{"data":{"id":"us-me/12-m.r.s.-12501","jurisdiction":"us-me","citation":"12 M.R.S. §12501","heading":"General fishing license","body":"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.\nEach 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.\n2.  Eligibility.  The commissioner may issue the following licenses to the following persons:\nA.  A resident fishing license to a resident 16 years of age or older; and\nB.  A nonresident fishing license to a nonresident 16 years of age or older.\n3.  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.\n4.  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.\nA.  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.\nB.  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.\n5.  Nonresident junior fishing license expiration.\n6.  Schedule of fees.  The fees for fishing licenses are as follows.\nA.  A resident fishing license is $30.\nB.  A resident combination hunting and fishing license is $48.\nC.  A resident combination archery hunting and fishing license is $48.\nD.\nE.  A 3-day fishing license for a resident or nonresident, valid for the 72-hour period specified on the license, is $30.\nF.  A nonresident 7-day fishing license, valid for 7 days from date indicated on license, is $62.\nG.  A nonresident 15-day fishing license, valid for 15 days from date indicated on license, is $66.\nH.  A nonresident season fishing license for persons 16 years of age or older is $83.\nI.\nJ.  A one-day fishing license for a resident or nonresident, valid for the 24-hour period indicated on license, is $18.\n7.  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.","path":["TITLE 12: CONSERVATION","PART 13: INLAND FISHERIES AND WILDLIFE","CHAPTER 923: FISH: FISHING SEASONS AND RESTRICTIONS","SUBCHAPTER 2: LICENSE AND PERMIT REQUIREMENTS AND AUTHORIZATIONS"],"source_url":"https://legislature.maine.gov/statutes/12/title12sec12501.html","current_through":"October 1, 2025","vintage":"","retrieved_at":"2026-09-04T15:12:25Z","sha256":"390c76326b30be1493b22eec11700b3780770a132939cf36502a615b8d5c671b","source_id":"us-me","stale":false,"prev":"us-me/12-m.r.s.-12462","next":"us-me/12-m.r.s.-12502"},"notice":"GroundRules: Original legal text. Not legal advice."}