Maine residents under 16 years old and non-residents under 12 years old may fish in Maine without a license. People above those ages are required to obtain a fishing license before fishing in inland waters or transporting fish taken from inland waters. Fishing licenses are not required for recreational saltwater fishing.

Residents and nonresidents may obtain licenses from license agents throughout the state at sporting goods stores, many convenience stores, at town clerk offices, or online from the state Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife . Nonresidents may also purchase a license by mail from the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife.

Costs for fishing licenses for non-residents over the age of 16 range from a low of $11 for a one-day license to a high of $52 for a full-season license. Junior licenses for people age 12 to 15 are $9. Maine has over 32,000 miles of rivers and streams, more than 6,000 lakes and ponds, and is known as a first-rate destination for anglers. For more information, call the state Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife at 207-287-8000.

• Maine Tide Charts

• Fisheries of Maine

ACADIA/BAR HARBOR/DOWN EAST top of listings

Acadia National Park
Route 3
Bar Harbor, ME 04609
Phone: 207-288-3338

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This national park is simply put, an amazing experience. The oldest national park on the East Coast, visitors will enjoy a variety of wonders including the unusual geological formations, nature and wildlife, scheduled events, scenic drives, hiking, biking, and boat cruises. Don't forget to look for the puffins, North America's answer to the penguin. Fishing sites abound, with approximately 20 lakes and ponds from which to choose. Public camping is available at two locations, and there are fees for camping and for entering the park. In winter there is cross country skiing, snowshoeing and limited snowmobiling.

Cobscook Bay State Park
Route 1
Dennysville, ME 04628
Phone: 207-726-4412

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This park offers visitors a bevy of activities: canoeing, fishing, a scenic drive, hiking trails, picnic areas, and cross-country and snowmobile trails in the winter. There is a public campsite available. Open May 15-Oct. 15.

Grand Lakes Area
Princeton, ME

Princeton is the gateway to a fisherman's paradise, featuring dozens of lakes, streams and rivers and plenty of varied fish to challenge all season long.

Lamoine State Park
Lamoine, ME
Phone: 207-667-4778

This park offers both fishing and picnic areas. A public campground is available. In the Acadia region, the state of Maine recommends several fishing sites:

On U.S. 1 between Bangor and Ellsworth, Phillips Lake, Greene Lake, Branch Pond, and Graham Lake. All provide fine fishing for pickerel, togue, salmon, and brook and brown trout.

Outside of Ellsworth fishermen can find Tunk Lake, among other ponds, streams and lakes.

Along Maine Route 9, outside Bangor, fishing is recommended at Chemo Pond, Beech Hill Pond, Floods Pond, Molasses Pond, and Webb Pond.

In Bucksport, along ME Route 15, salmon, togue, and trout can be caught in Toddy Pond and Lake Alamoosook.

Moosehorn National Wildlife Refuge
Charlotte Road
Calais, ME 04619
Phone: 207-454-7161

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This nature preserve offers trails and roads for wildlife observation. In the wintertime, the unplowed roads become cross-country ski trails. Fishing and deer hunting are permitted.

Roque Bluffs State Park
145 Schoppee Point Road
Roque Bluffs, ME 04654
Phone: 207-255-3475 (Park season

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This 300-acre park features fishing, picnic area with grills, changing areas with toilets, a playground, and a scenic stretch of beach with ocean swimming. Cliffs on the state's Bold Coast offer dramatic views.

AROOSTOOK top of listings

Allagash Wilderness Waterway
Allagash, ME
Phone: 207-941-4014

This preserve has 92 miles of lakes, ponds, streams, and rivers that cut a swathe through Maine's northern forestland. This park is the most remote in the state, and is available for those who truly wish to "rough it." Swimming, boating, fishing, and canoeing are all part of the experience. This is also a popular seasonal hunting area. Hiking trails lead to fire towers throughout the Allagash. It is important to note that there is no public transportation, nor are there any permanent residents in the park. Any visitors who plan to camp or travel through the park will be relatively isolated, and should be experienced in dealing with a primitive outdoor environment.

