Species Information

Select an underlined link in the table below for more information about that species.

Also see the Commercial Fishing page for recent and historical Maine commercial catch data for many of these species.  Visit the Maine State Aquarium to see many Maine marine fish and invertebrate species in person!

Information on federally managed species is provided here by links to NOAA Fisheries, NOAA's FishWatch program which includes recipes and nutritional information, and the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC).

If you need further regulatory information, please contact your local Marine Patrol officer or one of the three Marine Patrol offices.

For more information, other species, and identification keys, try Leland W. Pollock's A Practical Guide to the Marine Animals of Northeastern North America from Rutgers University Press, available in part here free via Google Books or the 1953 classic, Bigelow and Schroeder's Fishes of the Gulf of Maine, available here free via the Gulf of Maine Research Inst.

Please contact DMR's webmaster if any of these links fail.

Species Name	Picture and Basic Info from Do You Know Your Catch?	More Information
Alewife	Alewife Description	See River Herring below
Asian Shore Crab		Asian Shore Crab Fact Sheet and Questionnaire
Black Sea Bass	Black Sea Bass Description	Black Sea Bass Fishery Info c/o NOAA | Black Sea Bass Info c/o ASMFC | Black Sea Bass Info c/o NOAA FishWatch | Maine Sport Fishing Regulations (see Groundfish and Other Finfish & Chapter 51 in DMR Regulations)
Blood Worms		Marine Worm Info
Blueback Herring	Blueback Herring Description	See River Herring below
Blue Shark	Blue Shark Description	see Sharks below
Bluefin Tuna	Bluefin Tuna Description	Maine Recreational Fishing Info for Large Pelagics | Bluefin Tuna Info c/o NOAA | Bluefin Tuna Info c/o NOAA FishWatch  Also see Tunas below
Bluefish	Bluefish Description	Bluefish Fishery Info c/o NOAA | Bluefish Info c/o ASMFC | Bluefish Info c/o NOAA FishWatch | Maine Sport Fishing Regulations (see Groundfish and Other Finfish & Chapter 43 in DMR Regulations)
Brook Trout	Brook Trout Description	Maine Sport Fishing Regulations (see Sea Run Fish and Chapter 37 in DMR Regulations)
Brown Trout	Brown Trout Description	Maine Sport Fishing Regulations (see Sea Run Fish and Chapter 37 in DMR Regulations)
Butterfish		Butterfish Info c/o NOAA FishWatch | Butterfish Info c/o NOAA
Clams		Maine Shellfish Sanitation and Management | Clam Species Identification
Cod	Atlantic Cod Description	Multispecies Fishery | Multispecies Fishery Info c/o NOAA | Cod Tagging Program c/o GMRI | Cod Info c/o NOAA | Cod Info c/o NOAA FishWatch | Maine Sport Fishing Regulations (see Groundfish & Chapter 34 in DMR Regulations)
Crabs		See Green Crabs, Horseshoe Crabs, and Jonah Crabs below, and Invasive Species below for Asian Shore Crab and Chinese Mitten Crab
Cunner	Cunner Description
Cusk	Cusk Description	Maine Sport Fishing Regulations (see Groundfish & Chapter 34 in DMR Regulations) | Cusk Info c/o NOAA
Dab		see Plaice below
Dogfish	Spiny Dogfish Description	Spiny Dogfish Fishery Info c/o NOAA | Spiny Dogfish Info c/o ASMFC | Spiny Dogfish Info c/o NOAA FishWatch | Fishing Regulations (see Chapter 50)
Dolphins		Maine Marine Mammals Info & Reporting Hotline | Dolphin Info c/o NOAA
Eelgrass		Maps of Maine Eelgrass Beds
Eels and Elvers		American Eel and Elver Info | American Eel Info c/o ASMFC | Eel Sport Fishing Regulations (see Sea Run Fish)
Flounder		see Summer, Windowpane, Winter, Witch, and Yellowtail Flounder below
Goosefish	Goosefish Description	see Monkfish below
Green Crabs		Green Crab Info
Groundfish (multispecies)		Maine Multispecies Commercial Fishery | Multispecies Fishery Info c/o NOAA | The species managed under the northeast multispecies fishery plan include: American Plaice, Atlantic Cod, Atlantic Halibut, Atlantic Wolffish, Haddock, Ocean Pout, Pollock, Redfish, White Hake, Windowpane Flounder, Winter Flounder, Witch Flounder, and Yellowtail Flounder | Maine Sport Fishing Regulations (see Groundfish & Chapter 34 in DMR Regulations)
