When is largemouth bass season in Maine?

North Zone lakes & ponds April 1 – September 30; South Zone lakes & ponds year-round (ice + open water); April 1 – June 30 catch-and-release artificial-lures-only pre-spawn restriction on listed waters per MDIFW Fishing Law Book. Those are the 2026 Maine dates; always confirm against Maine Department of Inland Fisheries & Wildlife (MDIFW) — freshwater; Maine Department of Marine Resources (DMR) — saltwater before a trip, because an emergency order can shift an opener with little notice.

What is the Maine bag limit for largemouth bass?

The Maine daily bag limit for largemouth bass is North Zone: no daily limit; South Zone: 2 / day combined black bass (largemouth + smallmouth). The possession limit is North Zone none; South Zone same as daily limit (confirm current MDIFW Fishing Law Book). Some named waters set a different limit — check the water-body overrides above.

What size largemouth bass can you keep in Maine?

The Maine size rule for largemouth bass is No minimum length statewide; in the South Zone only 1 of the 2 fish may exceed 14 in. Trophy rule: Maine state-record largemouth bass 11 lb 10 oz (Moose Pond, Denmark, Robert Kamp, 1968); Cobbosseecontee + the Belgrade Lakes chain routinely produce 5-7 lb largemouth.

Do you need a license to fish for largemouth bass in Maine?

Yes. Maine requires a valid fishing license to fish for largemouth bass, with the usual exemptions for young children, state free-fishing days, and some senior or disabled-veteran categories. A license is valid only in the state that issued it, so non-residents need a Maine license — compare resident and non-resident Maine fees on the state regulations page below.

Are there gear restrictions for largemouth bass in Maine?

Yes. In Maine, largemouth bass fishing carries these gear rules: Artificial-lures-only catch-and-release on listed pre-spawn restriction waters April 1 – June 30; Hook-and-line; snagging prohibited for black bass; MDIFW Inland Fishing Licence required ages 16+ ($25 res / $64 NR annual); Confirm current-year MDIFW Fishing Law Book + Special Fishing Laws for water-by-water S-codes.

Do specific Maine waters have different largemouth bass rules?

Yes. 5 named Maine waters carry rules that override the statewide largemouth bass regulation, including Cobbosseecontee, Belgrade Lakes, China Lake, and 2 more. See the named water-body overrides above for the exact rule on each.

2026 regulation year

Maine Largemouth bass 2026 — Season, Bag Limit, Size Rules

Micropterus salmoides

Last updated May 30, 2026

Largemouth bass — introduced into Maine in the late 1800s and now naturalized across the warmer southern + central lakes — anchors the state's growing warmwater + tournament fishery (B.A.S.S. Nation + regional bass circuits run the Belgrade + Sebago region heavily). Largemouth distribution in Maine is concentrated in the South Zone: the Belgrade Lakes chain (Great Pond + Long Pond + Messalonskee / Snow Pond — Kennebec County), Cobbosseecontee Lake (5,500 acres, Kennebec County — one of the best largemouth lakes in New England), China Lake + Threemile Pond (Kennebec County), Sabattus Pond (Androscoggin County), Thompson Lake + Sebago Lake + Long Lake (Cumberland / Oxford), and the Down East warmwater chains. The Maine state-record largemouth bass is 11 lb 10 oz (Moose Pond, Denmark, Oxford County — Robert Kamp, 1968), one of the oldest standing records in the state. Under MDIFW's reformed zone-based general law, black bass (largemouth + smallmouth combined) carry NO daily limit and NO minimum length in the North Zone, while the South Zone — where nearly all of Maine's largemouth live — allows 2 fish per day with no minimum length and only 1 of the 2 over 14 inches. Listed waters carry an April 1 – June 30 catch-and-release artificial-lures-only pre-spawn restriction.

Compare largemouth bass regulations across all states →

Get change alerts

Watch Maine Largemouth bass and we'll email you when a season, bag limit, slot, or closure changes. Free while in beta.

Season

North Zone lakes & ponds April 1 – September 30; South Zone lakes & ponds year-round (ice + open water); April 1 – June 30 catch-and-release artificial-lures-only pre-spawn restriction on listed waters per MDIFW Fishing Law Book.

