SlotGaugeCheck a catchWhelk regulations in New York
· Shellfish & crabs · 2026 season
Is it a keeper? A whelk is a keeper today if it measures at least 5.5 inches, with a daily limit of 24.
Whelk size limit, season and daily limit
| Where | Season | Size limit | Daily limit |
|---|---|---|---|
| NY Marine & Coastal District | Open year-round | 5.5 inch minimum | 24 per person per day |
Exact NYSDEC wording
- Season
- Open year-round
- Size
- 5 1/2 inches shell length or 2 1/4 inches shell height (Long Island Sound: 5 1/4 in or 2 1/8 in until Jan 1, 2028)
- Limit
- 24
- statewide — as printed
- “Whelk … 5 ½ inches shell length OR 2 ¼ inches shell height 24 All year”
Source: NYSDEC, captured 2026-10-04 (2026 season).
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About the whelk
Species of gastropod
The knobbed whelk is a species of very large predatory sea snail, or in the US, a whelk, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Busyconidae, the busycon whelks.
Read more about Knobbed whelk on Wikipedia →
Text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0. Regulations on this page come from NYSDEC, not Wikipedia.
Frequently asked
What is the size limit for Whelk in New York?
5.5 inch minimum in New York state waters.
How many Whelk can you keep per day in New York?
24 per person per day.
When is Whelk season in New York?
Open year-round.
Is my Whelk a keeper today?
A whelk is a keeper today if it measures at least 5.5 inches, with a daily limit of 24.