Maine State Library Maine State Documents Inland Fisheries and Wildlife Law Books Inland Fisheries and Wildlife 1-1-2008 Maine Ice Fishing 2008/2009 Regulations Follow this and additional works at: http://digitalmaine.com/ifw_law_books Recommended Citation "Maine Ice Fishing 2008/2009 Regulations" (2008). Inland Fisheries and Wildlife Law Books. 452. http://digitalmaine.com/ifw_law_books/452 This Text is brought to you for free and open access by the Inland Fisheries and Wildlife at Maine State Documents. It has been accepted for inclusion in Inland Fisheries and Wildlife Law Books by an authorized administrator of Maine State Documents. For more information, please contact [email protected]. STATE OF MAINE ICE FISHING 2008/2009 REGULATIONS Regulations effective Ice-in 2007 - March 31, 2008 www.mefi shwildlife.com A MESSAGE FROM THE GOVERNOR I want to thank you for choosing to ice fi sh in Maine. Maine is well known for its wealth of natural resources. Those of us who live and visit Maine recognize the value of Maine’s waterways. Where else but Maine can you fi sh in over 6,000 lakes and ponds and 32,000 miles of rivers and streams for gamefi sh such as brook trout, landlocked salmon and small- mouth bass. Over 260,000 people fi sh in Maine each year, creating an economic impact of nearly $300 million annually. These anglers support over $100 million of wages and salaries, and generate nearly $200 million in retail sales. They also reel in nearly $20 million in tax revenue to the state. Your fi shing license dollars not only are a boon to the state’s economy, but it is your license dollars that fund the Department of Inland fi sher- ies and Wildlife. These dollars are used to enhance fi shing opportuni- ties, raise and stock fi sh, protect habitat and ensure and create access to our waters. Your license dollars are in investment in Maine. Thank you for purchasing a Maine fi shing license this year, and invest- ing in Maine’s outdoor future. John E. Baldacci Governor HOW TO USE THIS BOOK • Determine the town and county of the body of water you will be fi shing. • Read the instructions under the county heading, they are not all the same. • Look for the body of water you want to fi sh. • Read all the codes relating to that water. • An S code refers to Special Regulations listed on page 6. • Most brooks, streams, and rivers are closed to ice fi shing. Any that are open are listed. Cover Photo: Students of Georgetown Central School Photo taken by: Emily Jones 1 Special Regulations (S-Codes): page 6 A MESSAGE FROM THE COMMISSIONER Thank you for choosing to ice fi sh in Maine. What an array of choices now await you — there are thousands of lakes and ponds throughout the state, each uniquely a part of Maine. Before going ice fi shing this year, please famil- iarize yourself with the rules and regulations on the water that you wish to fi sh. We tailor laws to many individual waters, not only to protect a re- source, but also to improve it. Through surveys, we have learned that on some waters, people want to try for a trophy fi sh, and on other waters, anglers may only be interested in the total number of fi sh they catch. When you purchase a license, funds from the license sale are used to improve and protect the fi sheries throughout the state. It helps pay for stocking, research, surveys, and enforcement, all of which are designed to enhance our fi sheries. We want to hear what you think about fi shing in Maine. This year, when you are done fi shing in Maine, please log on to www.trip- tracks.com. At this site, you can record data about your fi shing trips which will be used by our biologists to better manage the state’s fi sheries. TripTracks is a more modern, user-friendly way for us to gather information on fi shing throughout the state. Your comments assist us in the management of many of Maine’s fa- vorite fi shing waters, so I hope you take the time to let us know what you may have caught and how many hours you have spent enjoying Maine while fi shing. Enjoy the privileges that come with purchasing a Maine Fishing License. Maine is a wonderful state where the changes in seasons only means changes in opportunities. Roland D. Martin Commissioner The Department of Inland Fisheries & Wildlife receives federal funds from the U.S. Department of the Interior. Accordingly, all Department programs and activities must be operated free from discrimination in regard to race, color, national origin, age, or handicap. Any person who believes that he or she has been discriminated against should write to the Offi ce of Equal Opportunity, U.S. Department of the Interior, Washington, D.C. 20240. Special Regulations (S-Codes): page 6 2 TABLE CONTENTS STATE OF MAINE OF ICE FISHING REGULATIONS ICE-IN 2007 – MARCH 31, 2008 I. General Laws General