GENERAL FISHING LAWS AND DEFINITIONS 3
Litter : It is unlawful to dispose of litter ( including abandoned ice fishing shacks ) anywhere in this State , except in areas or receptacles designed for that purpose . Convicted violators face fines up to $ 500 for the first offense and up to $ 2,000 for subsequent offenses ( Title 17 , § 2264-A ).
Marking Fish : It is unlawful to tag , fin clip , or otherwise mark any fish to be released alive into the inland waters of the State without the written consent of the Commissioner ( Title 12 , § 12601 ).
Night Fishing : Except as otherwise provided by rule , all waters open to fishing are open to fishing 24 hours a day . All lines must be under the immediate supervision of the person who set them ( Open Water Fishing - Title 12 , § 12652 , Ice Fishing - Title 12 , § 12659-A ).
Exception : All lines set through the ice at night for cusk must be checked at least once every hour by the person who set them ( Title 12 , § 12659-A-4 ).
Notice of Submerged Vehicle : The owner of any motor vehicle , all-terrain vehicle or snowmobile that becomes submerged , or partially submerged , in the waters of the State shall immediately notify the Commissioner of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife of the event and the location of the vehicle . The owner is legally liable for removal and to pay any damages resulting from the submersion or removal . Motor vehicles shall be removed within 30 days ( same day if public water supply ). Snowmobiles and ATVs shall be removed within 24 hours ( Title 17 , § 2267-A ).
Possessing Gift Fish : A person who does not possess a valid fishing license issued under chapter 913 may not possess a fish or any part of a fish given to that person except a person may possess in that person ’ s domicile a gift fish that was lawfully caught and is plainly labeled with the name of the person who gave the fish and the year , month and day the fish was caught by that person . This section does not apply to baitfish ( Title 12 , § 12613 ).
Possession Limit ( All Fish ): A person shall not possess at any time more fish than may lawfully be taken in one day ( Title 12 , § 12602-2 ).
Railroad Track Restrictions : A person may not , without right , stand or walk on a railroad track or railroad bridge or pass over a railroad bridge except by railroad conveyance . For penalties see Title 23 , Chapter 611 , § 7007 .
Removal of Bag Limits on Bass : In waters where the bag limit on bass has been removed by special rule , the season on bass and the method of fishing for them is the same as for trout and landlocked salmon ( Title 12 , § 12601 ).
Removal of Heads and Tails : It is unlawful to alter the length of landlocked salmon , trout , togue , lake whitefish , and bass unless the fish are being prepared for immediate cooking . It is unlawful to possess or transport fish dressed in such a manner that the species of fish cannot be identified ; unless the fish are being prepared for immediate cooking ( smoking does not constitute cooking ) ( Title 12 , § 12601 ).
River Herring : A licensed fisherman may harvest up to 25 river herring ( for consumption by that person or members of their family ) by use of hook and line or dip net ( Title 12 , § 12506 -5-A ).
Sale of Certain Fish Prohibited : It is unlawful to buy or sell , directly or indirectly , trout , togue , landlocked salmon , bass , white perch , or pickerel ( except fish which have been lawfully produced by commercial producers and skins of fish which have been preserved by taxidermy ) ( Title 12 , § 12609-A ).
Salmon Eggs As Bait : Commercially prepared eggs from species that do not naturally occur in this State may be used for bait ( Title 12 , § 12553 ).
Season Dates : All dates are inclusive .
Smelting : Unless closed by rule as indicated within the Special Regulations Section a person holding a valid Maine fishing license may take smelts for recreational purposes only from the inland waters or portions of inland waters that are naturally free of ice with a dip net in the usual and ordinary way from noon to 2:00 a . m . in accordance with bag limits established by rule . Bag limits established by rule under this paragraph are for a 24-hour period , beginning at noon on a given day and ending at 11:59 a . m . the following day .
A person may not take smelts with a dip net unless it meets the requirements listed under the dip net definition ( Title 12 , § 12456 ).
A dip net when used to take smelts in a tributary or within 100 feet of the mouth of a tributary must contain a rigid circular frame that is not more than 24 inches in diameter as measured at any point on the hoop and manually operated by a single person ( Title 12 , § 10001-12-A ). It unlawful to alter smelts ( including removal of head , tail or innards ) from their natural state until a wet measure has been conducted .
Note : An unlimited number of baited hooks may be used on your line while fishing for smelts .
Snagging : It is unlawful to fish for any fish , except suckers , by snagging ( Title 12 , § 12651 & Title 12 , § 12602 ).
Special Bag Limit : Whenever any waters have a special bag limit , no person shall possess more than one day ’ s bag limit taken from those waters . ( Title 12 , § 12601 )
Species Identification : It is unlawful to possess or transport fish dressed in such a manner that the species of the fish cannot be identified unless the fish are being prepared for immediate cooking . ( Smoking does not constitute cooking .) ( Title 12 , § 12601 )
Suckers : Persons licensed , or otherwise entitled to fish , may take suckers for their own use between April 1st and June 30th from all rivers , streams and brooks open to fishing by use of a hand spear , archery equipment , or by snagging .
Note : A person may not use archery equipment to harvest suckers unless the arrow or bolt used has a barbed or pronged point and the arrow or bolt is attached to the archery equipment with a line . ( Title 12 , § 12506-7 ).
Supervision of Lines : All lines must be under the immediate supervision of the person who set them .
Exception : All lines set through the ice at night for cusk must be checked at least once every hour by the person who set them ( Open Water Fishing - Title 12 , - § 12652 , Ice Fishing - Title 12 , § 12659-A , Cusk Fishing - Title 12 , § 12659-A ).
Ten-Acre Ponds : All ponds of 10 acres or less , whether the pond is natural or artificial , formed on rivers , streams and brooks are governed by the same fishing laws that apply to the river , stream , or brook where the pond is situated ( Title 12 , § 12451 ).
Note : This does not apply to private ponds .
Exception : If a lake or pond is in the alphabetical waterbody list of the Special Fishing Laws section then lake and pond general and special laws apply .
Use of Explosive , Poisonous or Stupefying Substance : It is unlawful to take or destroy any fish by use of an explosive , poisonous or stupefying substance ( Title 12 , § 12653 ).
Violation of Limits : It is unlawful to fish for or possess fish in violation of the number , amount , or size limits of any rule adopted by the Commissioner ( Title 12 , § 12602 ). ■
2024 STATE OF MAINE LAWS & RULES FISHING