GENERAL FISHING LAWS AND DEFINITIONS 3
Line Restrictions: Unless otherwise provided by rule, the number of lines an angler may fish at any one time is limited to two lines while open water fishing( Title 12, § 12652) and five lines while ice fishing( Title 12, § 12659-A). At no time may an angler fish with more than five lines.
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 licensed as Fee Fishing Ponds( Title 12, 12508).
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). ■
2026 STATE OF MAINE LAWS & RULES FISHING