{"id":55912,"date":"2023-10-26T15:13:00","date_gmt":"2023-10-26T15:13:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/fishingbooker.com\/blog\/?p=55912"},"modified":"2026-03-06T18:23:36","modified_gmt":"2026-03-06T18:23:36","slug":"maine-fishing-seasons","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/fishingbooker.com\/blog\/maine-fishing-seasons\/","title":{"rendered":"Maine Fishing Seasons: The Complete Guide for 2026"},"content":{"rendered":"Reading Time: <\/span> 11<\/span> minutes<\/span><\/span>

With more than 2,000 square miles of inland water and almost 3,500 miles of Atlantic coastline, too, Maine<\/a> is a fishing paradise. The Pine Tree State offers year-round freshwater and saltwater angling opportunities. But Maine’s fishing seasons aren’t that simple. So before you decide to wet your line in its rich fisheries, you should get familiar with what’s biting when, along with some regulations.<\/p>

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Photo taken by Super Fly Charters<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>

In the following sections, we’ll try to help you prepare for your Maine fishing adventure by outlining the most popular fish species and their availability throughout the year. Before focusing on what each month hides, let’s take a look at what you can expect from Maine’s fishing seasons in general.<\/p>

What can I expect from Maine’s fishing seasons?<\/h2>

In theory, you can always catch something when fishing in Maine. But in reality, each fish follows a different season. In other words, some species may be up across grabs the entire year, whereas others have closed seasons and times when they’re less available. More often than not, your target will follow a season. So, if you have a specific fish in mind, make sure you know when it’s available. <\/p>

The same goes for certain regions in the state. If you want to go lake fishing fish in counties like Aroostook, Somerset, or Franklin, you’ll only be able to do so between April and September<\/strong>. That’s because inland fisheries in the North Zone<\/strong> are closed for all fishing from October through March. <\/p>

South Zone<\/strong> counties follow the same rule for rivers, streams, and brooks. Their lakes and ponds, on the other hand, are available for year-round fishing and boast excellent ice fishing. Sounds complicated, eh? Well, that’s why we’re here.<\/p>

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Photo taken by Bucks Bass And Beyond<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>

To check if the freshwater fishery you want to check out is in the North or South Zone, go to the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife website<\/a>. For more information on saltwater seasons, visit the Department of Marine Resources site<\/a>.<\/p>

Meanwhile, we’ve prepared an overview of the most popular fish species in Maine and their month-by-month availability for you. Take a look at the two tables below and find out when the season of your target fish is at its peak.<\/p>

Freshwater Fishing Calendar<\/h3>

<\/p>\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n
Species<\/th>\n Jan*<\/th>\n Feb*<\/th>\n Mar*<\/th>\n Apr<\/th>\n May<\/th>\n Jun<\/th>\n Jul<\/th>\n Aug<\/th>\n Sep<\/th>\n Oct*<\/th>\n Nov*<\/th>\n Dec*<\/th>\n <\/tr>\n <\/thead>\n
Smallmouth Bass<\/strong><\/td>\n Weak<\/td>\n Weak<\/td>\n Weak<\/td>\n Good<\/td>\n Good<\/td>\n Great<\/td>\n Great<\/td>\n Great<\/td>\n Good<\/td>\n Weak<\/td>\n Weak<\/td>\n Weak<\/td>\n <\/tr>\n
Brook Trout<\/strong><\/td>\n Weak<\/td>\n Weak<\/td>\n Weak<\/td>\n Good<\/td>\n Good<\/td>\n Great<\/td>\n Great<\/td>\n Great<\/td>\n Good<\/td>\n Weak<\/td>\n Weak<\/td>\n Weak<\/td>\n <\/tr>\n
Lake Trout<\/strong><\/td>\n Great<\/td>\n Great<\/td>\n Great<\/td>\n Great<\/td>\n Great<\/td>\n Great<\/td>\n Great<\/td>\n Great<\/td>\n Great<\/td>\n Great<\/td>\n Great<\/td>\n Great<\/td>\n <\/tr>\n
Landlocked Salmon<\/strong><\/td>\n Weak<\/td>\n Weak<\/td>\n Weak<\/td>\n Good<\/td>\n Great<\/td>\n Great<\/td>\n Good<\/td>\n Good<\/td>\n Great<\/td>\n Closed<\/td>\n Closed<\/td>\n Closed<\/td>\n <\/tr>\n
Northern Pike<\/strong><\/td>\n Great<\/td>\n Great<\/td>\n Great<\/td>\n Good<\/td>\n Great<\/td>\n Great<\/td>\n Great<\/td>\n Great<\/td>\n Great<\/td>\n Great<\/td>\n Good<\/td>\n Great<\/td>\n <\/tr>\n <\/tbody>\n<\/table>

