Fish guide
Sea Robins (non-target)
Northern sea robin (Prionotus carolinus) and striped sea robin (Prionotus evolans). Also called Searobin, Robin.
Very common summer bycatch on fluke and porgy baits. Listed so you can identify it. Not a target.
Showing the fish for Cape Cod and the Islands, MA.
Season in Cape Cod
Animal Diversity Web: northern searobins north of Cape Hatteras go inshore in spring and offshore in late fall. No local month data. (Our inference)
Season by region
| Long Island | JFMAMJJASOND |
|---|---|
| Cape Cod | JFMAMJJASOND |
| Rhode Island | JFMAMJJASOND |
| Connecticut | JFMAMJJASOND |
Where to find them
Sandy and hard bottom in the bays, inlets and ocean reefs in summer, wherever you fish for fluke.
Bottom.
Handling
- Sharp spines on the cheeks, head and shoulders
- Spiny dorsal fin
Grip from behind the head with a towel, avoiding the cheek and shoulder spines; unhook with pliers.
Keep or release
Usually released. A Northport shop suggests a sea robin strip on a fluke jig as bait (OTW, August 13, 2020).
Typical: About a foot. Large: 15 to 16 in. NY striped sea robin record 3.70 lb (2025).
Limits
FishOS has not checked the MA limits yet. Check the size, bag and season rules with the Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries before you keep a fish.