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Fishing regulations at Quabbin Reservoir, MA
Disclaimer: Always check local fishing regulations, water access rights and land ownership before fishing, regardless of any catches logged in that area by the Fishbrain community. Fishbrain has mapped millions of acres of government-owned land across the USA to help you identify potential fishing access, but you are responsible for ensuring compliance with all legal requirements.
Fishing regulations in Massachusetts can change throughout the year. Make sure to check this page before fishing for the most up to date rules and regulations for the current season. Local regulations govern when you can fish, the max size of the fish you can keep, how many fish you can keep, and more.
Regulations for top species
Smallmouth bass
The maximum number of individual fish legally harvested per harvester per day. Bag limits are only for properly licensed anglers actively harvesting the species. People who are not actively harvesting or are not properly licensed (if a license is required) may NOT be counted for the purpose of bag limits.
No person shall harvest any individual fish less than the minimum size limit.
The maximum number of individual fish across an aggregate group of species legally harvested per harvester per day.
Total length means the straight line distance from the most forward point of the head with the mouth closed, to the farthest tip of the tail with the tail compressed or squeezed, while the fish is lying on its side.
MA Freshwater Prohibitions
Prohibitions while fishingMore than two hooks for fishing open water or more than five hooks when ice fishing. A hook is defined as an angling device attached to a fishing line that is designed to take one fish at a time but is not limited to devices commonly called spinners, spoons, bait harnesses, jigs, or plugs.Lead sinkers, lead weights, and lead jigs weighing less than an ounce. Any sinker or weight made from lead that weighs less than 1 ounce, and any lead jig (meaning any lead-weighted hook) that weighs less than 1 ounce, is prohibited for use in all inland waters of the Commonwealth. The term lead sinker shall not include any other sinkers, weights, fishing lures or fishing tackle including, but not limited to, artificial lures, hooks, weighted flies, and lead-core or other weighted fishing lines.Jug, toggle, or trot line fishing.SnaggingPoisons, explosivesLittering in inland waters.The taking of any fish from the inland waters of the Commonwealth for the purposes of sale.Releasing live fish or spawn into inland waters, except by permit.Transporting live fish (except bait for personal use) without a permit.
MA Freshwater Bait
It is unlawful to take fish from the inland waters of the state to sell as bait. Anglers who trap fish for personal use as bait may use only one trap.Licensed anglers may take bait for personal use at any time by any legal method. These methods include a rectangular net not to exceed 36 square feet in net area, a circular or ring net not to exceed six feet in diameter, or a fish trap with openings not to exceed one inch. Nets designed to catch fish through its gills may no be used. For personal use as bait, dead or alive, licensed anglers may only take these species:Banded killifishFallfishFathead minnowGolden shinerMummichogPumpkinseedRainbow smelt*Yellow perchWhite sucker * Smelt may be taken only by hook and line. Possession or use of smelt as bait in inland waters other than during the smelt season is prohibited.
MA Ice Fishing
Ice fishing: All anglers are allowed up to five hooks in the ice at one time. A hook is defined as an angling device attached to the line of a tip-up or jig stick that is designed to take one fish. This includes plain hooks, treble hooks, spinners, spoons, bait harnesses, jigs, or plugs. The device is not restricted to a single hook – lures with multiple treble hooks count as one hook in the water. Hooks can be on any combination of tip-ups or jig sticks, but no more than five hooks are allowed in total.Anglers must be able to tend their own hooks (tip-ups or jig sticks). Adults may assist kids with cutting holes or removing hooks, but kids must be able to tend tip-ups or jig sticks on their own.
MA Interstate Ponds
Fishing regulations on interstate ponds: Wallum Lake in Douglas: Fishing is permitted by anglers licensed in MA or RI. RI regulations apply.Lake Monomonac and Robbins Pond in Winchendon; Long Pond in Tyngsboro and Dracut; Bent Pond in Warwick; Tuxbury Pond in Amesbury: Fishing is permitted by anglers licensed in MA or NH. NH regulations apply.Colebrook Reservoir in Tolland; Perry Pond in Dudley; Muddy Pond in Southbridge; Breakneck Pond in Sturbridge; Congamond Lake in Southwick; Hamilton Reservoir in Holland: Fishing is permitted by anglers licensed in MA or CT. CT regulations apply to Colebrook Reservoir, Breakneck Pond, Perry Pond and Muddy Pond. MA regulations apply to Congamond Lake and Hamilton Reservoir.Sherman Reservoir in Rowe: MA regulations apply, and MA license is required in MA. VT regulations apply, and VT license required in VT.
