For over a century, the Pine Tree State has seen countless anglers’ dreams come true, earning itself the moniker of “the nation’s playground.” A lot has changed over time, but the reason why Maine is such a popular angling destination has remained the same. That reason is Landlocked Salmon, aka Maine’s state fish. Today, you’re going to learn what makes this critter so special.
A Legendary Pedigree
Landlocked Salmon are, for all intents and purposes, Atlantic Salmon. The only difference between Maine’s state fish and their legendary cousins is that the former spend their lives in freshwater. As a result, Landlocked Salmon tend to be a little smaller, but don’t think that that takes anything away from their other traits.
If you’re a stranger to fishing Atlantic Salmon, you’re going to have to work your tail off to bring these fish in. Seriously – you’ll think your fish just got bit by a Shark, the way it pulls. If we’re playing the comparison game, out of all the species of Salmon, only Coho can top their fight.
Fighting spirit aside, Landlocked Salmon are renowned for their taste. But you’re going to want to hold back a bit with this one. Due to high mercury content in most of Maine’s freshwater fisheries, the official recommendation is that you shouldn’t eat more than 1 of these fish per week.
How Big
Landlocked Salmon average out at 16–18 inches, weighing around 1 to 1.5 pounds. If this sounds small to you, it’s just because these fish are so widespread. In fact, they inhabit more than 200 lakes in Maine! As you’d expect, larger Salmon tend to swim in larger bodies of water, so if you want your piece of a 5-pounder, make sure you’re fishing in the right place.
The largest Landlocked Salmon ever caught in Maine was a 22 lb 8 oz monster landed way back in 1907. Such an impressive record is going to be hard to break, but we challenge you to try.
Catching Maine’s State Fish
As we mentioned, Landlocked Salmon are widespread throughout the state of Maine. Your best bet is to look for them in deep, clear lakes with plenty of rocky structures. Drop a line between ice-out and early summer, or later in September, and you’ll have a field day with them.
Trolling near the surface or rocky structures typically works best, especially if you’re using live smelt or smelt-imitating lures.
If you’re up for a more immersive experience, you can try to catch these Salmon on the fly. This is definitely a more challenging way to catch fish, but thankfully, there are plenty of fly fishing guides in Maine to show you how it’s done.
Last but not least, you can catch Landlocked Salmon through the ice! Most anglers use tip-ups, but you can also try jigging baits and lures. Fishing through the ice may not be for everyone, but few things are as rewarding as pulling a Salmon from a frozen lake, especially if you throw it on the grill later!
So there you have it. What’s your favorite thing about Maine state fish? Have you ever caught Landlocked Salmon before? Let us know in the comments below!
