LD 723
pg. 2
Page 1 of 5 PUBLIC Law Chapter 237 Page 3 of 5
Download Chapter Text
LR 332
Item 1

 
A.__A person who holds a valid Maine fishing license may
take smelts for recreational purposes only from the inland
waters or portions of inland waters that are naturally free
of ice with a dip net in the usual and ordinary way from
noon to 2:00 a.m. in accordance with bag limits established
by rule.__Bag limits established by rule under this
paragraph are for a 24-hour period, beginning at noon on a
given day and ending at 11:59 a.m. the following day.__The
commissioner may prohibit the taking of smelts under this
section or shorten the noon to 2:00 a.m. smelt fishing
timeframe by rule for enforcement or conservation purposes.

 
(1)__A person may not keep more than 5 dozen smelts
alive as part of that person's daily bag limit pursuant
to this paragraph.

 
(2) A person may not take smelts with a dip net unless
that dip net meets the requirements under section
10001, subsection 12-A.

 
Each day a person violates subparagraph (1) or (2) that
person commits a Class E crime;

 
Sec. 3. 12 MRSA §12551-A, sub-§7, ¶¶A and B, as enacted by PL 2003, c.
655, Pt. B, §259 and affected by §422, are amended to read:

 
A. The holder of a smelt wholesale dealer's license may:

 
(1) Take live smelts for resale from any inland water
waters or private pond ponds. The taking of live
smelts from inland waters must be in accordance with
general rules adopted by the commissioner in regard to
the taking of smelts. Except as provided in paragraph
B, the holder of a smelt wholesaler's license shall
comply with the same daily bag limit and the same
tackle restrictions that apply to all other anglers and
is subject to the same penalties for violations of
those limits and restrictions.__This subparagraph does
not apply to a holder of a fish cultivator license as
provided under section 12507;

 
(2) Use a baitfish trap, a dip net, From ice-in to ice-out, use
a drop net, a lift net, a bag net or hook and line to take up to
8 quarts of smelts in a 24-hour period, beginning at noon on a
given day, from specific inland waters designated by the
commissioner.__A dip net may be used in conjunction with the
above methods to assist with the handling and transporting of
smelts.__A licensee may keep the daily bag limit


Page 1 of 5 Top of Page Page 3 of 5
Related Pages
  Search Bill Text Legislative Information
Bill Directory Search
Bill
Status
Session Information
119th Legislature Bills Maine Legislature

Office of Legislative Information
100 State House Station
Augusta, ME 04333
voice: (207) 287-1692
fax: (207) 287-1580
tty: (207) 287-6826
Word Viewer for Windows Disclaimer