Maine § 12 §12503 Permitted fishing without license

Maine Statutes

§ 12 §12503 — Permitted fishing without license

Maine § 12 §12503

Title 12CONSERVATION

Part 13INLAND FISHERIES AND WILDLIFE

Ch. 923FISH: FISHING SEASONS AND RESTRICTIONS

This text of Maine § 12 §12503 (Permitted fishing without license) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Maine primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook

Me. Rev. Stat. tit. 12, § 12 §12503 (2026).

Text

1.Resident and nonresident under 16. A resident and nonresident under 16 years of age may fish without a license.

2.Land legally possessed by resident; domicile; 10 or more contiguous acres in size. Notwithstanding section 12501, subsection 1 and subject to all other applicable laws and rules, any resident and any member of the resident's immediate family, as long as the angler's license to fish is not under suspension or revocation, may fish without a license in open inland waters from land:

3.Free fishing days; limitations. The following 2 free fishing periods are established. No more than 2 free fishing periods may be established under this subsection.

4.Groups of students. The commissioner may permit student or youth groups to fish without licenses for periods of not more than 3 da

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1.
Resident and nonresident under 16.
A resident and nonresident under 16 years of age may fish without a license.
2.
Land legally possessed by resident; domicile; 10 or more contiguous acres in size.
Notwithstanding section 12501, subsection 1 and subject to all other applicable laws and rules, any resident and any member of the resident's immediate family, as long as the angler's license to fish is not under suspension or revocation, may fish without a license in open inland waters from land:
3.
Free fishing days; limitations.
The following 2 free fishing periods are established. No more than 2 free fishing periods may be established under this subsection.
4.
Groups of students.
The commissioner may permit student or youth groups to fish without licenses for periods of not more than 3 days as long as the fishing activity is conducted as part of an educational program and is under the direct supervision of a teacher or instructor.
5.
Patients at Veterans Administration Hospital.
The commissioner may permit inpatients at the Veterans Administration Hospital at Togus to fish without a license in the inland waters within a 25-mile radius of Togus. Patients not under the direct supervision of hospital staff or volunteer supervisors shall have in their possession while fishing a valid pass issued by the Veterans Administration Hospital.
6.
Fishing during event sanctioned by department.
A person who does not hold a fishing license may assist a child or a person who is disabled who is a participant in a fishing event sanctioned by the department.

Legislative History

RR 2003, c. 2, §21 (COR). PL 2003, c. 414, §A2 (NEW). PL 2003, c. 414, §D7 (AFF). PL 2003, c. 614, §9 (AFF). PL 2003, c. 655, §B249 (AMD). PL 2003, c. 655, §B422 (AFF). PL 2003, c. 662, §2 (AMD). PL 2011, c. 533, §5 (AMD). PL 2013, c. 380, §4 (AMD). PL 2013, c. 380, §5 (AFF). PL 2015, c. 301, §35 (AMD). PL 2021, c. 348, §16 (AMD). RR 2021, c. 2, Pt. A, §23 (COR). PL 2023, c. 405, Pt. A, §31 (AMD). PL 2025, c. 126, §6 (AMD).