Haddock	Haddock Description	Maine Multispecies Fishery | Multispecies Fishery Info c/o NOAA | Haddock Info c/o NOAA | Haddock Info c/o NOAA FishWatch | Maine Sport Fishing Regulations (see Groundfish & Chapter 34 in DMR Regulations)
Hake		see Red Hake, White Hake, and Whiting (Silver Hake) below
Halibut	Atlantic Halibut Description	Maine Halibut Fishery | Multispecies Fishery | Multispecies Fishery Info c/o NOAA | Atlantic Halibut Info c/o NOAA | Maine Sport Fishing Regulations (see Groundfish & Chapter 34 in DMR Regulations)
Herring	Atlantic Herring Description & Blueback Herring Description	Maine Atlantic Herring Info | Atlantic Herring Info c/o NOAA | Atlantic Herring Info c/o ASMFC | Atlantic Herring Info c/o NOAA FishWatch | also see Blueback Herring above
Horseshoe Crabs		Horseshoe Crab Info c/o ASMFC
Invasive Species		Non-Native Invasive Marine Species in Maine | Green Crab | Asian Shore Crab | Chinese Mitten Crab
Jonah Crabs		Jonah Crab Info c/o NOAA | Jonah Crab Info c/o ASMFC
Lobsters		Maine Lobster Biology, Fishery, Management, and More! | Lobster Info c/o NOAA | Lobster info c/o NOAA FishWatch
Mackerel	Atlantic Mackerel Description	Atlantic Mackerel Info c/o NOAA | Atlantic Mackerel Info c/o NOAA FishWatch | Maine Sport Fishing Regulations (see Groundfish and Other Finfish)
Mako Shark	Mako Shark Description	Atlantic Shortfin Mako Shark Info c/o NOAA | Shortfin Mako Shark Info c/o NOAA FishWatch | also see Sharks below
Marine Mammals		Maine Marine Mammals, Seals, Whales, Dophins, Porpoises — Info & Reporting Hotline
Marine Worms		Maine Marine Worm Info
Menhaden	Atlantic Menhaden Description	Maine Menhaden Info | Atlantic Menhaden Info c/o ASMFC | Maine Sport Fishing Regulations (see Sea Run Fish & Chapter 41 in DMR Regulations)
Monkfish	Goosefish Description	Monkfish Fishery Info c/o NOAA | Monkfish Info c/o NOAA FishWatch
Mussels		Maine Blue Mussel Info | Maine Shellfish Sanitation and Management | Aquaculture | Blue Mussel info c/o NOAA | Blue Mussel (Farmed) info c/o NOAA | Maine Shellfish Species Identification
Ocean Pout	Ocean Pout Description	Maine Multispecies Fishery | Multispecies Fishery Info c/o NOAA | Ocean Pout Info c/o NOAA
Oysters		Maine Aquaculture | Maine Shellfish Species Identification (for Eastern and European Oysters) | Maine Shellfish Sanitation and Management | Eastern (American) Oyster Info c/o NOAA
Plaice (American), Dab		Maine Multispecies Fishery | Multispecies Fishery Info c/o NOAA | American Plaice Info c/o NOAA | Maine Sport Fishing Regulations (see Chapter 34, section 34.06)
Pollock	Pollock Description	Maine Multispecies Fishery | Multispecies Fishery Info c/o NOAA | Pollock Info c/o NOAA | Pollock Info c/o NOAA FishWatch | Maine Sport Fishing Regulations (see Groundfish & Chapter 34 in DMR Regulations)
Porbeagle Shark	Porbeagle Shark Description	see Sharks below
Porpoises		Maine Marine Mammal Info & Reporting Hotline | Porpoise Info c/o NOAA
Protected Species		Maine Protected Species (Whales, Seals, Dolphins, Porpoises, Sea Turtles — Info & Reporting Hotline
Quahog		Ocean Quahog Info c/o NOAA | Ocean Quahog Info c/o NOAA FishWatch | Northern Quahog Info c/o NOAA | Maine Shellfish Species Identification (see Mahogany Quahog and Hard Clam)
Redfish	Redfish Description	Maine Multispecies Fishery | Multispecies Fishery Info c/o NOAA | Acadian Redfish Info c/o NOAA FishWatch | Acadian Redfish Info c/o NOAA | Maine Sport Fishing Regulations (see Groundfish & Chapter 34 in DMR Regulations)
Red Hake		Red Hake Info c/o NOAA | Red Hake Info c/o NOAA FishWatch
River Herring	Alewife & Blueback Herring Descriptions	Maine River Herring Info | River Herring Info c/o NOAA | River Herring Info c/o ASMFC | Maine Sport Fishing Regulations (see Sea Run Fish & Chapter 30 in DMR Regulations)
Rockweed		Maine Rockweed Info
Salmon	Atlantic Salmon Description	Maine Salmon Projects | Atlantic Salmon info c/o NOAA | Farm-Raised Atlantic Salmon Info c/o NOAA | Atlantic Salmon Info c/o NOAA FishWatch | Maine Aquaculture | Tips on Releasing