Aroostook State Park
87 State Park Road
Presque Isle, ME 04769
Phone: 207-768-8341

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The northernmost of all Maine state parks is set alongside Echo Lake. 577 acres offering hiking and cross-country ski trails, fishing, swimming areas and picnicking. Boating and canoeing are permitted in the lake. Public campgrounds are available for a fee. Reservations are suggested.

GREATER PORTLAND & CASCO BAY top of listings

Crescent Beach State Park
66 Two Lights Road
Cape Elizabeth, ME 04107
Phone: 207-799-5871

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Visitors to this seaside park will enjoy the beach, ocean swimming, and fishing. A snack bar and bathhouses are available. There are picnic tables with grills. Open Memorial Day-Columbus Day. A fee is charged to enter the park.

Wolf's Neck Woods State Park
Freeport, ME
Phone: 207-865-4465 207-624-6080 (Off season)

Features hiking trails, fishing and picnic areas. Five minutes from downtown Freeport, the park has climax white pine and hemlock forests, a salt marsh estuary, and rocky shorelines on Casco Bay and the Harraseeket River. Open April to October. A fee is charged.

MAINE HIGHLANDS top of listings

Baxter State Park
64 Balsam Drive
Millinocket, ME 04462
Phone: 207-723-5140

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A wilderness of more than 200,000 acres, Baxter State Park is a hiking and mountain climbing paradise. Within the park borders are 46 mountains, 175 miles of hiking trails, and 10 public campgrounds. Ample fishing is available in the parks many lakes and streams, and hunting is permitted there also. Canoers will enjoy the parks many waterways. Baxter is also the northern end of the Appalachian Trail. Wintertime offers both cross-country ski trails, snowshoeing, winter hiking, and limited snowmobiling.

Eastern Branch of the Penobscot River
Along Route 11
Medway, ME

Fishermen will enjoy this river with its supply of Atlantic Salmon and large mouth bass. The scenery along the river makes it a great canoeing spot.

Lily Bay State Park
Greenville, ME 04441
Phone: 207-695-2700

This park om Moosehead Lake has facilities for fishing, canoeing, lake swimming, in addition to hiking, cross-country ski, ice fishing, and snowmobile trails. A public camping facility is available. Open May 1-Oct. 15, but available for winter activities.

Mattawamkeag Wilderness Park
Medway, ME
Phone: 207-290-0205 (Campground)

This park features areas for fishing, hiking, and swimming in warmer weather. In wintertime visitors can enjoy the snowmobile and cross-country trails. A public campsite is available.

Peaks-Kenny State Park
Sebec, ME 04481
Phone: 207-564-2003

Set along the banks of Sebec Lake, this park offers terrific fishing, canoeing, boating, swimming and hiking trails. Public campsites are available.

Shin Pond
Patten, ME

Dotted with resorts and beaches, this body of water will provide visitors with just about every type of activity, from fishing and boating, to sea plane rides.

Spencer Pond
Rockwood, ME

This pond is a good area for fishing and game hunting.

The Kokadjo Area
Kokadjo, ME

The streams and ponds around in and around Kokadjo are known for some of the best fly fishing in Maine.

MID COAST top of listings

Fort Point State Park
Searsport, ME
Phone: 207-941-4014

This historic site features areas for picnicking and fishing, as well as a scenic drive.

Fort Popham State Park
Popham, ME
Phone: 207-389-1335

Set on the site of an old fort, this park features fishing and picnic areas in addition to a scenic drive through the park. Open Memorial Day-Sept. 30. A fee is charged.

Lake St. George State Park
Route 3
Liberty, ME 04949
Phone: 207-589-4255

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Visitors to this park will enjoy hiking and cross-country ski trails, snowmobile trails, fishing areas, and swimming. There is a public camping area available.

Pemaquid Colonial State Park
Pemaquid, ME
Phone: 207-677-2423

One of Maine's oldest historic sites, this state park offers visitors a look at life in Colonial Maine, in addition to scenic water views, and areas for fishing, boating, and canoeing. A snack bar is available for visitors during operating hours. Open Memorial Day-Labor Day. A fee is charged.

Popham Beach State Park
10 Perkins Farm Lane (Route 209)
Popham Beach, ME 04562
Phone: 207-389-1335

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Open May 15-Oct. 30, this park offers fishing spots, swimming in coastal water, and a splendid beach. The beach has bathhouses, freshwater rinse-off showers, and a picnic area with charcoal grills. The park has trails and offers wildlife watching. Fort Popham is two miles further south on Route 209.