Largemouth bass
The maximum number of individual fish legally harvested per harvester per day. Bag limits are only for properly licensed anglers actively harvesting the species. People who are not actively harvesting or are not properly licensed (if a license is required) may NOT be counted for the purpose of bag limits.
No person shall harvest any individual fish less than the minimum size limit.
The maximum number of individual fish across an aggregate group of species legally harvested per harvester per day.
Total length means the straight line distance from the most forward point of the head with the mouth closed, to the farthest tip of the tail with the tail compressed or squeezed, while the fish is lying on its side.
MA Freshwater Prohibitions
Prohibitions while fishingMore than two hooks for fishing open water or more than five hooks when ice fishing. A hook is defined as an angling device attached to a fishing line that is designed to take one fish at a time but is not limited to devices commonly called spinners, spoons, bait harnesses, jigs, or plugs.Lead sinkers, lead weights, and lead jigs weighing less than an ounce. Any sinker or weight made from lead that weighs less than 1 ounce, and any lead jig (meaning any lead-weighted hook) that weighs less than 1 ounce, is prohibited for use in all inland waters of the Commonwealth. The term lead sinker shall not include any other sinkers, weights, fishing lures or fishing tackle including, but not limited to, artificial lures, hooks, weighted flies, and lead-core or other weighted fishing lines.Jug, toggle, or trot line fishing.SnaggingPoisons, explosivesLittering in inland waters.The taking of any fish from the inland waters of the Commonwealth for the purposes of sale.Releasing live fish or spawn into inland waters, except by permit.Transporting live fish (except bait for personal use) without a permit.
MA Freshwater Bait
It is unlawful to take fish from the inland waters of the state to sell as bait. Anglers who trap fish for personal use as bait may use only one trap.Licensed anglers may take bait for personal use at any time by any legal method. These methods include a rectangular net not to exceed 36 square feet in net area, a circular or ring net not to exceed six feet in diameter, or a fish trap with openings not to exceed one inch. Nets designed to catch fish through its gills may no be used. For personal use as bait, dead or alive, licensed anglers may only take these species:Banded killifishFallfishFathead minnowGolden shinerMummichogPumpkinseedRainbow smelt*Yellow perchWhite sucker * Smelt may be taken only by hook and line. Possession or use of smelt as bait in inland waters other than during the smelt season is prohibited.
MA Ice Fishing
Ice fishing: All anglers are allowed up to five hooks in the ice at one time. A hook is defined as an angling device attached to the line of a tip-up or jig stick that is designed to take one fish. This includes plain hooks, treble hooks, spinners, spoons, bait harnesses, jigs, or plugs. The device is not restricted to a single hook – lures with multiple treble hooks count as one hook in the water. Hooks can be on any combination of tip-ups or jig sticks, but no more than five hooks are allowed in total.Anglers must be able to tend their own hooks (tip-ups or jig sticks). Adults may assist kids with cutting holes or removing hooks, but kids must be able to tend tip-ups or jig sticks on their own.
MA Interstate Ponds
Fishing regulations on interstate ponds: Wallum Lake in Douglas: Fishing is permitted by anglers licensed in MA or RI. RI regulations apply.Lake Monomonac and Robbins Pond in Winchendon; Long Pond in Tyngsboro and Dracut; Bent Pond in Warwick; Tuxbury Pond in Amesbury: Fishing is permitted by anglers licensed in MA or NH. NH regulations apply.Colebrook Reservoir in Tolland; Perry Pond in Dudley; Muddy Pond in Southbridge; Breakneck Pond in Sturbridge; Congamond Lake in Southwick; Hamilton Reservoir in Holland: Fishing is permitted by anglers licensed in MA or CT. CT regulations apply to Colebrook Reservoir, Breakneck Pond, Perry Pond and Muddy Pond. MA regulations apply to Congamond Lake and Hamilton Reservoir.Sherman Reservoir in Rowe: MA regulations apply, and MA license is required in MA. VT regulations apply, and VT license required in VT.
