13-188 C.M.R. ch. 55, § 04 - Maine Gillnet Bait Fishing Regulations

A. License Requirement. It shall be unlawful to gillnet bait fish without a Commercial Pelagic and Anadromous Fishing License from the Department of Marine Resources (DMR).

B. Gear and Marking Requirements. It shall be unlawful to fish more than 2000 feet of bait gillnet in territorial waters. Bait gillnet shall have less than 3.5 inches diamond or square stretch mesh throughout the entire net. Bait gillnets must be clearly marked at each end with buoy sticks at least 4 feet in length. The license-holder's name, homeport and Commercial Pelagic and Anadromous Fishing License number must be clearly displayed on every marking buoy.

1. "Bait Gillnet" means a gillnet that has less than 3.5 inches diamond or square stretch mesh throughout the entire net, is suspended in the water column and has a maximum length of 2,000 feet. (Chapter 34.10(1)(A)(2)(b))

C. Reporting: See Chapter 8.20(P) Landings Program

D. New Meadows River Restrictions

It shall be unlawful to use a bait gillnet in any tidal waters north of a line drawn from the shore side end of the footbridge at Hopkins Island in Harpswell, thence following the bridge to the southern tip of Hopkins Island, thence east to the southern tip of Sheep Island, thence 90 degrees due east (true) to the Phippsburg shore south of the entrance to Basin Cove. The Western Boundary is the Gurnet Bridge on Rt. 24 in Harpswell.

Exception: Bait gillnets may be fished in these waters if the net is hauled back and tended at least once every four hours.

Notes

13-188 C.M.R. ch. 55, § 04