Reid State Park
375 Seguinland Road
Georgetown, ME 04548
Phone: 207-371-2303

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This oceanfront park features a saltwater lagoon and Mile Beach. Visitors can enjoy swimming, fishing, boating, canoeing, and picnic areas. Open year-round.

Warren Island State Park
Warren Island, ME
Phone: 207-941-4014

Accessible only by boat, this state park offers visitors remote camping, fishing areas, hiking and cross-country ski trails, in addition to picnic areas.

SOUTH COAST top of listings

Kennebunk and Mousam Rivers
Kennebunk, ME

Popular area for striped bass fishing.

WESTERN LAKES/MOUNTAINS top of listings

Bigelow Preserve
Route 27
Carrabassett Valley, ME 04947
Phone: 207-778-8231

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Set on 35,027 acres, this preserve is along Flagstaff Lake. There are numerous mountains within the preserves. Extensive trails for both hiking and cross-country skiing are for experienced hikers and skiers. There is also swimming, paddling, fishing, and hunting. Snowmobile trails travers the park.

Grafton Notch State Park
North Newry, ME
Phone: 207-824-2912

This scenic park is the gateway to numerous hiking trails, fishing areas, and amazing natural attractions, including Mother Walker Falls, Screw Auger Falls, Moose Cave, Step Falls and the Bear River. Visitors will see a natural bridge, gorges, and two Maine mountains, Old Speck and Baldpate Mountain. Perhaps the most popular park for hiking in the state, Grafton Notch offers many trails with extraordinary views. Easy trails will take you down into Moose Cave Gorge, Mother Walker Falls, and Screw Auger Falls. For more of a challenge, Table Rock is a one-mile steep climb up Baldpate Mountain. Hikers on this trail will enjoy the views of Grafton Notch, and can explore the caves found at the trail's end. A challenging trail is the four-mile hike to the summit of Old Speck Mountain. The Eyebrow Trail is a side-trail off ths Old Speck climb, leading to Eyebrow Sheer Cliff. It is at this park that the Appalachian Trail enters Maine, and continues north to the Canadian border.

Mount Blue State Park
Weld, ME
Phone: 207-585-2261

This park along the shores of Lake Webb features activities throughout the year. Warmer weather visitors will enjoy fishing, swimming, canoeing, and hiking trails. In the winter, trails are open for both cross-country skiing and snowmobiling. A public campground is available.

Rangeley Lake State Park
Rangeley, ME
Phone: 207-864-3858

Small state park features fishing and swimming areas, canoeing, and snowmobile trails in the winter. There is public camping available.

Sebago Lake State Park
Route 302
Naples, ME
Phone: 207-693-6613

This 1,300-acre park features relaxation on beautiful Sebago Lake. Visitors will enjoy fishing, boating, canoeing, and swimming on the lake. There is a public campsite available. Open May 1-Oct. 15 for full use. Wintertime trails are available for cross-country skiers.

Tumbledown Mountain
Weld, ME

Trails of varying difficulty greet hikers on this three-peaked mountain. The shortest and easiest is the Brook Trail, which is only a 1.5-mile round trip. The Loop Trail affords views of the Great Ledges, and the Chimney Trail is an extremely difficult hike to the summit. Fishing can be had at Tumbledown Pond, reached along the Brook Trail.

Here are some of the bodies of fresh water in the Western Lakes and Mountains region that provide fine fishing experiences:

In the Rangeley area, try Rangeley lake, Cupsuptic Lake, Quimby Pond, Dodge Pond, Big Kennabago Stream, Little Kennebago Stream, Loon Lake, Richardson Lake, Mooselookmeguntic Lake, and Aziscohos.

Further south, fisherman will enjoy the offerings at Sebago Lake, Long Lake, Crystal Lake, Panther Pond and more.

White Mountain National Forest
Bethel, ME
Phone: 207-824-2134

Although most of this forest is in New Hampshire, this portion of the forest features camping areas, hiking trails, fishing, and canoeing. Cross-country ski trails are available in the winter.