; permit required. Eels are found in harbors and creeks during spring and fall.
MUSSELS: Open season; permit required. Limit one bushel per week.
OYSTERS: Closed season, May 1 - September 1; recreational season, September 1 - April 30. Permit required. Limit one half-bushel per week. Oysters must be 3 inches in size. QUAHOGS: Open season; permit required. Limit one half-bushel per week. Quahog shell must be 1 inch thick at the hinge.
STEAMERS: Closed season, June 15 - September 15; recreational season (Sundays only) September 15 - June 14. Permit required. Limit one 10-quart pail per week. Steamer shell must be 2 inches in size.
STRIPED BASS / BLUEFISH: The state requires any resident or non-resident over the age of 16 to purchase a fishing permit to fish from the beach or a boat. Persons over the age of 60 can acquire a free online permit. Visit the Massachusetts Energy and Environmental Affairs website for further information.
