2010 Atlantic Halibut Fishing Rules and Tags
The State’s halibut fishery regulations changed recently. Scroll down the DMR rule-making webpage to view the halibut regulation changes, Ch. 34.10, posted December 23, 2009, which will go into effect April 6, 2010, except that the season change won't go into effect until 2011. Note that underlined words are new in the regulation; lined-out words have been deleted from the regulation.
The regulations require halibut fishermen to immediately tag their halibut catch. Landing tags must be attached through the tail just before the tail fin.
Information for recreational fishermen:
- Halibut tags may NOT be re-used.
- A payment of $1.00 per halibut tag must be included with your tag order.
- If you are interested in fishing for halibut commercially in the future, you must obtain an Atlantic halibut endorsement on your DMR Commercial Fishing License. If you would like to obtain this endorsement, you must complete a DMR approved Atlantic Halibut training program. Please contact DMR at 633-9500 before March 1st, 2011 in order to schedule and complete this course.
- You may order tags by downloading the order form at the "Other forms" section at http://www.maine.gov/dmr/license/index.htm.
Information for commercial fishermen:
- Please note that no individual or vessel will be issued more than 25 landing tags per calendar year (see exception for Federal Multispecies Permit Holders described in the text of the regulation at the link above).
- The 2010 Maine state waters halibut season has not changed.
- Halibut tag numbers must be printed on your commercial fishing license. If you have already received your 2010 commercial fishing license, you must include it with your tag order. If you need to apply for this license, you may download the form at http://www.maine.gov/dmr/license/index.htm. You may order your commercial fishing license with halibut endorsement and halibut tags at the same time.
- The Department is issuing two types of commercial halibut fishing tags this year: federal tags must be used by fishermen that hold a permit allowing them to fish in federal waters (they may be used on fish caught in state or federal waters); state water-only tags may only be used for halibut caught in state waters. Please be sure to check the box indicating whether you are ordering federal or state water-only tags.
- Commercial landing tags are only issued to those holding a commercial fishing license with a halibut endorsement or those federally permitted fishermen who wish to land their incidental halibut catch in Maine.
- You may order tags by downloading the order form at the "Other forms" section at http://www.maine.gov/dmr/license/index.htm.
If you have any questions, or if you would like to be added to an e-mail list to periodically receive information concerning the halibut fishery, please contact Togue Brawn.
This page was last updated on
April 2, 2010
