Maine Revised Statutes Title 12 Sec. 12501 – General fishing license
Current as of: 2023 | Check for updates
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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.
[PL 2003, c. 414, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); PL 2003, c. 614, §9 (AFF).]
Attorney's Note
Under the Maine Revised Statutes, punishments for crimes depend on the classification. In the case of this section:| Class | Prison | Fine |
|---|---|---|
| Class E crime | up to 6 months | up to $1,000 |
Terms Used In Maine Revised Statutes Title 12 Sec. 12501
- Commissioner: means the Commissioner of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife. See Maine Revised Statutes Title 12 Sec. 10001
- Department: means the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife. See Maine Revised Statutes Title 12 Sec. 10001
- Fish: means a cold-blooded, completely aquatic vertebrate characteristically having gills, fins and an elongated streamlined body usually covered with scales and includes any physical part of a fish. See Maine Revised Statutes Title 12 Sec. 10001
- Municipality: includes cities, towns and plantations, except that "municipality" does not include plantations in Title 10, chapter 110, subchapter IV; or Title 30?A, Part 2. See Maine Revised Statutes Title 1 Sec. 72
- Nonresident: means a person who does not fall within the definition of resident in subsection 53. See Maine Revised Statutes Title 12 Sec. 10001
- Person: means a human being or an organization. See Maine Revised Statutes Title 12 Sec. 10001
- Resident: means a citizen of the United States or a person who is not a citizen of the United States who has been domiciled in the State for one year who:
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).]
[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.
[PL 2003, c. 414, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); PL 2003, c. 614, §9 (AFF).]
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).]
[PL 2011, c. 253, §28 (AMD).]
5. Nonresident junior fishing license expiration.
[PL 2021, c. 184, §8 (RP).]
6. Schedule of fees. The fees for fishing licenses are as follows.
A. A resident fishing license is $25. [PL 2009, c. 213, Pt. OO, §11 (AMD).]
B. A resident combination hunting and fishing license is $43. [PL 2023, c. 228, §11 (AMD).]
C. A resident combination archery hunting and fishing license is $43. [PL 2023, c. 228, §12 (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 $23. [PL 2005, c. 12, Pt. III, §24 (AMD).]
F. A nonresident 7-day fishing license, valid for 7 days from date indicated on license, is $43. [PL 2009, c. 213, Pt. OO, §11 (AMD).]
G. A nonresident 15-day fishing license, valid for 15 days from date indicated on license, is $47. [PL 2009, c. 213, Pt. OO, §11 (AMD).]
H. A nonresident season fishing license for persons 16 years of age or older is $64. [PL 2009, c. 213, Pt. OO, §11 (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 $11. [PL 2005, c. 12, Pt. III, §24 (AMD).]
[PL 2023, c. 228, §§11, 12 (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.
[PL 2003, c. 614, §9 (AFF); PL 2003, c. 655, Pt. B, §247 (AMD); PL 2003, c. 655, Pt. B, §422 (AFF).]
SECTION HISTORY
PL 2003, c. 414, §A2 (NEW). PL 2003, c. 414, §D7 (AFF). PL 2003, c. 614, §9 (AFF). PL 2003, c. 655, §B247 (AMD). PL 2003, c. 655, §B422 (AFF). PL 2005, c. 12, §III24 (AMD). PL 2009, c. 213, Pt. OO, §11 (AMD). PL 2011, c. 253, §28 (AMD). PL 2013, c. 380, §§1-3 (AMD). PL 2013, c. 380, §5 (AFF). PL 2013, c. 408, §§19, 20 (AMD). PL 2013, c. 538, §§40, 41 (AMD). PL 2017, c. 427, §18 (AMD). PL 2017, c. 427, §19 (AFF). PL 2021, c. 184, §8 (AMD). PL 2023, c. 228, §§11, 12 (AMD).