Sand Worms		Maine Marine Worm Info
Scallops		Maine Sea Scallop Info | Atlantic Sea Scallop Info c/o NOAA | Atlantic Sea Scallop Info c/o NOAA FishWatch
Sculpin	Longhorn Sculpin Description
Scup		Scup Info c/o NOAA | Scup Info c/o NOAA FishWatch
Sea Cucumbers		Maine Sea Cucumber Info
Sea Raven	Sea Raven Description
Sea Turtles		Maine Protected Species | Sea Turtle Info c/o NOAA
Sea Urchins		Maine Green Sea Urchin Info
Seals		Maine Seals, Protected Species | Maine Seals, Reporting Hotline
Seaweed		Maine Rockweed Info | Aquaculture
Shad	American Shad Description	Maine River Restoration Projects | River Herring & Shad Management Info c/o NOAA | Shad Info c/o ASMFC | Maine Sport Fishing Regulations (see Sea Run Fish & Chapter 44 in DMR Regulations)
Sharks	Blue Shark Description | Spiny Dogfish Description | Shortfin Mako Shark Description | Porbeagle Shark Description | Thresher Shark Description | White Shark Description	Maine Recreational Fishing Info for Large Pelagics | Coastal Sharks Info c/o ASFMC | Shark Info c/o NOAA | also see Dogfish, Mako, and Porbeagle Sharks above and Thresher Shark and White Shark below
Shrimp		Maine Northern Shrimp Info | Northern Shrimp Info c/o NOAA | Northern Shrimp Info c/o NOAA FishWatch | Northern Shrimp Info c/o ASMFC
Silver Hake		See Whiting below
Skate	Little Skate Description	Skate Complex Info c/o NOAA
Smelt	Rainbow Smelt Description	Maine Rainbow Smelt Info | Sport Fishing Regulations (see Sea Run Smelt & Chapter 40 in DMR Regulations)
Squid		Longfin Squid Info c/o NOAA | Longfin Squid Info c/o NOAA FishWatch | Shortfin Squid Info c/o NOAA | Shortfin Squid Info c/o NOAA FishWatch
Striped Bass	Striped Bass Description	Maine Striped Bass Assessment | Striped Bass Info c/o ASMFC | Striped Bass Info c/o NOAA | Striped Bass Info c/o NOAA FishWatch | Maine Sport Fishing Regulations (see Striped Bass & Chapter 42 in DMR Regulations)
Sturgeon	Atlantic Sturgeon Description	Maine River Restoration Projects | Atlantic Sturgeon Info c/o NOAA | Shortnose Sturgeon Info c/o NOAA | Atlantic Sturgeon Info c/o ASMFC
Summer Flounder		Summer Flounder Info c/o NOAA | Summer Flounder Info c/o ASMFC
Surf Clam		Surf Clam Info c/o NOAA | Surf Clam Info c/o NOAA FishWatch | Maine Shellfish Species Identification
Tautog	Tautog Description	Tautog Info c/o ASMFC
Thresher Shark	Thresher Shark Description	Thresher Shark Info c/o NOAA | Thresher Shark Info c/o NOAA FishWatch | also see Sharks above
Tilefish		Golden Tilefish Info c/o NOAA | Tilefish Info c/o NOAA FishWatch
Tunas	Bluefin Tuna Description	Maine Recreational Fishing Info for Large Pelagics | Bluefin Tuna Info c/o NOAA | Bigeye Tuna Info c/o NOAA | Skipjack Tuna Info c/o NOAA | Albacore Tuna Info c/o NOAA | Yellowfin Tuna Info c/o NOAA
Whales		Maine Protected Species, Reporting Hotline | Maine Whale Identification
Whelks		Maine Waved Whelk Info | Maine Shellfish Species Identification
White Hake		Maine Multispecies Fishery | Multispecies Fishery Info c/o NOAA | White Hake Info c/o NOAA
White Shark	White Shark Description	Maine White Shark Info | also see Sharks above
Whiting	Silver Hake Description	Silver Hake Info c/o NOAA | Silver Hake Info c/o NOAA FishWatch
Windowpane Flounder		Maine Multispecies Fishery | Windowpane Flounder Info c/o NOAA | Multispecies Fishery Info c/o NOAA
Winter Flounder	Winter Flounder Description	Maine Multispecies Fishery | Multispecies Fishery Info c/o NOAA | Winter Flounder Info c/o ASMFC | Winter Flounder Info c/o NOAA | Winter Flounder Info c/o NOAA FishWatch | Maine Sport Fishing Regulations (see Groundfish & Chapter 34 in DMR Regulations)
Witch Flounder		Maine Multispecies Fishery | Multispecies Fishery Info c/o NOAA | Witch Flounder (Grey Sole) Info c/o NOAA
Wolffish	Atlantic Wolffish Description	Multispecies Fishery | Multispecies Fishery Info c/o NOAA | Atlantic Wolffish Info c/o NOAA
Worms, Marine		Maine Marine Worm Info
Yellowtail Flounder		Maine Multispecies Fishery | Multispecies Fishery Info c/o NOAA | Yellowtail Flounder Info c/o NOAA | Yellowtail Flounder Info c/o NOAA FishWatch