Regulations & Guidelines ..............................10-11 Season/Bag/Possession/Minimum Length Limits .............9 Special Regulation Codes..................................................6 II. Defi nitions, Laws and Guidelines Defi nitions ...................................................................10-11 Laws Pertaining to Bait Dealers/Use of Live Bait ...........11 Laws Pertaining to Licenses ..........................................44 Laws Regarding Ice Fishing Shacks ..............................12 III. Special Exceptions by County Androscoggin ...................................................................13 Aroostook ...................................................................14-15 Cumberland ...............................................................16-17 Franklin ............................................................................17 Hancock ......................................................................18-20 Kennebec ...................................................................21-22 © 2007 Maine Knox .................................................................................23 Department of Lincoln..............................................................................24 Inland Fisheries Oxford .........................................................................25-26 and Wildlife Penobscot ..................................................................27-29 Piscataquis .................................................................30-32 Sagadahoc ......................................................................32 Somerset ....................................................................33-34 Waldo ...............................................................................35 Washington ................................................................36-38 York .............................................................................39-40 IV. International Boundary and Border Waters Boundary Waters Between Maine and New Brunswick ..41 Border Waters Between Maine and New Hampshire ......42 V. General Information County Map ............................................................45 Exotic Species .......................................................47 Fish Consumption Advisory ..............................................8 Fishing Derbies & Tournaments ......................................11 Ice Conditions ..................................................................46 IndianTerritory .................................................................43 Kids Waters ......................................................................38 License Fees....................................................................44 New Regulations for 2008..................................................7 Resident Lifetime License ................................................48 Salmon and Brown Trout Identifi cation ...........................40 Tips on Releasing Fish ...................................................12 Free Fishing Days: February 16 – 17, 2008 Free ice fi shing days will take place on Saturday and Sunday immediately preceding President’s Day each year. Any person, except those whose license has been revoked or suspended, may fi sh on these days without a license. All other laws and regulations apply. 3 Special Regulations (S-Codes): page 6 STATE of MAINE DEPARTMENT of INLAND FISHERIES & WILDLIFE ROLAND D. MARTIN Commissioner PAUL F. JACQUES Deputy Commissioner MAIN OFFICE 284 State St., 41 SHS, Augusta, ME 04333-0041 (207) 287-8000 Visit our website: http://www.mefi shwildlife.com Operation Game Thief - 1-800-ALERT US (253-7887) In State or (207) 287-6057 Out of State REGIONAL HEADQUARTERS Ashland .....(207) 435-3231 Greenville ....(207) 695-3756 Bangor.......(207) 941-4440 Jonesboro ...(207) 434-5925 Enfi eld .......(207) 732-4131 Sidney .........(207) 547-5300 Gray ..........(207) 657-2345 Strong .........(207) 778-3322 If You Are In Need Of The Services Of A Game Warden Call State Police At The Following Toll-Free Numbers Augusta ................1-800-452-4664 Orono ....................1-800-432-7381 Gray ......................1-800-482-0730 Skowhegan ...........1-800-452-4664 Houlton .................1-800-924-2261 Thomaston ............1-800-452-4664 Members of the Commissioner’s Advisory Council Sheridan R. Oldham — Androscoggin, Kennebec, and Sagadahoc Counties...(207) 872-7136 R. Leo Kieffer (Chair) — Aroostook County .......................................................(207) 493-3190 Ron Usher — Cumberland County ....................................................................(207) 854-8530 Steven Philbrick — Franklin and Oxford Counties .............................................(207) 864-3671 Frank M.