No bag limits.
Recreational anglers will be limited to two hooks per line and one line per
angler when fishing for groundfish.
POLLOCK: Pollachius virens
There is a minimum size of 19 inches. EXCEPTION: A creel limit of 6 pollock per person per day that are under 19" total length is allowed for recreational anglers in Maine territorial seas.
REDFISH: Sebastes fasciatus
The minimum size is 9 inches. No bag limits.
WINTER FLOUNDER: Pleuronectes americanus
The minimum size is 12 inches. 8 fish per angler per day.
BLUEFISH: Pomatomus saltatrix
There is no minimum size. The daily bag limit is 3 fish per angler per day.
MACKEREL: Scomber scombrus
No size or bag limits and no minimum size.
SHAD: Alosa sapidissima
There is no minimum size. Using only hook and line, a person may fish for or possess only 2 fish per day.
BROWN TROUT: Salmo trutta
The minimum size is 14 inches. There is a two fish per angler per day bag limit.
ATLANTIC SALMON: Salmo salar
It is unlawful to angle, take or possess any Atlantic salmon from all Maine waters (including coastal waters). Any salmon incidentally caught must be released immediately, alive and uninjured. At no time should the Atlantic salmon be removed from the water.
2006 MAINE STRIPED BASS REGULATIONS
No changes from the 2005 season
Maine's striped bass regulations cover all Maine coastal waters up to the head of tide in all rivers. In addition, there are special regulations in effect from December 1 through June 30 in the Kennebec, Sheepscot and Androscoggin Rivers and all related tributaries (see below).
STATEWIDE REGULATIONS
OPEN SEASON January 1 through December 31, inclusive (except the
Kennebec watershed, see below).
BAG & SIZE LIMITS A person may take and possess 1 fish per day. The fish may be between 20 and 26 inches total length, inclusive, OR 40
inches or greater in total length.
DISPOSITION Personal Use Only, sale is prohibited. Fish must remain
whole and intact while fishing.
GENERAL GEAR RESTRICTIONS Hook and line only, no gaffing of striped
bass.
SPECIAL KENNEBEC** REGULATIONS
(including the Sheepscot and Androscoggin Rivers and all related bays
and tributaries)
OPEN SEASON July 1 through November 30, inclusive.
CATCH & RELEASE SEASON WITH SPECIAL GEAR RESTRICTIONS From May 1 through June 30, inclusive. Fishing in this area is restricted to single hooked (may be a single treble hook) artificial lures only and use of or possession of marine bait, dead or alive, is prohibited.
OPEN SEASON July 1 through November 30, inclusive.
CLOSED SEASON Striped bass fishing is prohibited from December 1 through April 30, inclusive.
**The Kennebec watershed is defined as all coastal waters inside and upstream of a line drawn from the outer extremity of Cape Small, in Phippsburg, to the outer extremity of Salter Island, thence to the outer extremity of Cape Newagen, in Southport. This area includes the coastal waters of Popham Beach and the adjoining State Park, Reid State Park, and all riverine waters of the Kennebec, Sheepscot, and Androscoggin Rivers including all bays and tributaries of those rivers to the head of tide. Due to the removal of Edwards dam, the "head of tide" in the Kennebec River is now at the downstream side of the power line located
approximately 4,200 feet upstream of the Father Curran Bridge in Augusta for enforcement purposes.
What's in store for striped bass in 2004 and 2005:
The governing body for striped bass on the Atlantic Coast, the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC), has declared, under the newly implemented Amendment 6 to the ASMFC Striped Bass Management Plan, that current agency regulations may remain status quo for 2004. This means Maine's regulations for 2004 are the same as in 2002; i.e. 1 slot fish or 1 trophy per day per angler.
However, the ASMFC does require that all agencies submit their current or proposed regulations for 2005 to the ASMFC Striped Bass Technical Committee (SBTC) for review and determination if these regulations comply with the guidelines set under Amendment 6. After deliberations by the DMR Recreational Advisory Committee it was recommended that we submit our current regulations this spring to the SBTC. If this option is approved by the SBTC it will then be brought forward to public hearings during late summer/early fall for discussion. For more details call 633- 9505.
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ATLANTIC HALIBUT REGULATIONS
Season:
East: The open season to fish for Atlantic halibut east of a line from
Schoodic Point in territorial waters begins at sunrise May 1st and ends
at sunset July 31st.
West: The open season to fish for Atlantic halibut west of Schoodic Point in
territorial waters begins at sunrise April 1st and ends at sunset
June 30th.
Size limit: All Atlantic Halibut caught in state waters must be 36 inches or
greater.
Possession limits: No more than (1) Atlantic halibut may be landed per day
from recreational, party or charter vessels. Recreational, party or charter
vessels may land no more than 50 Atlantic halibut per season.
Gear Type and Limits: It is illegal to fish for Atlantic halibut by any
method other than using size '14 oo' or greater circle hooks. The maximum
number of circle hooks per vessel shall be 450 per day.
License requirements: Recreational fishermen are not requred to obtain a commercial license and endorsement to fish for Atlantic halibut.
Tagging Project
The Department of Marine Resources is conducting a halibut tagging project. Here's what to do if you catch an Atlantic Halibut with a tag:
1. If you are keeping the fish, return the tag, with the catch location
to the Department of Marine Resources.
2. If you are not keeping the fish, record the tag number and catch
location and report it to the Department of Marine Resources. Release the fish as quickly as possible.
For more information please contact Kohl Kanwit at the Department of Marine
Resources
P.O. Box 8, West Boothbay Harbor, ME 04575
Phone: (207) 633-9535
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