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Licenses available soon for limited Atlantic Salmon Season on the Penobscot

July 6, 2006

A limited Fall angling season will take place on the Penobscot River from September 15th to October 15th. All information regarding this fishery is listed below.

Licenses will be available online by the middle of August (actual date still to be announced). Thanks to a partnership with Maine's Inland Fisheries and Wildlife Department the license will be available for purchase by logging onto the following link www.informe.org/moses. There will also be a limited number of license dealers throughout the state that will be authorized to sell licenses. This list will also be available in mid-August.

Atlantic Salmon License fees:

  • Resident, $15
  • Nonresident 16 years of age or older, $30;
  • For a 3-day license for a nonresident 16 years of age or older, $15. This license may not be exchanged for a season license; and
  • Nonresident under 16 years of age, $5.
  • Members of Maine's Indian tribes and Maine residents under 16 years of age are exempt from any fee.

Support ASC's efforts by purchasing a salmon license

We hope that all anglers will purchase an Atlantic Salmon License regardless of plans to fish this fall as fees will be used by the Commission for purposes of conservation and management of the Atlantic salmon in this State.

94-289 ATLANTIC SALMON COMMISSION

Chapter 1: RULES OF THE ATLANTIC SALMON COMMISSION

1.01 General Seasons

There shall be no open fishing season for anadromous Atlantic Salmon, except as provided in section 1.03.

1.02 Size and Bag Limits

Fishing for anadromous Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) is prohibited statewide, except as provided in section 1.03. Any anadromous Atlantic salmon caught incidentally to other angling shall be released alive immediately without removal from the water.

1.03 Experimental Open Season

  1. Time Period
    There will be a limited, experimental open season for directed angling for Atlantic salmon from September 15, 2006 to October 15, 2006 on the Penobscot River in the area specified below.
  2. Open Area
    Penobscot River; between two painted red markers placed on opposing banks that are 150 feet below the Veazie Dam fishway, down river to the former site of the Bangor Dam, which does not include the pool below the former dam site.
  3. Conditions
    Directed angling for Atlantic salmon shall be permitted in the above specified open area and time period under the following conditions:
    1. Catch and release only. Any salmon hooked must be released immediately without injury;
    2. No salmon shall be removed from the water for any reason;
    3. Fly Fishing Only. Fly must be tied on a single pointed barbless, hook. Only one fly or hook can be fished at any one time (no dropper flies);
    4. Daily Catch and Release limit is one fish. Any angler who hooks and releases one salmon must stop fishing for the day;
    5. Fishing is only permitted in the open area specified in section 1.03(2) when green flags are displayed at the Veazie Dam, Eddington Salmon Club and Penobscot Salmon Club;
    6. Anglers must obtain an Atlantic salmon license in accordance with 12 M.R.S.A § 9904 prior to fishing for Atlantic salmon under this section.
    7. All Atlantic salmon licence holders must report all fishing activity at the end of the season on forms supplied by the Commission. Failure to comply with this reporting requirement may result in the denial of renewal of a license.
  4. Closure
    The Commission may close the fishery during the open season if it is deemed necessary to protect the resource. The specified open area shall be closed to all fishing for Atlantic salmon when red flags are displayed at the Veazie Dam, Eddington Salmon Club and Penobscot Salmon Club.