Title 12, Title 12

1. Open seasons. 1-A. Open seasons. The commissioner shall establish open seasons for fishing, except as provided in this section and section 6140‑A, subsection 4. A. The open-water fishing season on boundary waters between Maine and New Brunswick is from April 1st to September 3…

1. Closed waters. Except as the commissioner may by rule provide and as provided in subsection 2, the following waters are closed to fishing: A. The area within 150 feet of any operational fishway, except: (1) At the following places, the fishway and the area within 75 feet of an…

1. Aroostook River. A person 12 years of age or younger may fish from shore with a single-baited hook and line on the following areas of the Aroostook River during the open-water fishing season: A. In the Town of Caribou, from and including Otter Brook upstream to the Maine Publi…

A person who possesses a valid fishing license and has suffered the loss of an arm may use any type of rod and reel to fish with a fly on waters open to fly-fishing. For the purposes of this section, "loss of an arm" means the physical loss of the arm at the wrist or above.

1. Adoption of state heritage fish waters. The commissioner shall adopt by rule a list of state heritage fish waters composed of lakes and ponds that contain state heritage fish, as defined in Title 1, section 212‑A. This list must include waters identified as eastern brook trout…

1. License required. Except as otherwise permitted pursuant to this Part, a person may not fish for, transport or possess fish without a valid license issued under this section. Each day a person violates this subsection, that person commits a Class E crime for which a minimum fi…

1. Resident and nonresident under 16. A resident and nonresident under 16 years of age may fish without a license. 2. Land legally possessed by resident; domicile; 10 or more contiguous acres in size. Notwithstanding section 12501, subsection 1 and subject to all other applicable…

1. Permit required. Except as provided in sections 12504‑A and 12505, a person may not conduct a fishing derby without a valid permit issued under this section. Each day a person violates this subsection, that person commits a Class E crime for which a minimum fine of $50 and an …

1. Permit required. A person may not conduct a fishing derby held by an educational institution that awards prizes in excess of $10,000 for a single fishing derby without a permit issued under this section. For purposes of this section, "educational institution" means an accredit…

1. Permit required. A person may not conduct a bass tournament in waters free of ice without a permit issued under this section. Each day a person violates this subsection, that person commits a Class E crime for which a minimum fine of $50 and an amount equal to twice the applic…

1. Permit required. Except as otherwise authorized pursuant to this Part and except as provided in subsection 5‑A, a person may not fish for or possess the following fish using the harvesting methods listed in subsection 2 without a valid permit issued under this section: A. [PL …

1. License required. Except as otherwise authorized pursuant to this Part, a person may not cultivate or sell fish that have been commercially grown within the State or imported from outside the State without a valid license issued under this section. Each day a person violates t…

1. License required. A person who owns a private pond may not charge others for the opportunity to fish in that private pond unless the owner of that pond possesses a valid private fee pond license issued by the commissioner under this section. Each day a person violates this sub…

1. Permit required. Except as otherwise authorized pursuant to this Part, a person may not introduce, import or transport any live fish or fish eggs into the State or receive or have in that person's possession fish or fish eggs so introduced, imported or transported without a va…

1. Permit required. Except as otherwise authorized pursuant to this Part, a person may not introduce fish or fish eggs of any kind into any inland waters without a valid permit issued under this section. 1-A. Penalty. A person who violates subsection 1 commits a Class E crime, ex…

1. Permit required. Except as otherwise authorized pursuant to this Part, a person may not introduce fish or fish eggs into a private pond without a valid permit issued under this section. 1-A. Penalty. A person who violates subsection 1 commits a Class E crime, except that, notw…

1. Permit required. Except as otherwise authorized pursuant to this Part, a person may not transport within the limits of the State live fish taken in the State, other than baitfish, Atlantic salmon used in commercial aquaculture and smelts, without a valid permit issued under th…

Whenever inland waters are closed to fishing, the commissioner may issue permits to take baitfish for bait purposes from those waters.

1. Definition. For purposes of this section, "business facility" means a fixed place of business and does not include a motor vehicle or trailer. Live smelts or baitfish that are held in or on a motor vehicle or trailer by a person licensed under this section are considered in tr…

1. Prohibition. A person licensed to deal in live baitfish pursuant to section 12551‑A may not purchase live smelts from a person who does not hold a current license to sell live smelts issued pursuant to section 12551‑A, subsection 3, paragraph A or C. 2. Penalty. The following …

1. Selling, using or possessing unlawful baitfish. 1-A. Unlawfully selling, using or possessing baitfish. Except as provided in this subsection and for baitfish as defined in section 10001, subsection 6, a person may not: A. Sell or offer for sale fish as bait for the purpose of …

A person may not disturb or take any baitfish trap or baitfish holding box or any fish from any baitfish trap or baitfish holding box other than that person's own without the consent of the owner of the baitfish trap or baitfish holding box. [PL 2003, c. 414, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); PL …

1. Checking baitfish traps. While trapping for baitfish in the inland waters with the use of a baitfish trap as defined in section 10001, subsection 7 from April 2nd to October 31st, a person shall check the baitfish trap or cause the baitfish trap to be checked at least once in …

A person may not import into this State any live fish, including smelts, that are commonly used for bait fishing in inland waters. [PL 2003, c. 414, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); PL 2003, c. 614, §9 (AFF).] A person who violates this section commits a Class E crime. The court shall also impos…