Jan 1 – Dec 31South Zone lakes & ponds
Open year-round (ice + open water) — most Maine largemouth waters are South Zone
Apr 1 – Sep 30North Zone lakes & ponds
Open-water season April 1 – September 30
Apr 1 – Jun 30Listed pre-spawn C&R artificial-only waters
Catch-and-release artificial-lures-only on listed waters during the pre-spawn window

Bag & possession

Daily bag: North Zone: no daily limit; South Zone: 2 / day combined black bass (largemouth + smallmouth)
Possession: North Zone none; South Zone same as daily limit (confirm current MDIFW Fishing Law Book)

Size, slot, trophy rules

Size: No minimum length statewide; in the South Zone only 1 of the 2 fish may exceed 14 in
Trophy rule: Maine state-record largemouth bass 11 lb 10 oz (Moose Pond, Denmark, Robert Kamp, 1968); Cobbosseecontee + the Belgrade Lakes chain routinely produce 5-7 lb largemouth

Gear restrictions

Artificial-lures-only catch-and-release on listed pre-spawn restriction waters April 1 – June 30
Hook-and-line; snagging prohibited for black bass
MDIFW Inland Fishing Licence required ages 16+ ($25 res / $64 NR annual)
Confirm current-year MDIFW Fishing Law Book + Special Fishing Laws for water-by-water S-codes

Named water-body overrides

Where statewide rules differ on specific Maine waters:

Cobbosseecontee Lake
South Zone (Kennebec County): 2 / day combined, no min, only 1 over 14 in; one of New England's premier largemouth lakes
Belgrade Lakes (Great Pond + Long Pond)
South Zone (Kennebec County): 2 / day combined, no min, only 1 over 14 in; major tournament chain
China Lake
South Zone (Kennebec County): 2 / day combined, no min, only 1 over 14 in
Sebago Lake
South Zone (Cumberland County): 2 / day combined, no min, only 1 over 14 in
Thompson Lake
South Zone (Oxford / Cumberland / Androscoggin): 2 / day combined, no min, only 1 over 14 in; source of the 8 lb state-record smallmouth (1970)

Official source

Maine Department of Inland Fisheries & Wildlife (MDIFW) — freshwater; Maine Department of Marine Resources (DMR) — saltwater publishes the authoritative 2026 Mainefishing regulations. Always verify the current rule before fishing — emergency closures and in-season changes can override what's published here.

The largemouth bass rules on this page are sourced from Maine Department of Inland Fisheries & Wildlife (MDIFW) — freshwater; Maine Department of Marine Resources (DMR) — saltwater's official largemouth bass regulation page.

Visit official Maine fishing regulations →

Emergency-order channel

Largemouth bass closures, slot-limit changes, and harvest pauses are posted to Maine Department of Inland Fisheries & Wildlife's emergency-order feed — check it before any Maine trip during the active season.

Frequently asked questions

When is largemouth bass season in Maine?: North Zone lakes & ponds April 1 – September 30; South Zone lakes & ponds year-round (ice + open water); April 1 – June 30 catch-and-release artificial-lures-only pre-spawn restriction on listed waters per MDIFW Fishing Law Book. Those are the 2026 Maine dates; always confirm against Maine Department of Inland Fisheries & Wildlife (MDIFW) — freshwater; Maine Department of Marine Resources (DMR) — saltwater before a trip, because an emergency order can shift an opener with little notice.
What is the Maine bag limit for largemouth bass?: The Maine daily bag limit for largemouth bass is North Zone: no daily limit; South Zone: 2 / day combined black bass (largemouth + smallmouth). The possession limit is North Zone none; South Zone same as daily limit (confirm current MDIFW Fishing Law Book). Some named waters set a different limit — check the water-body overrides above.
What size largemouth bass can you keep in Maine?: The Maine size rule for largemouth bass is No minimum length statewide; in the South Zone only 1 of the 2 fish may exceed 14 in. Trophy rule: Maine state-record largemouth bass 11 lb 10 oz (Moose Pond, Denmark, Robert Kamp, 1968); Cobbosseecontee + the Belgrade Lakes chain routinely produce 5-7 lb largemouth.
Do you need a license to fish for largemouth bass in Maine?: Yes. Maine requires a valid fishing license to fish for largemouth bass, with the usual exemptions for young children, state free-fishing days, and some senior or disabled-veteran categories. A license is valid only in the state that issued it, so non-residents need a Maine license — compare resident and non-resident Maine fees on the state regulations page below.
Are there gear restrictions for largemouth bass in Maine?: Yes. In Maine, largemouth bass fishing carries these gear rules: Artificial-lures-only catch-and-release on listed pre-spawn restriction waters April 1 – June 30; Hook-and-line; snagging prohibited for black bass; MDIFW Inland Fishing Licence required ages 16+ ($25 res / $64 NR annual); Confirm current-year MDIFW Fishing Law Book + Special Fishing Laws for water-by-water S-codes.
Do specific Maine waters have different largemouth bass rules?: Yes. 5 named Maine waters carry rules that override the statewide largemouth bass regulation, including Cobbosseecontee, Belgrade Lakes, China Lake, and 2 more. See the named water-body overrides above for the exact rule on each.

← Back to Maine regulations overview