Friday, March 18, 2011

Maine's Kennebec River Striped Bass Regulations May Change


Below is a notice from Maine's Department of Marine Resources regarding a public hearing concerning requested changes in the special regulations for striped bass fishing in the Kennebec River. The purpose of the original regulations is to protect spawning striped bass in the Kennebec River.

Department of Marine Resources

NOTICE OF RULEMAKING



Chapter 42.03 Striped Bass – Closed Area and Closed Season

(Kennebec River and Sheepscot river areas)

The proposed rulemaking would remove the marine bait prohibition and replace it with the requirement to use circle hooks while using marine bait when fishing in the Kennebec River closed area during the established May 1 to June 30th season. The closed area is also proposed to change from upstream and inside the line drawn from Cape Small to Cape Newagen to a line upstream and inside from Fort Popham, Phippsburg to Kennebec Point to Indian Point, Georgetown, and upstream from a line in the area called Robinhood between Lowe Point, Phippsburg to Newdick Point, Westport and downstream of the Route 144 Westport Island Bridge therefore removing the Sheepscot River from the Kennebec rules and placing it under the statewide regulations.

This request was made by the Recreational Fishing Alliance (RFA) - Barry Bibson of Boothbay Harbor who is the rep. for RFA in Maine.



PUBLIC HEARING: April 4, 2011, 6pm, Bath City Hall, 1st Floor Auditorium, 55 Front Street, Bath

DEADLINE FOR WRITTEN COMMENTS: April 14, 2011

CONTACT PERSONS: Bruce Joule (207-633-9505) or Pat Keliher (207-287-9973)



For more information:

Online the web link for a copy of the proposed rules is: http://www.maine.gov/dmr/rulemaking/

Or, to obtain a hardcopy by US mail write: Dept. of Marine Resources, attn: L. Churchill, PO Box 8, West Boothbay Harbor, Maine 04575-0008 TEL: 207-633-9584, or

EMAIL: laurice.churchill@maine.gov, FAX: (207) 633-9579 or TTY: (207) 633-9500

To receive future rulemaking notices by email please use contact info above.