Maine fishing license: cost, who needs one and how to buy

What will it cost? Calculator

Pick your trip and we'll work out the cheapest licenses to buy, including any required stamps.

Prices for 2026. Listed prices do not include the license agent fee.

How long annual licenses last: Licenses and permits issued under Maine's licensing chapter expire at midnight on December 31 of the year issued. Official source

Non-residents (visitors)

Residents

• Anyone under 16 (inland license and saltwater registry)

  FreshSalt Everyone Official source2

• Maine residents (and immediate family) fishing open inland waters on land of 10 or more contiguous acres where they live

  Fresh Residents · check this applies to you Official source

• Maine residents who are blind, have lost use of both legs, or have a developmental disability or head injury, and veterans with a 50%+ service-connected disability (free license on application)

  FreshSalt Residents · check this applies to you Official source

• Enrolled members of the Passamaquoddy Tribe, Penobscot Nation, Houlton Band of Maliseet Indians or Aroostook Band of Micmacs (complimentary license; exempt from the saltwater registry)

  FreshSalt Residents · check this applies to you Official source2

• Anglers registered or licensed for saltwater fishing in another state or with the National Saltwater Angler Registry (saltwater only)

  Salt Non-residents · check this applies to you Official source

• Maine residents fishing in salt water only on Memorial Day weekend, July 4 or Labor Day weekend

  Salt Residents Official source

• Anglers fishing from a licensed smelt wharf or renting a smelt camp from a license holder (saltwater only)

  Salt Everyone Official source

• Anyone on Maine's free fishing days (inland waters)

  Fresh Everyone Official source

Fishing licenses from other states aren't valid in Maine, except under the border-water agreements below.

2027 dates not yet announced.

The rule: Inland free fishing days: two weekends a year set by IF&W (2026: February 14-15 and May 30-31); Saltwater registry not needed: Memorial Day weekend (Maine residents) (residents only); Saltwater registry not needed: July 4 (Maine residents) (residents only); Saltwater registry not needed: Labor Day weekend (Maine residents) (residents only).

On inland free fishing days anyone except people with suspended or revoked licenses may fish without a license; all other laws apply. 2027 dates not yet announced. Weekend dates for the saltwater exemption are worked out here as Saturday to Monday; DMR does not define the weekend.

Official source23

Who counts as a resident

A US citizen domiciled in Maine, or a non-citizen domiciled in Maine for one year. If you are registered to vote, licensed to drive or own a vehicle, those must be in Maine, and you must comply with Maine income tax law.

Military

Active-duty personnel stationed in Maine can buy resident licenses. Maine residents stationed elsewhere can buy the serviceman combination license.

Students

Non-residents aged 18-23 enrolled full time at a Maine college may qualify for resident rates (buy at the Augusta office).

Official source

Inland licenses are sold online, at agents (town offices, sporting goods and convenience stores) and at the Augusta office; agents add a fee. The free-standing saltwater registry ($1) is through Maine DMR online, by mail or at agents ($2).

Online

Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife (inland) and Maine Department of Marine Resources (salt water) license sales

Phone

207-287-8000

App

ME Outdoors

License on your phone

Accepted

ID needed

Residents must show a Maine driver's license or state ID.

An electronic license can be shown instead of paper. Agents charge $2 per license (town office example).

Official source23

Maine does not sell a saltwater license. Saltwater anglers 16 or over register in the free-standing saltwater registry ($1), unless they hold a Maine inland license (other than lifetime) or another exemption applies.

Non-residents running motorboats or seaplanes on inland waters must also display a Lake and River Protection Sticker.

It depends on the boat and where you fish.

Salt water: passengers on a for-hire charter or party boat with a licensed for-hire operator don't need the saltwater registry. Inland: everyone 16 or over needs a fishing license, including on guided trips. Smelt wharf and smelt camp customers are also exempt from the registry.

Official source2

Border waters

• Lakes and ponds shared with New Hampshire

  Maine or New Hampshire licenses are accepted on lakes and ponds lying partly in both states, and Maine licenses are honored on the interstate waters listed in the law book appendix. Official source

• International waters with New Brunswick

  Either a Maine or New Brunswick license is honored on the main body of listed waters. Where the boundary is a straight line between two points, or when fishing from or tied to shore, you need the license of that side. Official source

General inland law (MDIFW 2026 law book; North and South zones) and Maine DMR 2026 marine recreational rules. Many inland waters have special rules. Limits shown are daily bag limits.

Compare Maine with other states

Neighboring states, side by side: prices, age rules, free days and shared waters.

• Maine vs New Hampshire

Questions

Sources and checks

Every fact on this page comes from Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife (inland) and Maine Department of Marine Resources (salt water) unless it's marked secondary. We use a secondary source only when the official site doesn't show something, and we name it.

Licenses and prices

Checked Nov 4, 2026 (prices for 2026)

Free fishing days

Checked Nov 4, 2026

Seasons and limits

Checked Nov 4, 2026

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