What special fishing regulations apply at Kennebec River main stem?

Kennebec River main stem carries 4 special-regulation overlays that override Maine's statewide 2026 rules, covering Smallmouth bass, Striped bass, and Brown trout. One of them reads: "Tidal section below Augusta (anadromous striped bass + American shad + sea-run brown trout + smelt + alewife spring runs); non-tidal upstream landlocked salmon + brook trout + smallmouth + brown trout stocked; sea-run Atlantic salmon FEDERALLY ENDANGERED catch-and-release ONLY (USFWS DPS rule since 2009)." Every overlay on this water body is listed in full above.

Do I need a fishing license to fish Kennebec River main stem?

Yes. Kennebec River main stem is in Maine, so a valid Maine fishing license is required just as it is anywhere else in the state, issued by Maine Department of Inland Fisheries & Wildlife (MDIFW) — freshwater; Maine Department of Marine Resources (DMR) — saltwater. The special regulations on this page change the bag, size, slot, or gear rules for Kennebec River main stem; they do not waive the license requirement. Free-fishing days and youth exemptions follow the statewide Maine rules.

Do Kennebec River main stem's special rules replace Maine's statewide limits?

Only where they conflict. Maine's statewide 2026 regulations apply on Kennebec River main stem by default; the overlays above replace the matching statewide rules for the species or gear they name, while everything not specifically overridden still follows the statewide rule. When a water-body rule and the statewide rule disagree, the water-body rule wins.

Which species have special rules on Kennebec River main stem?

Smallmouth bass, Striped bass, and Brown trout have a water-body-specific rule on Kennebec River main stem, each linking to its full Maine regulations above. Species not listed here follow the statewide Maine limits.

2026 regulation year

Kennebec River main stem 2026 — Maine Fishing Regulations

Maine statewide rules apply unless overridden below.

Last updated June 5, 2026

Kennebec River main stem carries 4 special-regulation overlays on top of Maine's 2026 fishing rules — covering Smallmouth bass, Striped bass, Brown trout. Verify the agency booklet before launching: in-season changes are not yet wired to this page.

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State-level special regulation

Tidal section below Augusta (anadromous striped bass + American shad + sea-run brown trout + smelt + alewife spring runs); non-tidal upstream landlocked salmon + brook trout + smallmouth + brown trout stocked; sea-run Atlantic salmon FEDERALLY ENDANGERED catch-and-release ONLY (USFWS DPS rule since 2009)
Source: Maine special-water list

Per-species rules on Kennebec River main stem

Smallmouth bass regulations →
South Zone lower river: 2 / day combined, no min, 1 over 14 in; upper (Somerset County) North Zone no limit; non-tidal smallmouth fishery
Striped bass regulations →
28-31 in slot, 1 / day; tidal section below Augusta — Maine's most celebrated striped bass tidal river (Edwards Dam removed 1999 reopened 17 miles of historic spawning habitat)
Brown trout regulations →
Rivers & streams general law: 2 / day, 6 in min / 25 in max; cold tailwater browns below Wyman + Williams dams; Aug 16 – Sept 30 artificial only

Official source

Maine Department of Inland Fisheries & Wildlife (MDIFW) — freshwater; Maine Department of Marine Resources (DMR) — saltwater publishes the authoritative 2026 Maine fishing regulations. Special-regulation lakes and rivers are listed in the agency booklet — always verify before fishing.

Visit official Maine fishing regulations →

Emergency-order channel

In-season closures, slot-limit changes, and run-count-driven 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.

Other special-regulation waters in Maine

Browse all water bodies →

Frequently asked questions

What special fishing regulations apply at Kennebec River main stem?: Kennebec River main stem carries 4 special-regulation overlays that override Maine's statewide 2026 rules, covering Smallmouth bass, Striped bass, and Brown trout. One of them reads: "Tidal section below Augusta (anadromous striped bass + American shad + sea-run brown trout + smelt + alewife spring runs); non-tidal upstream landlocked salmon + brook trout + smallmouth + brown trout stocked; sea-run Atlantic salmon FEDERALLY ENDANGERED catch-and-release ONLY (USFWS DPS rule since 2009)." Every overlay on this water body is listed in full above.
Do I need a fishing license to fish Kennebec River main stem?: Yes. Kennebec River main stem is in Maine, so a valid Maine fishing license is required just as it is anywhere else in the state, issued by Maine Department of Inland Fisheries & Wildlife (MDIFW) — freshwater; Maine Department of Marine Resources (DMR) — saltwater. The special regulations on this page change the bag, size, slot, or gear rules for Kennebec River main stem; they do not waive the license requirement. Free-fishing days and youth exemptions follow the statewide Maine rules.
Do Kennebec River main stem's special rules replace Maine's statewide limits?: Only where they conflict. Maine's statewide 2026 regulations apply on Kennebec River main stem by default; the overlays above replace the matching statewide rules for the species or gear they name, while everything not specifically overridden still follows the statewide rule. When a water-body rule and the statewide rule disagree, the water-body rule wins.
Which species have special rules on Kennebec River main stem?: Smallmouth bass, Striped bass, and Brown trout have a water-body-specific rule on Kennebec River main stem, each linking to its full Maine regulations above. Species not listed here follow the statewide Maine limits.

← Back to Maine regulations overview