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GENERAL FISHING LAWS AND DEFINITIONS
DEFINITIONS
Artificial Lure: Any fishing lure constructed by humans as an imitation or substitute for natural bait or fish forage and includes, but is not limited to artificial flies, spinners, spoons, poppers, plugs, jigs and plastic, rubber or other artificial imitations of natural bait( Title 12, § 10001-4). An artificial lures only rule prohibits the use of any live, dead or chemically preserved natural or organic bait or food( Title 12, § 12655).
Baitfish trap: The term " baitfish trap " means a device used to take baitfish fitted with rigid entrance or exit holes and having a volume no greater than 50 cubic feet.( Title 12, § 10001-7).
Bass: The term“ bass”, when used alone, includes largemouth and smallmouth.
Brook Trout: The term“ brook trout” includes brook trout, splake, and Arctic charr( Sunapee trout and blueback trout).
Dip Net: A device consisting of a rigid frame filled with netting, firmly attached to a rigid handle and manually operated by a single person( Title 12, § 10001-12-A).
Fly( Artificial Fly): A single-pointed hook dressed with feathers, hair, thread, tinsel, or any similar material to which no additional hook, spinner, spoon or similar device is added( Title 12, § 10001-26).
Fly Fishing: Casting upon water and retrieving in a manner in which the weight of the fly line propels the fly( Title 12, § 10001-27).
General Fishing Law: General Fishing Law is defined as laws and rules that govern fishing in all water bodies unless there are other more specific regulations listed. More specifically, general law covers any legal terminal gear, daily bag and possession limits, season dates and species. The General Fishing Law provisions are located on the front cover flap.
Hook: A single fish hook constructed with 1, 2 or 3 points( Title 12, § 10001-30). See single-baited hook definition.
Ice Fishing: Taking freshwater fish during the ice fishing season through man-made openings in the ice by the use of ice fishing implements. It is unlawful to open water fish in inland waters while positioned on ice( Title 12, § 12601).
Ice Fishing Implement: Any lawful fishing implement used to take fish through the ice including a trap( tip-up), jig stick, rod in hand or handline, except that a person engaged in taking smelts and baitfish may do so in accordance with the laws and rules governing these activities.
Ice Fishing Trap( Tip-Up): An ice fishing implement for storing line, designed to be set through the ice and to indicate when something has disturbed the attached bait.
Inland Waters: All waters within the State above the rise and fall of the tide and wholly or partially within the territorial limits of the state( Title 12, § 10001-35).
Lead Sinker: A device that contains lead that is designed to be attached to a fishing line and intended to sink the line and does not include artificial lures, ice‐fishing sounders, weighted line, weighted flies or jig heads( Title 12, § 12663-B & Title 12, § 12664).
Lead Jig: A hook with a lead weight molded to it, regardless of whether it is painted, coated or covered by some other substance or by attached skirts. " Lead jig " does not include a fishing-related lead item, including, but not limited to, a lead core line, spinnerbaits, buzzbaits, spoons, poppers, plugs or flies( Title 12, § 12663-B & Title 12, § 12664).
Minimum Legal Length: The total length of a fish measured from the tip of the snout to the tip of the tail, with the lobes of the tail squeezed together( Title 12, § 12601).
Open Water Fishing: Taking freshwater fish during the open water fishing season by means of hook and line in hand, or attached to a rod, or by casting or trolling artificial flies, lures, or baited hooks, provided that the person angling does not take fish through a man-made hole in the ice, from the ice or from any object supported by the ice( Title 12, § 12601).
River Herring( migratory sea-run): " River herring " means the same as Alewife or Blueback Herring( Title 12, § 6001-37-B.
Salmon: The term“ Salmon”, when used alone, means the same as landlocked salmon( Title 12, § 10001-54).
Set Line: A line extending into the water and rigged to catch fish that has one end secured to the shore, or to a fixed or buoyant object, that is not personally attended( Title 12, § 10001-56).
Single-Baited Hook: A single-baited apparatus designed to catch only one fish at a time( Title 12, § 10001-57). See Hook definition.
Snagging: To fish by manipulating a hook or hooks in such a manner as to pierce or snag the fish in a part of the body other than the mouth( Title 12, § 10001-58).
Terminal Gear: Tackle at the end of a line used to catch fish, including baited and unbaited hooks, artificial lures and baits, and artificial flies.
Thoroughfares: Waterways connecting lakes and / or ponds. The general fishing laws governing lakes and ponds also apply to thoroughfares( includes seasons, bag limits, length limits, etc.)
To Fish: To take, catch, kill, molest or destroy any fish or to attempt to take, catch, kill or molest or destroy any fish( Title 12, § 10001-23).
Togue: The term“ Togue” means the same as Lake Trout.
Tributary: A river, stream, or brook flowing directly or indirectly into a lake, pond, or another river, stream, or brook. A lake or great pond shall not be construed to mean tributary. The tributary to a great pond shall not be considered a tributary to the outlet of that great pond( Title 12, § 10001-66).
Troll: To fish by trailing a line rigged to catch fish behind or in front of a watercraft being propelled by mechanical, wind or manual power( Title 12, § 10001-67).
Note: Tandem flies are allowed when trolling.
Trout: The term“ trout” when used alone, includes brook trout, brown trout, rainbow trout, Arctic charr( Sunapee trout and blueback trout), and splake. ■
2026 STATE OF MAINE LAWS & RULES FISHING