What special fishing regulations apply at Penobscot River main stem?

Penobscot River main stem carries 3 special-regulation overlays that override Maine's statewide 2026 rules, covering Smallmouth bass and Striped bass. One of them reads: "Tidal section below Bangor (anadromous striped bass + American shad + sea-run smelt + alewife + river herring spring runs); non-tidal upstream landlocked salmon + brook trout + smallmouth; sea-run Atlantic salmon FEDERALLY ENDANGERED catch-and-release ONLY (USFWS DPS rule since 2009) — formerly Maine's most celebrated Atlantic salmon rod fishery at Bangor producing 1,000+ fish in record years before 2008 closure." Every overlay on this water body is listed in full above.

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

Yes. Penobscot 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 Penobscot River main stem; they do not waive the license requirement. Free-fishing days and youth exemptions follow the statewide Maine rules.

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

Only where they conflict. Maine's statewide 2026 regulations apply on Penobscot 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 Penobscot River main stem?

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

2026 regulation year

Penobscot River main stem 2026 — Maine Fishing Regulations

Maine statewide rules apply unless overridden below.

Last updated June 5, 2026

Penobscot River main stem carries 3 special-regulation overlays on top of Maine's 2026 fishing rules — covering Smallmouth bass, Striped bass. 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 Bangor (anadromous striped bass + American shad + sea-run smelt + alewife + river herring spring runs); non-tidal upstream landlocked salmon + brook trout + smallmouth; sea-run Atlantic salmon FEDERALLY ENDANGERED catch-and-release ONLY (USFWS DPS rule since 2009) — formerly Maine's most celebrated Atlantic salmon rod fishery at Bangor producing 1,000+ fish in record years before 2008 closure
Source: Maine special-water list

Per-species rules on Penobscot River main stem

Smallmouth bass regulations →
South Zone below Routes 11 & 157: 2 / day combined, no min, 1 over 14 in; North Zone upstream no limit; non-tidal smallmouth fishery
Striped bass regulations →
28-31 in slot, 1 / day; tidal section below Bangor; sea-run Atlantic salmon FEDERALLY ENDANGERED catch-and-release ONLY (USFWS DPS rule since 2009)

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 Penobscot River main stem?: Penobscot River main stem carries 3 special-regulation overlays that override Maine's statewide 2026 rules, covering Smallmouth bass and Striped bass. One of them reads: "Tidal section below Bangor (anadromous striped bass + American shad + sea-run smelt + alewife + river herring spring runs); non-tidal upstream landlocked salmon + brook trout + smallmouth; sea-run Atlantic salmon FEDERALLY ENDANGERED catch-and-release ONLY (USFWS DPS rule since 2009) — formerly Maine's most celebrated Atlantic salmon rod fishery at Bangor producing 1,000+ fish in record years before 2008 closure." Every overlay on this water body is listed in full above.
Do I need a fishing license to fish Penobscot River main stem?: Yes. Penobscot 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 Penobscot River main stem; they do not waive the license requirement. Free-fishing days and youth exemptions follow the statewide Maine rules.
Do Penobscot River main stem's special rules replace Maine's statewide limits?: Only where they conflict. Maine's statewide 2026 regulations apply on Penobscot 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 Penobscot River main stem?: Smallmouth bass and Striped bass have a water-body-specific rule on Penobscot 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