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Do I need a fishing license in Maine?
Maine's license age rule, quoted from Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife (rule set by 12 M.R.S. § 12503), checked against your age and residency, plus its free fishing days.
The rule in Maine
Residents and nonresidents 16 and older need a license.
"A resident and nonresident under 16 years of age may fish without a license."
Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife (rule set by 12 M.R.S. § 12503). Title 12, §12503: Permitted fishing without license (Maine Revised Statutes), checked October 2026.
Free fishing days
"Except when Memorial Day falls on a Friday, the Saturday and the Sunday immediately following Memorial Day are designated "Family Fishing Days." If Memorial Day falls on a Friday, the Saturday and the Sunday subsequent to Memorial Day weekend are designated "Family Fishing Days." The days designated "Family Fishing Days" are free fishing days. ... The Saturday and the Sunday immediately preceding Presidents' Day are free fishing days."
Source: Title 12, §12503: Permitted fishing without license (Maine Revised Statutes).
It depends on your age.
The rule
Residents and nonresidents 16 and older need a license.
"A resident and nonresident under 16 years of age may fish without a license."
Source: Title 12, §12503: Permitted fishing without license (Maine Revised Statutes), checked October 2026.
Exemptions
"any resident and any member of the resident's immediate family, as long as the angler's license to fish is not under suspension or revocation, may fish without a license in open inland waters from land: A. To which they are legally entitled to possession; ... B. On which they are actually domiciled; and ... D. That is 10 or more contiguous acres in size."
"The commissioner may permit student or youth groups to fish without licenses for periods of not more than 3 days as long as the fishing activity is conducted as part of an educational program and is under the direct supervision of a teacher or instructor."
"The commissioner may permit inpatients at the Veterans Administration Hospital at Togus to fish without a license in the inland waters within a 25-mile radius of Togus."
"A person who does not hold a fishing license may assist a child or a person who is disabled who is a participant in a fishing event sanctioned by the department."
Free fishing days in Maine
No more dated free days are published for this year yet.
"Except when Memorial Day falls on a Friday, the Saturday and the Sunday immediately following Memorial Day are designated "Family Fishing Days." If Memorial Day falls on a Friday, the Saturday and the Sunday subsequent to Memorial Day weekend are designated "Family Fishing Days." The days designated "Family Fishing Days" are free fishing days. ... The Saturday and the Sunday immediately preceding Presidents' Day are free fishing days."
Source: Title 12, §12503: Permitted fishing without license (Maine Revised Statutes).
A guide to each state's published rule, not legal advice. Rules change; the linked page is the authority.
- Each state's own rule, quoted
- Residents and visitors
- Free fishing days by date
Fishing in Maine
20 guides, charters and outfitters listed in Maine.
By state
Fishing license rules by state
- Alabama
- Alaska
- Arkansas
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- Florida
- Georgia
- Hawaii
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Mexico
- New York
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- Vermont
- Virginia
- Washington
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
Common questions
Fishing license questions
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