Maine § 12501. - General fishing license

§ 12501.. General fishing license

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 fine of $50 and an amount equal to twice the applicable license fee must be imposed.  

2.  Eligibility.  The commissioner may issue the following licenses to the following persons:

A. A resident fishing license to a resident 16 years of age or older; and   [PL 2003, c. 414, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); PL 2003, c. 614, §9 (AFF).]

B. A nonresident fishing license to a nonresident 16 years of age or older.   [PL 2013, c. 380, §1 (AMD); PL 2013, c. 380, §5 (AFF).]

3.  Agent's fee.  Clerks or other agents appointed by the commissioner to issue licenses shall charge a fee of $2 for each license issued. The commissioner shall charge a fee of $1 for each fishing license issued by department employees.

4.  Exchange of licenses.  A license issued under this section may not be exchanged for another license except as provided in this subsection. Temporary licenses may be exchanged for annual licenses as follows.

A. A resident who possesses a one-day or 3-day fishing license may exchange it in the municipality in which that person resides for an annual resident fishing license or a resident combination hunting and fishing license upon the payment to the clerk or issuing agent of $2 and the difference between the fee for the one-day or 3-day license and the fee for the annual license.   [PL 2003, c. 414, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); PL 2003, c. 614, §9 (AFF).]

B. A nonresident who possesses a 15-day nonresident fishing license may exchange it for an annual nonresident license upon the payment of the difference between the fee for the 15-day license and the fee for the annual license and $2 to the clerk or issuing agent.   [PL 2011, c. 253, §28 (AMD).]

5.  Nonresident junior fishing license expiration. 

6.  Schedule of fees.  The fees for fishing licenses are as follows.

A. A resident fishing license is $30.   [PL 2025, c. 388, Pt. NNN, §6 (AMD).]

B. A resident combination hunting and fishing license is $48.   [PL 2025, c. 388, Pt. NNN, §6 (AMD).]

C. A resident combination archery hunting and fishing license is $48.   [PL 2025, c. 388, Pt. NNN, §6 (AMD).]

D. [PL 2013, c. 538, §41 (RPR); MRSA T. 12 §12501, sub-§6, ¶D (RP).]

E. A 3-day fishing license for a resident or nonresident, valid for the 72-hour period specified on the license, is $30.   [PL 2025, c. 388, Pt. NNN, §6 (AMD).]

F. A nonresident 7-day fishing license, valid for 7 days from date indicated on license, is $62.   [PL 2025, c. 388, Pt. NNN, §6 (AMD).]

G. A nonresident 15-day fishing license, valid for 15 days from date indicated on license, is $66.   [PL 2025, c. 388, Pt. NNN, §6 (AMD).]

H. A nonresident season fishing license for persons 16 years of age or older is $83.   [PL 2025, c. 388, Pt. NNN, §6 (AMD).]

I. [PL 2017, c. 427, §18 (RP); PL 2017, c. 427, §19 (AFF).]

J. A one-day fishing license for a resident or nonresident, valid for the 24-hour period indicated on license, is $18.   [PL 2025, c. 388, Pt. NNN, §6 (AMD).]

7.  Reciprocity with New Hampshire.  As long as the State of New Hampshire has similar laws, a fishing license issued to any person by either this State or New Hampshire meets all requirements of the law for a fishing license with respect to fishing in any lake or pond that lies partly in both of the states of Maine and New Hampshire.