1. Prohibition. A person may not dispose of any live baitfish or smelts into inland waters of the State. 2. Penalty. The following penalties apply to violations of this section. A. A person who violates subsection 1 commits a civil violation for which a fine of not less than $100…

1. Civil violations. Notwithstanding section 10650, a person who violates a rule regulating open-water fishing or ice fishing, except a rule implementing a statute the violation of which is a Class E crime, commits a civil violation for which a fine of not less than $100 nor more…

A person may not: [PL 2003, c. 414, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); PL 2003, c. 614, §9 (AFF).] 1. Fish in violation of certain rules. Fish in violation of the number, amount, weight or size limits established by rules adopted by the commissioner; 2. Possess fish in violation of certain rules. …

1. Prohibition. A person may not fish in any pond or in that portion of any river or stream subject to the authority of the Maine Indian Tribal-State Commission created by Title 30, Part 4 in violation of the rules or regulations of the commission. 2. Penalty. The following penal…

1. Prohibition. A person may not fish for any fish during the closed season or possess any fish taken during the closed season on that fish. 2. Penalty. A person who violates this section commits a Class E crime. The court shall also impose a fine of $20 for each fish unlawfully …

1. Prohibition. A person may not ice fish in inland waters closed to ice fishing, except that person may fish for river herring and smelts in the manner provided under the laws regulating marine resources. 2. Penalty. A person who violates this section commits a Class E crime. Th…

1. Prohibition. A person may not introduce fish or fish spawn raised by the department into a private pond, unless the department permits the introduction for fishing events held in conjunction with educational or special programs sanctioned by the department. 2. Penalty. A perso…

1. Prohibition. A person may not keep the following species of fish at any sporting camp, hotel or public lodging place unless the name and address of the person who caught the fish is attached to the fish: A. Black bass; [PL 2003, c. 655, Pt. B, §269 (NEW); PL 2003, c. 655, Pt. …

1. Prohibition. Except as otherwise provided in this section, a person may not directly or indirectly purchase or sell the following species of fish: A. Black bass; [PL 2003, c. 655, Pt. B, §271 (NEW); PL 2003, c. 655, Pt. B, §422 (AFF).] B. Landlocked salmon; [PL 2003, c. 655, P…

1. Prohibition. A person may not import or offer for sale fresh or frozen any of the following fish: A. Salmon; [PL 2003, c. 655, Pt. B, §272 (NEW); PL 2003, c. 655, Pt. B, §422 (AFF).] B. Brook trout; [PL 2003, c. 655, Pt. B, §272 (NEW); PL 2003, c. 655, Pt. B, §422 (AFF).] C. B…

Except as otherwise provided in this Part, a person who takes a fish, other than baitfish or smelt, from inland waters pursuant to this Part shall immediately release that fish alive into the waters from which it was taken or immediately kill that fish. Any fish killed pursuant t…

A person violates this section if that person is the adult supervisor, parent or guardian of a minor under 16 years of age and that minor violates any provision of this Part pertaining to fishing. [PL 2009, c. 69, §5 (NEW).] 1. Civil violation. A person who violates this section …

1. Prohibition. A person who does not possess a valid fishing license issued under chapter 913 or this chapter 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 plain…

1. Prohibition. Except as provided in section 12506, subsection 7, a person may not fish by snagging as defined by section 10001, subsection 58. 2. Penalty. A person who violates this section commits a Class E crime. The court shall also impose a fine of $20 for each fish unlawfu…

1. Prohibition. Unless otherwise provided: A. A person may not fish with more than 2 lines at any one time during the open-water fishing season; and [PL 2009, c. 214, §8 (NEW).] B. A person may not fish during the open-water fishing season unless that person's fishing lines are u…

1. Prohibition. A person may not use dynamite or any other explosive, poisonous or stupefying substance at any time for the purpose of taking or destroying any kind of fish. 2. Penalty. A person who violates this section commits a Class E crime. The court shall also impose a fine…

1. Prohibition. A person may not angle or fish other than by the use of the single baited hook and line, artificial flies, artificial lures and spinners, except that a person may take smelts in accordance with rules adopted with regard to the taking of smelts. 2. Penalty. A perso…

1. Prohibition. A person may not fish with more than 3 unbaited artificial flies individually attached to a line or hook. 2. Penalty. The following penalties apply to violations of this section. A. A person who violates this section commits a civil violation for which a fine of n…

1. Prohibition. During times when fishing is limited by rule to the use of artificial lures only, a person may not use: A. Live bait; [PL 2003, c. 655, Pt. B, §278 (NEW); PL 2003, c. 655, Pt. B, §422 (AFF).] B. Dead bait; or [PL 2003, c. 655, Pt. B, §278 (NEW); PL 2003, c. 655, P…

1. Prohibition. A person may not: A. Possess any grapnel, trawl, weir, seine, gill net, trap, set line or drop net on or adjacent to any of the inland waters of the State, except in accordance with sections 12157 and 12506, section 12551‑A, subsection 7, paragraph A, subparagraph…

1. Prohibition. Except as provided in subsection 2, a person may not deposit any meat, bones, dead fish, parts of meat, bones, or dead fish or other food for fish for the purpose of luring fish, a practice known as "advance baiting." 2. Exception. A person may place food particle…

1. Prohibition. A person may not troll a fly in inland waters restricted to fly-fishing. 2. Penalty. The following penalties apply to violations of this section. A. A person who violates this section commits a civil violation for which a fine of not less than $100 nor more than $…