Lake char
The maximum number of individual fish legally harvested per harvester per day. Bag limits are only for properly licensed anglers actively harvesting the species. People who are not actively harvesting or are not properly licensed (if a license is required) may NOT be counted for the purpose of bag limits.
No person shall harvest any individual fish less than the minimum size limit.
Total length means the straight line distance from the most forward point of the head with the mouth closed, to the farthest tip of the tail with the tail compressed or squeezed, while the fish is lying on its side.
MA Freshwater Prohibitions
Prohibitions while fishingMore than two hooks for fishing open water or more than five hooks when ice fishing. A hook is defined as an angling device attached to a fishing line that is designed to take one fish at a time but is not limited to devices commonly called spinners, spoons, bait harnesses, jigs, or plugs.Lead sinkers, lead weights, and lead jigs weighing less than an ounce. Any sinker or weight made from lead that weighs less than 1 ounce, and any lead jig (meaning any lead-weighted hook) that weighs less than 1 ounce, is prohibited for use in all inland waters of the Commonwealth. The term lead sinker shall not include any other sinkers, weights, fishing lures or fishing tackle including, but not limited to, artificial lures, hooks, weighted flies, and lead-core or other weighted fishing lines.Jug, toggle, or trot line fishing.SnaggingPoisons, explosivesLittering in inland waters.The taking of any fish from the inland waters of the Commonwealth for the purposes of sale.Releasing live fish or spawn into inland waters, except by permit.Transporting live fish (except bait for personal use) without a permit.
MA Freshwater Bait
It is unlawful to take fish from the inland waters of the state to sell as bait. Anglers who trap fish for personal use as bait may use only one trap.Licensed anglers may take bait for personal use at any time by any legal method. These methods include a rectangular net not to exceed 36 square feet in net area, a circular or ring net not to exceed six feet in diameter, or a fish trap with openings not to exceed one inch. Nets designed to catch fish through its gills may no be used. For personal use as bait, dead or alive, licensed anglers may only take these species:Banded killifishFallfishFathead minnowGolden shinerMummichogPumpkinseedRainbow smelt*Yellow perchWhite sucker * Smelt may be taken only by hook and line. Possession or use of smelt as bait in inland waters other than during the smelt season is prohibited.
MA Ice Fishing
Ice fishing: All anglers are allowed up to five hooks in the ice at one time. A hook is defined as an angling device attached to the line of a tip-up or jig stick that is designed to take one fish. This includes plain hooks, treble hooks, spinners, spoons, bait harnesses, jigs, or plugs. The device is not restricted to a single hook – lures with multiple treble hooks count as one hook in the water. Hooks can be on any combination of tip-ups or jig sticks, but no more than five hooks are allowed in total.Anglers must be able to tend their own hooks (tip-ups or jig sticks). Adults may assist kids with cutting holes or removing hooks, but kids must be able to tend tip-ups or jig sticks on their own.
The Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) sets fishing season dates for Quabbin Reservoir.
Quabbin Reservoir fishing season generally starts the third Saturday of April and ends after the third Saturday in October. These dates can change due to weather and other factors. Except during this open season, Quabbin Reservoir and its tributary streams within the Quabbin Reservation are closed to fishing.
For more important information, you should visit Quabbin Reservior Fishing Guide or call (413) 323-7221.
Click here for a Quabbin Reservior Boat and Shore Fishing Access Map.
The DCR and the Massachusetts Department of Public Health have issued a health advisory for persons consuming Quabbin fish. The advisory recommends limiting or eliminating consumption of certain species of fish due to elevated levels of mercury found in fish samples. The complete fish advisory is posted on bulletin boards at boat launch areas or visit www.mass.gov/dph/fishadvisories.
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