Tribal Waters
WATERS REGULATED BY THE TRIBES Any pond 10 acres or less within Indian Territory is regulated by the Tribe in whose territory the pond is located. Anyone wishing to fish in one of these ponds in Indian Territory should contact one of the following:
Penobscot Nation( 207) 817-7331
Department of Natural Resources 12 Wabanaki Way Indian Island, ME 04468
Passamaquoddy Warden Service Indian Township( 207) 796-2677 PO Box 446 Princeton, ME 04668
Pleasant Point( 207-853-2551) PO Box 343 Perry, ME 04667
WATERS REGULATED BY THE MAINE TRIBAL-STATE COMMISSION As a result of the Maine Indian Claim Settlement Act of 1980, the Maine Indian Tribal-State Commission has exclusive jurisdiction over fishing on any pond greater than 10 acres with 50 % or more of its shoreline within Indian( Passamaquoddy or Penobscot) territory and any section of a river, brook, or stream both sides of which are in Indian territory or
APPENDIX: TRIBAL WATERS
one side of which is in Indian territory for a continuous length of ½ mile or more. The Maine Indian Tribal-State Commission has adopted rules which affect any waters meeting the above criteria. Anyone wishing to fish in these waters should contact:
Maine Indian Tribal-State Commission( 207) 726-8555
Mailing Address: P. O. Box 35 Whiting, ME 04691
Physical Address: 10 Commissary Point Road Trescott Township, ME 04652 www. mitsc. org
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GENERAL FISHING LAWS General Fishing Laws listed below apply to tribal waters in Passamaquoddy and Penobscot territories that do not have Special Fishing Laws. If a water has Special Fishing Laws that differ from the General Fishing Laws listed below, they will be listed in the Special Fishing Laws section.
Open Water Fishing Season April 1 – September 30: Lakes, ponds, rivers, streams, and brooks are open to open water fishing.
Ice Fishing Season January 1 – March 31: Lakes and ponds are open to ice fishing. Rivers, streams, and brooks are closed to ice fishing. ■
TERMINAL GEAR Use of all legal forms of bait( including live baitfish / smelts), artificial lures, and artificial flies is PERMITTED.
SPECIES
Brook Trout( includes Splake & Arctic charr)
DAILY BAG & POSSESSION LIMITS BY SPECIES
5 fish Only 2 fish from South Zone lakes & ponds
LAKES & PONDS
LENGTH LIMITS RIVERS, STREAMS, BROOKS
6 inches minimum 6 inches minimum
Brown Trout 2 fish 14 inches minimum 6 " min & 25 " max Rainbow Trout 2 fish 12 inches minimum 6 inches minimum Landlocked Salmon 2 fish 14 inches minimum 14 " min & 25 " max Togue( Lake Trout) 2 fish 18 inches minimum 18 inches minimum SPECIES DAILY BAG & POSSESSION LIMITS LENGTH LIMITS
Bass( Largemouth & Smallmouth)
NORTH ZONE: Unlimited
None
SOUTH ZONE: 2 fish No minimum length. Only 1 may exceed 14 inches. Whitefish 3 fish None Smelts 2 quarts None
Sea-run Atlantic Salmon, Redfin Pickerel, Swamp Darter
Endangered or Threatened Species- No Fishing Permitted
Striped Bass, Shad, River Herring, American Eel, Sturgeon See page A-1 Inland species not listed above Unlimited None
2026 STATE OF MAINE LAWS & RULES FISHING