Maine
Fishing
A resident fishing license in Maine costs $26 a year and a non-resident license $64, as of May 2026. This guide lists 5 top species (Landlocked Atlantic salmon, Smallmouth bass, Brook trout, Lake trout, Pike) and 4 notable waters, led by Moosehead Lake and Rangeley Lakes. Maine has saltwater access and a notable wild trout fishery; it earns a B+ grade here, shared with 10 other states.
Top Species
Resident License
Non-Resident License
Saltwater Access
Trout Streams
World-Class Distinction
Wildlife Agency
Maine has a specific and excellent fishing identity built around cold, clear water. Moosehead Lake — the largest lake east of the Mississippi within a single state — holds lake trout, landlocked Atlantic salmon, smallmouth bass, and brook trout. The Rangeley Lakes chain in the western mountains is one of the most historically significant brook trout and landlocked salmon fisheries in the country.
The Atlantic coast gives Maine anglers access to striped bass surfcasting in season, with the waters north of Portland seeing less pressure than the southern New England coast. The Downeast coast holds wild brook trout in beaver ponds accessible only on foot or by canoe.
Resident licenses cost $26. Maine is a state where the remoteness is the feature. The best fishing often requires driving north into the unorganized territories, where road quality diminishes and services disappear. Fly-in fishing camps on remote lakes still operate in the Allagash Wilderness. Brook trout here — native, wild, wild-colored — are different animals than stocked trout anywhere else.
Maine's Moosehead Lake is the largest lake in a single state east of the Mississippi. The Rangeley Lakes region is one of the most storied brook trout and landlocked salmon fisheries in North America. Maine's remote waters are accessible primarily by floatplane.
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Also on Maine: the full Maine profile covers taxes, cost of living, crime and schools, and the county map lets you compare every county in the state. For related rules, read the Maine country music guide and the Maine gambling laws guide.
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Sources: State wildlife agencies, US Fish & Wildlife Service, Bassmaster, Field & Stream, In-Fisherman, Fly Fisherman magazine. License costs reflect annual resident/non-resident fishing license only; additional stamps (trout, salmon) may apply. Updated May 2026.