Baitfish and Smelt Information

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The term "baitfish" is defined in Maine Law (§10001) and means only those species in the following list:

  • Lake chub, (Couesius plumbeus)
  • Eastern silvery minnow, (Hybognathus regius)
  • Golden shiner, (Notemigonus crysoleucas)
  • Common shiner, (Luxilus cornutus)
  • Northern redbelly dace, (Phoxinus eos)
  • Finescale dace, (Phoxinus neogaeus)
  • Fathead minnow, (Pimephales promelas)
  • Blacknose dace, (Rhinichthys atratulus)
  • Creek chub, (Semotilus atromaculatus)
  • Fallfish, (Semotilus corporalis)
  • Pearl dace, (Margariscus margarita)
  • Banded killifish, (Fundulus diaphanus)
  • Mummichog, (Fundulus heteroclitus)
  • Longnose sucker, (Catostomus catostomus)
  • White sucker, (Catostomus commersoni)
  • American eel, (Anquilla rostrata)

Though rainbow smelt (Osmerus mordax) may be used as live bait, they are not a "baitfish" (as defined) due to species specific harvest restrictions, bag limits, and management importance.

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Legal Fish That may be Used as Bait (Live or Dead)

Baitfish (as defined) and rainbow smelt are the only fish species that may be used as bait (live or dead) for fishing in Maine's inland waters.

Note: Not all waters permit the use of live fish as bait (or dead fish as bait) – please review General Fishing Laws and Special Fishing Laws.

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Harvesting Baitfish for Personal Use

All inland waters (including rivers, streams and brooks) are open to the taking of baitfish for personal use unless designated "closed to the taking of live baitfish" (see Special Fishing Laws), with the following conditions:

  • Fishing license required – You must have a valid Maine fishing license to harvest baitfish for personal use. Baitfish may not be sold or harvested with the intent to sell without applicable license(s).
  • Label your traps – Baitfish traps and holding cages must be labeled with the owner's name and address.
  • Check your traps – Baitfish traps must be tended a minimum of once every 7 days from April 2nd to October 31st, and a minimum of once every 21 days from November 1st to April 1st by the person who set them. Baitfish traps may only be used to harvest baitfish species, as defined. All other fish must be immediately released alive into the water from which they were taken. Note: It is unlawful to harvest rainbow smelt with a baitfish trap
  • Trap specifications apply – Baitfish traps may not exceed 50 cubic feet in volume and must be fitted with rigid entrance or exit holes.

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Harvesting Smelts for Personal Use

Unless closed by rule as indicated within the Special Fishing Laws, a person holding a valid Maine fishing license may:

  • Take rainbow smelt for recreational purposes by hook and line from inland waters that are open to fishing in accordance with bag limits established by rule.
  • Take rainbow smelt for recreational purposes only from the inland waters or portions of inland waters that are naturally free of ice with a dip net in the usual and ordinary way from noon to 2:00 a.m. in accordance with bag limits established by rule. Bag limits established by rule under this paragraph are for a 24-hour period, beginning at noon on a given day and ending at 11:59 a.m. the following day.

A person may not take rainbow smelt with a dip net unless it meets the requirements listed under the dip net definition (Title 12, §12456). A dip net when used to take rainbow smelt in a tributary or within 100 feet of the mouth of a tributary must contain a rigid circular frame that is not more than 24 inches in diameter as measured at any point on the hoop and manually operated by a single person (Title 12, §10001-12-A).

Fishing license required – You must have a valid Maine fishing license to harvest rainbow smelt for personal use. Rainbow smelt may not be sold or harvested with the intent to sell without applicable license(s).

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Importation of Fish Prohibited

It is illegal to introduce, import, or transport any live fish or fish eggs (including baitfish or smelts) into the State of Maine without a permit (§12509). This law helps keep Maine's waters healthy by limiting the introduction of aquatic invasive species and disease. Do your part by only using locally caught legal baitfish species when fishing in Maine.

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Storing Live Baitfish and Smelts

You may not store or hold live baitfish or smelts in waters where the use or possession of live fish as bait is prohibited during the entire fishing season. This includes waters restricted to the use of artificial lures only, waters restricted to fly fishing, and waters where there are other prohibitions on the use of live fish as bait.

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Commercial Bait Dealer's License

In order to harvest live baitfish and smelts to sell you must possess the respective baitfish or smelt wholesale license. A bait retail license allows resale of baitfish and smelt but not harvest. For more information on license requirements or how to obtain a license, contact MDIFW at (207) 287-8000 or visit the Bait Dealer's License page.

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Bait Traps in Acadia National Park

A free special use permit signed by the park superintendent or designee is required to transport traps or nets across park lands in order to access the Great Ponds. Applicants for permits must possess a valid State of Maine license to trap and/or fish as a condition of the permit.

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Tips on Identifying Common Legal Baitfish And Smelt

images of baitfish to identify legal and illegal baitfish

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