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Maine fishing holds much in store for all levels of
fishermen, from young beginners to world-class anglers. Information and resources
are readily available. Tackle shops are located virtually everywhere, and offer
bait, waders, line, equipment and, most importantly, the inside scoop on local
hot spots.
To go freshwater fishing on Maine's lakes, ponds
and rivers, it's easy to get a license and a guide who can lead you to hidden
fishing spots and help cook up the catch of the day. Striped bass tempt
saltwater anglers who fish along Maine's 3,500 miles of coastwhile
Atlantic bluefin tuna or sharks lure fishermen to offshore waters.
Here are answers to some of the most commonly asked
questions about fishing in Maine.
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FRESHWATER FISHING | SALTWATER FISHING | ICE FISHING
FRESHWATER FISHING
Pristine forestland covers about 17 million acres in Maine — holding 6,000
lakes and ponds and nearly 32,000 miles of rivers and streams.
Q: When is fishing season?
A: Open water season, fishing in
Maine's lakes, ponds and rivers, starts on April 1 and runs through September,
although some regulations extend seasons for some species.
Q: Do you need a license?
A: Residents and non-residents need a
current license to go freshwater fishing in Maine. The Department of
Inland Fisheries and Wildlife issues these licenses. You can get a license at
many outfitters, sporting goods stores, convenience stores and at information
centers. For 2003, resident fishing licenses (for people 16 years and older) cost
$19. Non-resident licenses for the season are $50. There are also 1, 3, 7 and 15
day licences available as well, as are non-resident junior licenses for 12- to
15- year olds (no license is required for non-residents under 12).
You can also apply for a fishing license online with a major credit card or you can get an
application to mail in.
Q: What is the new milfoil program all about?
A: Milfoil is an
invasive plant that the state would like to keep out of Maine's inland waters.
Beginning in 2002, all motorized watercraft on inland waters must display a Lake
and River Protection Sticker. The green triangular stickers cost $10 for
residents and $20 for nonresidents. More on
milfoil...
Q: Are there limits on how many fish you can catch and how big they
are?
A: There are statewide daily bag and possession limits for
bass, salmon, trout, pickerel, whitefish and smelts. There are also special
regulations; for example, at certain times of the year, you can only use
artificial lures, and certain areas may have different regulations. The state
publishes a booklet that lists general laws as well as special
regulations.
Q: How can you get a copy?
A: Pick one up: It is
available at many outfitters, sporting goods stores, convenience stores and at
information centers.
Request a copy: Write to DIF&W, Information
Center, 284 State Street, 41 State House Station, Augusta, ME 04333-0041
Phone: for a copy: (207) 287-8000
E-mail: send e-mail to: becky.orff@state.me.us
On the
Web: You can also look up Open Water Fishing regulations on the Inland
Fisheries and Wildlife Web site: Open Water
Fishing Regulations
Q: Where you can get more information?
A: For more on
freshwater fishing in Maine, call the 24-hour automated Department of Inland
Fisheries and Wildlife's phone line with updated information on fishing
seasons: 1-207-287-8003 or visit the department's Web site.
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SALTWATER FISHING
Q: What are the main species that people fish for and where do they
fish?
A: Maine's clean, beautiful 3,500-mile coastline is dotted
with estuaries and bays offering mackerel, pollock, bluefish and the prime target
species, striped bass, commonly called stripers. The sandy beaches along
the southern and mid-coast area offer excellent surf fishing, especially for
stripers and bluefish. Offshore, in deeper colder waters, Maine fishermen go for
tuna, porbeagle, shark, haddock and cod.
Q: Do you need a license to fish in the ocean?
A: No. No
license is required in Maine.
Q: Are there limits on how many fish you can catch and how big they
are?
A: Yes, there are certain restrictions (bag and size limits). For striped
bass, a person may take and possess one fish per day. The fish may be between 20
and 26 inches total length, inclusive, or 40 inches or greater in total
length. Striper fishing is hook and line only; no gaffing of striped bass is
allowed. There are special regulations for the Kennebec region, including the
Sheepscot and Androscoggin Rivers and all related bays and tributaries.
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ICE FISHING
Ice fishing, once a necessity during Maine's long winters, is always popular with
visitors who enjoy the serenity and camaraderie of a day on the ice.
Q: What are the main species that people catch during ice fishing
season?
A: In Maine's lakes andl arger rivers, the patient
fishermen might land landlocked salmon, rainbow trout, brown trout, brook trout,
togue (lake trout) and smelts. Other common species include bass, pickerel,
whitefish and smelts.
Q: Where can you go ice fishing?
A: For tips on ice fishing,
Portland Press Herald staff writer Larry Woodward gives advice on where to go, setting
up and staying warm.
Q: What kind of equipment do you need?
A: Dwayne Rioux,
Outdoors writer for the Central Maine Newspapers, offers advice on line, augers, bait
and safety.
Q: What kind of rules apply to ice fishing?
A: There are length and
bag limits. You must check with the state to see which bodies of water are open
and when, and what special rules apply. The Fish and Wildlife department has a
list of rules that apply to all bodies of water on its Web site.
Night fishing is not allowed; you can fish from a half hour before sunrise to a
half hour after sunset. In general, the season runs from January 1 to March 31,
but dates vary by species and by body of water.
Q: Do you need a license?
A: Residents and non-residents need a
current license to go freshwater fishing in Maine. The Department of
Inland Fisheries and Wildlife issues these licenses. You can get a license at
many outfitters, sporting goods stores, convenience stores and at information
centers. For 2003, resident fishing licenses (for people 16 years and older) cost
$19. Non-resident licenses for the season are $50. There are also 1, 3, 7 and 15
day licences available as well, as are non-resident junior licenses for 12- to
15- year olds (no license is required for non-residents under 12).
You can also apply for a fishing license online with a major credit card or you can get an
application to mail in.
Q: Where can you get more information?
A: For more information
on fishing rules and regulations in Maine, see the Department of Inland
Fisheries and Wildlife's Web site.
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Maine's freshwater fish fall into two groups: those that live in
cold water year-round (like trout and landlocked salmon) and those that stay in
warm, shallow water in lakes and ponds (like bass, perch and pickerel, above).
Beginners do best with this group. More ...
Striped bass (above) are popular with saltwater anglers who fish
in Maine's coastal waters. Beginners might go for the abundant mackerel;
offshore, the big lure is Atlantic tuna. More ...
Look for this Inland Fisheries and
Wildlife booklet of Open Water Fishing Regulations or check the IF&W Web
site.
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