Maine offers a world of fishing adventure in both salt- and fresh water

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.

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• Fisheries of Maine


Featured Listings
Acadia/Bar Harbor/Down East top of listings

Weatherby's

112 Milford Road Grand Lake Stream, ME 04637 Phone: 207-796-5558

Experience the tradition of Grand Lake Stream

The region surrounding Weatherby's is home to dozens of pristine, undeveloped lakes with some of the best smallmouth bass fishing one can find anywhere. It's also only one of four in the state that have native landlocked salmon - cousin the mighty Atlantic salmon. The season for the salmon begins in late April or May after the ice leaves our lakes and they follow the smelt, a favorite forage fish, into Grand Lake Stream.
July, August and September provide high quality fishing, either with live bait, flies or artificial lures that will excite novice to experienced anglers. Our largest fish usually come to the canoe during this time of year with numerous four to five pound fish caught each season. Typically during mid-summer the salmon move to the deep pools or into the lakes to feed, only to return in late September and October to spawn. You can experience tremendous fishing for large salmon in the spawning dress during this time.
Informational Listings Courtesy of VisitNewEngland.com
Acadia/Bar Harbor/Down East Aroostook Greater Portland & Casco Bay
Maine Highlands Mid Coast South Coast
Western Lakes/Mountains
Acadia/Bar Harbor/Down East top of listings

Acadia National Park

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

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

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.
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    Moosehorn National Wildlife Refuge

    Charlotte Road Calais, ME 04619 Phone: 207-454-7161

    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

    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

    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

    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

    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

    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) Toll-Free: 888-724-2465

    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

    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

    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

    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

    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: 207-585-2347

    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.