Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Offshore fishing is best pursued by hooking up with the captain of one of
the many
deep-sea fishing charter boats
that work the coast. Full-
and half-day trips are available. In most cases the trip includes tackle,
bait, and transportation. Food and beverages are usually available for an
additional charge.
Once offshore, lines are dropped overboard in the search for
cod, had-
dock, halibut
and
hake
, which are usually fished on bottom or just off
bottom. It is also not unusual to catch one of the Gulf of Maine's ugliest
fish, the
sculpin
, which, because of its mangled appearance and extraor-
dinarily large maw, was long ago nicknamed “the mother-in-law fish.”
Small sharks
, referred to as “dogfish,” are frequently hooked and put up
a good fight.
For those thirsting for even greater adventure, some charters go further
offshore in pursuit of giant
tuna
.
Don't Help Yourself
You must have a license to dig clams, even for personal consump-
tion. They are available at most town offices for a nominal fee. No
one can take lobsters out of the sea, either by hand or while div-
ing, without a license. You have to be a permanent resident and
serve an apprenticeship to get one. The penalty for taking lob-
sters from a trap or storage car (officially called trap molesting) is
severe, although being caught by authorities is usually prefera-
ble to being caught by the lobsterman whose livelihood you in-
tended to steal.
Freshwater
Casting a fly with pinpoint accuracy into a deep pool along a rushing
stream or watching the trout rise during a Mayfly hatch on a remote
northern lake are among the most beautiful experiences in Maine.
Nationally, freshwater fishing is the most popular sporting activity.
Maine, which boasts both cold water lakes (home to trout and land-locked
salmon), and warmer ponds (home to such game fish as large- and
smallmouthed bass and perch), has something to offer every angler.
Anyone over the age of 16 must have a state-issued license to freshwater
fish. Licenses, which can be issued for the entire season, 15 days, one
week, three days or one day, can be obtained at most town offices and at
many outfitting stores and sporting camps. Prices for non-residents
range from $9 to $38.
When you pick up a license be sure to get the rule book. Maine fish and
wildlife officials will be the first to admit that the state has some of the
most complex and often confusing regulations in the country. In some
