Maine has new saltwater fishing regulations. Below is the new information on law changes on Maine’s salt waters. Note the below is directly from DMR so there aren’t any interpretations.
DEPARTMENT OF MARINE RESOURCES
Chapter 42 - Striped Bass
42.01 Statewide Striped Bass Size Restrictions, Harvest Methods
1. Method of Taking.
A. It is unlawful to fish for or take striped bass in the waters of the state territorial waters, except by hook and line. It is unlawful to use a gaff to land any striped bass.
B. It is unlawful to use multiple (more than two) barbed or barbless treble hooks on any artificial lure or flies while fishing for striped bass in territorial waters.
C. It is unlawful to use treble hooks when using bait.
The following becomes effective January 1, 2013:
It is unlawful to use any hook other than a circle hook when using bait. For purposes of this chapter the definition of circle hook means “a non-offset hook with a point that points 90º
back toward the shaft of the hook”.
D. Any striped bass legally taken from the territorial waters shall be immediately released alive into the water from which it was taken, or killed at once. Any striped bass killed becomes part of the daily bag limit in accordance with Chapter 42.02.
2. Size Restrictions.
It is unlawful to take or possess striped bass which are less than 20 inches long or greater than 26 inches total length but less than 40 inches total length. It is unlawful to possess striped bass unless the fish are whole with head on and are between 20 and 26 inches total length or 40 inches and greater total length.
42.02 Striped Bass - Limits, Personal Use
It is unlawful for any person to fish for, or take or possess striped bass in or from territorial waters the waters of the state, except for personal use. The sale of wild striped bass caught for personal use or by commercial fisheries in other States or jurisdictions is prohibited in the State of Maine.
It is unlawful for any person to take or possess more than one (1) striped bass each day which may be between 20 and 26 inches in total length or 40 inches or greater in total length.
Note: No other changes are proposed in Chapter 42.
DEPARTMENT OF MARINE RESOURCES
Chapter 43 - Bluefish
43.01 Bluefish Limits
1. Method of Taking
A. Daily and Possession Limits.
Except as provided in 43.01(BA)(1) it shall be unlawful for any person to take, catch, kill, or possess more than 3 bluefish per day.
(1)B. Exemptions. The daily limit and possession limit shall not apply to persons licensed
under 12 M.R.S.A. §6501 and §6421. The possession limit shall not apply to persons licensed under 12 M.R.S.A. §6851 and §6852.
B. It is unlawful to use multiple (more than two) barbed or barbless treble hooks on any artificial lure or flies while fishing for bluefish.
C. It is unlawful to use treble hook(s) when using bait.
The following becomes effective January 1, 2013:
It is unlawful to use any hook other than a circle hook when using bait. For purposes of this chapter the definition of circle hook means “a non-offset hook with a point that points 90º back toward the shaft of the hook”.
D. Any striped bass killed during the take of bluefish becomes part of the daily bag limit in accordance with Chapter 42.02.
Basis Statement
Chapter 43 Bluefish
The Department is required to work within the framework provided by the ASMFC Management Plan that limits options when considering state management plan changes and
has explored rule changes that could protect bluefish. Fishing for bluefish with bait is an efficient means of catching bluefish during the spring, summer, and fall and a popular method
of catching all sizes of bluefish. There are advances in gear types that can enhance the conservation of current bluefish stocks without imposing stricter bag limits, seasons, or
closures. One area where improved conservation could occur is reduction of the discard mortality for bluefish caught and released by recreational anglers. The discard mortality for bluefish is~69% for bluefish that swallow a baited hook, and/or are hooked in the stomach, and then released. A study conducted to look at the survival of bluefish caught and released by hook and line (Williams, E.H. 1995. Survival of fish captured by hook and released. Masters Thesis,
University of Rhode Island, Kingston. Studies conducted separately on striped bass, for comparison to the bluefish studied, indicate that mortality with the use of circle hooks can be as low as 0.08, or less than 1%. One of the best studies conducted may be found online at
http://www.dnr.state.md.us/fisheries/recreational/articles/crsb.html.
This was a Maryland Coastal Conservation Association (CCA), Maryland Charter Boat
Association, and Maryland Saltwater Sportsman Association Study.
Regarding multiple treble hooks; based on angler and staff observations when two or more sets of treble hooks are “impaled” in a bluefish the amount of handling time is greatly
increased resulting in injuries that subsequently lead to increased mortality It is the Department’s position that these conservation measures are necessary and takes into consideration requests to allow tackle inventory to be sold (similar to the process used when converting from lead sinkers to less toxic sinker materials that lessen or eliminated
the tackle shop’s economic impact); and to use the next two seasons as a period for education of the public and guides, plus address the use of bait on treble hooks to reduce deep-hooking
mortality, Chapter 43.01(1)(C) would be modified to delay the use of bait on hooks other than circle hooks until January 1, 2013. Plus, during the interim period, as suggested by comment, the use of bait on treble hooks would be prohibited, thus giving an interim period to adjust to the new restrictions. These modifications are not considered substantive changes to the proposed rules as they offer a mechanism to find a balance to the range of comments and suggestions.
A technical correction has been made to Chapter 43.01(1)(B) removing the text ‘in territorial waters’. This phrase was removed based upon a question that resulted in a review to
find that this should not have been in these rules and was a typo carried over from the similar striped bass rules. Similarly, section D was also found to be unnecessary and removed based
on a commenter’s question regarding the use of bluefish when fishing for tuna.
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