Top fish species at Penobscot River Reservoir
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Penobscot River Reservoir fishing reports
14 in · 4 lb
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Fishing regulations at Penobscot River Reservoir, ME
Disclaimer: Always check local fishing regulations, water access rights and land ownership before fishing, regardless of any catches logged in that area by the Fishbrain community. Fishbrain has mapped millions of acres of government-owned land across the USA to help you identify potential fishing access, but you are responsible for ensuring compliance with all legal requirements.
Fishing regulations in Maine can change throughout the year. Make sure to check this page before fishing for the most up to date rules and regulations for the current season. Local regulations govern when you can fish, the max size of the fish you can keep, how many fish you can keep, and more.
Regulations for top species
Smallmouth bass
The maximum number of individual fish legally harvested per harvester per day. Bag limits are only for properly licensed anglers actively harvesting the species. People who are not actively harvesting or are not properly licensed (if a license is required) may NOT be counted for the purpose of bag limits.
The maximum number of individual fish across an aggregate group of species legally harvested per harvester per day.
The maximum number of trophy individuals legally harvested per harvester per day. A trophy is any individual of a length greater than the max size limit. Trophy individuals are included in the daily bag limit unless stated otherwise.
Total length means the straight line distance from the most forward point of the head with the mouth closed, to the farthest tip of the tail with the tail compressed or squeezed, while the fish is lying on its side.
ME Illegal Fishing
Except as otherwise provided, it is unlawful to fish other than with a single baited hook and line, artificial flies or artificial lures and spinners. This does not apply to hook and line smelt fishing. All other rules and regulations governing the taking of smelt apply.Use of gaff is unlawful.Except as otherwise provided, it is unlawful to possess any grapnel, trawl, weir, seine, gill net, trap, set line or drop net on or adjacent to any of the inland waters of Maine. Except as otherwise provided, it is unlawful to fish with a grapnel, spear, spear gun, trawl, weir, gaff, seine, gill net, trap, or set lines. Unless otherwise provided by rule, the number of lines an angler may fish at any one time is limited to two lines while open water fishing and five lines while ice fishing. At no time may an angler fish with more than five lines.
ME Removal of Head and Tail
It is unlawful to alter the length of landlocked salmon, trout, togue, lake whitefish, and bass unless the fish are being prepared for immediate cooking. It is unlawful to possess or transport fish dressed in such a manner that the species of fish cannot be identified; unless the fish are being prepared for immediate cooking (smoking does not constitute cooking).
ME Snagging
It is unlawful to fish for any fish, except suckers, by snagging.
ME Explosives and Chemicals
It is unlawful to take or destroy any fish by use of an explosive, poisonous or stupefying substance.
ME Live Baitfish
In the North Zone: Use or possession of LIVE FISH as bait is PROHIBITED. The use of all other legal forms of bait (including worms and dead baitfish/smelts), artificial lures, and artificial flies is PERMITTED. In the South Zone: Use of all legal forms of bait (including live baitfish/smelts), artificial lures, and artificial flies is PERMITTED.
North Zone: no bag limit, no size limit
South Zone: bag limit = 2 bass; No minimum length. Only 1 bass may exceed 14-inches total length.
Rivers, streams, brooks:
- April 1 to August 15: Open to open water fishing.
- August 16 to September 30: Open to open water fishing using artificial lures or flies only.
- October 1 to March 31: Closed to all fishing.
Lakes and ponds North Zone:
- April 1 to September 30: Open to open water fishing.
- October 1 to March 31: Closed to all fishing.
Lakes and ponds South Zone
- January 1 to December 31: Open to ice and open water fishing.
American eel
The maximum number of individual fish legally harvested per harvester per day. Bag limits are only for properly licensed anglers actively harvesting the species. People who are not actively harvesting or are not properly licensed (if a license is required) may NOT be counted for the purpose of bag limits.
No person shall harvest any individual fish less than the minimum size limit.
Total length means the straight line distance from the most forward point of the head with the mouth closed, to the farthest tip of the tail with the tail compressed or squeezed, while the fish is lying on its side.
Striped bass
The maximum number of individual fish legally harvested per harvester per day. Bag limits are only for properly licensed anglers actively harvesting the species. People who are not actively harvesting or are not properly licensed (if a license is required) may NOT be counted for the purpose of bag limits.
No person shall harvest any individual fish less than the minimum size limit.
No person shall harvest any individual fish greater than the maximum size except as permitted.
Total length means the straight line distance from the most forward point of the head with the mouth closed, to the farthest tip of the tail with the tail compressed or squeezed, while the fish is lying on its side.
NJ No Gaff
It is prohibited for any person to gaff striped bass when fishing recreationally.
Hook & Line Only
Allowable gear: hook and line.
- Hook and line only, no gaffing of striped bass.
- No bait allowed when using treble hooks.
- It is unlawful to use multiple (more than two) barbed or barbless treble hooks on any artificial lure or fly while fishing for striped bass in territorial waters.
- It is unlawful to use any hook other than a non-offset circle hook when using bait. Exception: Rubber or latex tube lures may be used without a circle hook as long as they are a minimum of 8 inches long and have a single hook protruding from the end portion of the tubing where bait may be attached.
- Bait is defined as any marine or freshwater organism live or dead, whole or parts thereof, and earthworms, including but not limited to, night crawlers.
- Striped bass incidentally caught on any unapproved hook type must be returned to the water immediately without unnecessary injury.
For more information, see 2023 Maine Striped Bass Regulations.
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