However, if you don’t know the state’s fishing laws, taking a trip to one of Maine’s nearly 6,000 ponds can quickly lead to the trouble and headaches that you’re looking to get away from.
Call 207-571-8146 or contact us online to schedule a consult with one of our highly skilled criminal defense attorneys today.
Table of Contents
General Fishing Laws in Maine
Faced with having to find a balance between letting people enjoy the outdoors now, and keeping enough fish in the waters for future generations to enjoy, as well, Maine’s Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife regulates various aspects of fishing, such as the number and size of fish that can be caught, as well as when and where you can fish. The complexity of making sure that there will be enough for everyone, both now and years from now, is daunting, and has created a haze of regulations, with many lakes, ponds, and rivers having their own, specific rules.
Generally, there are rules that regulate the fish you can catch by species, number and size:
| Minimum Length | |||
| Type of Fish | Daily Bag | Lakes & Ponds | Rivers, Streams & Brooks |
| Brook Trout (includes Splake and Arctic char) | 5* | 6 inches | 6 inches |
| Landlocked Salmon | 2 | 14 inches** | 14 inches** |
| Togue (Lake Trout) | 2 | 18 inches | 18 inches |
| Brown Trout | 2 | 14 inches** | 6 inches** |
| Rainbow Trout | 2 | 12 inches | 6 inches |
| Bass (large and smallmouth) | 2 | 10 inches, with only 1 exceeding 14 inches | |
| Pickerel | 10 | None | |
| Whitefish | 3 | None | |
| Smelts | 2 quarts | None | |
| Northern Pike | Unlimited | None | |
| Muskellunge | Unlimited | None | |
| American Eel | 25 | 9 inches | |
| Shad | 2 | None | |
| Striped Bass | 1 | 20-26 inches in total length, or 40 inches or greater in total length | |
| Atlantic Salmon | Federally endangered species – no fishing allowed | ||
| Alewife | 25 | None | |
| Other species | Unlimited | None | |
*On lakes and ponds in Androscoggin, Cumberland, Franklin, Hancock, Kennebec, Knox, Lincoln, Oxford, Penobscot, Sagadahoc, Waldo, Washington and York counties the daily bag limit on brook trout is 2 fish.
**Several counties are exempt from this rule. Additionally, in Hancock and Washington counties, there is also a maximum length of 25 inches.
Fishing Regulations in Maine
These regulations, though seemingly complex enough, are only the general rules: Each body of water can have its own set of rules, governing what kinds of fish can be pulled from them, and how. These rules have been compiled online, and are divided between water in the southern and eastern counties, and in the northern and western counties of Maine. Some bodies of water follow the general rules, set in the table above. Other bodies of water are given an “S Code” and a “Season Date Code.” Each of the 33 S Codes is a special rule for fishing in that body of water, while Season Date Codes can affect when it’s permissible to fish there. Some bodies of water are further split, with one S Code given to one part of the waterway, and another S Code given to another part.
Poaching in Maine
Knowing the rules and regulations of a fishery that you want to enjoy is your responsibility, so be sure to look up that body of water and see if it has its own S Code or Season Date Code. If it does, make sure to abide by it, or you could face penalties for poaching. If there’s no S Code specific for that body of water, you still need to abide by the general rules.
Contact Our Fishing Regulations Defense Lawyers in Maine
If you’ve been accused of violating Maine’s fishing regulations or want to make sure that you’re following them correctly, contact The Maine Criminal Defense Group today to schedule an appointment with one of our experienced attorneys. We have experience with the state’s conservation laws as a defense attorney which gives us invaluable experience and allow us to protect you against unreasonable charges.
Call 207-571-8146 or contact us online to schedule a consult with one of our highly skilled criminal defense attorneys today.
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