*Note:<\/strong> The fishing season for all inland fisheries in the North Zone is closed between October 1 and March 31. Angling is open during these months in the South Zone’s lakes and ponds but not in rivers, streams, and brooks.<\/sup><\/p>

Saltwater Fishing Calendar<\/h3>

<\/p>\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n
Species<\/th>\n Jan<\/th>\n Feb<\/th>\n Mar<\/th>\n Apr<\/th>\n May<\/th>\n Jun<\/th>\n Jul<\/th>\n Aug<\/th>\n Sep<\/th>\n Oct<\/th>\n Nov<\/th>\n Dec<\/th>\n <\/tr>\n <\/thead>\n
Striped Bass<\/strong><\/td>\n Weak<\/td>\n Weak<\/td>\n Weak<\/td>\n Weak<\/td>\n Good<\/td>\n Good<\/td>\n Great<\/td>\n Great<\/td>\n Good<\/td>\n Good<\/td>\n Weak<\/td>\n Weak<\/td>\n <\/tr>\n
Atlantic Mackerel<\/strong><\/td>\n Weak<\/td>\n Weak<\/td>\n Good<\/td>\n Good<\/td>\n Great<\/td>\n Great<\/td>\n Great<\/td>\n Great<\/td>\n Great<\/td>\n Good<\/td>\n Good<\/td>\n Weak<\/td>\n <\/tr>\n
Bluefin Tuna<\/strong><\/td>\n Weak<\/td>\n Weak<\/td>\n Weak<\/td>\n Weak<\/td>\n Good<\/td>\n Good<\/td>\n Great<\/td>\n Great<\/td>\n Good<\/td>\n Weak<\/td>\n Weak<\/td>\n Weak<\/td>\n <\/tr>\n
Sharks<\/strong><\/td>\n Weak<\/td>\n Weak<\/td>\n Weak<\/td>\n Weak<\/td>\n Good<\/td>\n Good<\/td>\n Great<\/td>\n Great<\/td>\n Good<\/td>\n Good<\/td>\n Weak<\/td>\n Weak<\/td>\n <\/tr>\n
Pollock<\/strong><\/td>\n Great<\/td>\n Great<\/td>\n Great<\/td>\n Great<\/td>\n Great<\/td>\n Great<\/td>\n Great<\/td>\n Great<\/td>\n Great<\/td>\n Great<\/td>\n Great<\/td>\n Great<\/td>\n <\/tr>\n
Cod<\/strong><\/td>\n Closed<\/td>\n Closed<\/td>\n Closed<\/td>\n Closed<\/td>\n Closed<\/td>\n Closed<\/td>\n Closed<\/td>\n Closed<\/td>\n Great*<\/td>\n Great*<\/td>\n Closed<\/td>\n Closed<\/td>\n <\/tr>\n
Lobster<\/strong><\/td>\n Weak<\/td>\n Weak<\/td>\n Weak<\/td>\n Weak<\/td>\n Weak<\/td>\n Weak<\/td>\n Great<\/td>\n Great<\/td>\n Great<\/td>\n Good<\/td>\n Good<\/td>\n Weak<\/td>\n <\/tr>\n <\/tbody>\n<\/table>

*Note:<\/strong> Cod season in the table reflects the Recreational Management Measures for the Gulf of Maine and so differs from the Georges Bank Recreational Management Measures.<\/sup><\/p>

<\/div>\n\n\n\n<\/p>

When is Maine’s best fishing season?<\/h2>

Late spring<\/strong> and fall<\/strong> are generally considered the prime times for angling in Maine. But the best season for fishing depends entirely on what makes you tick. If you find thrill in ice fishing, then winter<\/strong> will be the best season for fishing in Maine for you, for example.<\/p>

You can check out what each month has in store for you and then decide which season is your favorite. To go to a specific month, use the list below and find out what awaits you in Maine whenever you plan on visiting.<\/p>