Bowfishing in Maine is legal, but the state keeps a tight leash on where, when, and what you can shoot. Unlike many southern and midwestern states where bowfishers can target a wide range of rough fish year-round, Maine’s inland fishing laws are among the most restrictive in the country when it comes to archery equipment in the water.
Before you rig up a reel and head to your favorite river, you need to understand exactly what Maine law allows — and what it prohibits. Getting it wrong can cost you your fishing license, your gear, and a hefty fine. This guide breaks down the rules clearly so you can bowfish in Maine without running into trouble.
Pro Tip: Always carry a printed or digital copy of the current Maine fishing laws when bowfishing. Regulations can change annually, and a game warden will expect you to know the rules on the water.
Is Bowfishing Legal in Maine?
Yes, bowfishing is legal in Maine — but with significant limitations. Maine allows you to bowfish for non-game species, but you cannot bowfish for game fish. This is a critical distinction that separates Maine from states with more open bowfishing policies.
Maine’s inland fishing laws are governed by the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife (MDIFW). Annual revisions of the fishing law booklet are filed with the Secretary of State, and the rules contained in it have the force of law as printed. That means the law is updated each year, and you are responsible for knowing the current version.
Except as otherwise provided, it is unlawful to fish other than with a single baited hook and line, artificial flies, or artificial lures and spinners. Bowfishing is one of the narrow exceptions to this general rule, and it applies only to specific species under specific conditions. If you are planning to hunt or fish in Maine, understanding the baseline legal framework is essential before you head out.
What Fish Can You Bowfish for in Maine?
Maine’s bowfishing options are limited compared to most other states. The only freshwater species explicitly authorized for bowfishing under state law is the sucker. Persons licensed, or otherwise entitled to fish, may take suckers for their own use between April 1st and June 30th from all rivers, streams, and brooks open to fishing by use of a hand spear, archery equipment, or by snagging.
White suckers (Catostomus commersonii) are the most common sucker species you will encounter in Maine’s rivers and brooks during the spring spawn. They gather in large numbers in shallow, moving water from April through June, making them a practical and accessible bowfishing target during that narrow window.
Some of the most common freshwater fish shot in other states include bighead carp, common carp, grass carp, catfish, buffalo, and several varieties of gar. Many of these fall under the category of rough or trash fish — species that fall outside the category of sport fish. Maine has no established carp population significant enough to create a dedicated bowfishing season for them, and the state’s inland fishing laws do not list carp as a bowfishing-legal species the way neighboring Massachusetts does.
Important Note: Game fish such as bass, trout, landlocked salmon, togue (lake trout), pickerel, and perch are strictly off-limits for bowfishing. Taking any game fish with archery equipment in Maine’s inland waters is illegal under Title 12 of Maine law.
For saltwater species, the rules differ — see the Saltwater Bowfishing section below for details on what the Maine Department of Marine Resources allows. If you want to compare Maine’s approach to other states, see how bowfishing laws in Minnesota or bowfishing laws in Virginia handle species lists differently.
| Species | Legal for Bowfishing? | Season | Water Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| White Sucker | Yes | April 1 – June 30 | Rivers, streams, brooks |
| Bass (all species) | No | N/A | N/A |
| Trout / Salmon | No | N/A | N/A |
| Carp | Not explicitly authorized in inland waters | N/A | N/A |
| Saltwater species (select) | Yes (spearfishing rules apply) | Varies by species | Tidal/saltwater |
Bowfishing License Requirements in Maine
Maine does not issue a separate bowfishing license. Instead, you bowfish under your standard fishing license. A valid Maine fishing license is required for anyone 16 years of age or older to fish in inland waters or transport fish taken from inland waters. Since bowfishing is classified as a method of fishing, your fishing license covers the activity.
A person is required to keep their fishing license with them at all times while fishing or transporting fish and must exhibit their license for inspection by any warden, department employee, guide, or landowner upon request. An electronic license or permit can now be displayed in lieu of a physical paper license or permit. That means you can pull it up on your phone if a game warden asks to see it on the water.
Residents and nonresidents may obtain fishing licenses from agents throughout the state, including sporting goods stores, many convenience stores, town clerks, turnpike service centers, online, or from the Department office in Augusta. You can also purchase a license through the MDIFW online portal any time of day.
Children under 16 do not need a fishing license to bowfish in Maine. Anglers 16 and older must have a valid license in hand. Possession of fishing tackle in the fields or forests or on the waters or ice of this State without a fishing license is prima facie evidence of fishing in violation of the law. A bow rigged with a fishing reel and arrow qualifies as fishing tackle, so do not leave the dock without your license.
If you are also interested in other outdoor regulations in the state, you may want to review the hunting laws in Maine for archery-related rules that apply on land.
Legal Bowfishing Equipment in Maine
Maine law is specific about what your bow and arrow setup must look like when you are targeting fish. A person may not use archery equipment to harvest suckers unless the arrow or bolt used has a barbed or pronged point and the arrow or bolt is attached to the archery equipment with a line. This is the standard bowfishing rig — a barbed fish arrow connected to your bow via a line and reel — and it is a legal requirement, not just a practical suggestion.
If your arrow does not have a barbed or pronged tip, and if it is not tethered to your bow with a line, you are not in compliance with Maine law. A standard hunting broadhead arrow shot into the water without a retrieval line is illegal for this purpose.
- Arrow tip: Must be barbed or pronged (standard fish point)
- Retrieval line: The arrow or bolt must be attached to the archery equipment with a line
- Bow type: Compound, recurve, and longbow are all acceptable; crossbows may also qualify under archery equipment definitions
- Spear guns: Prohibited in inland waters under Maine law
Except as otherwise provided, it is unlawful to fish with a grapnel, spear, spear gun, trawl, weir, gaff, seine, gill net, trap, or set lines. This means spear guns are off the table for inland freshwater bowfishing. Your only legal option for archery-based fish taking in fresh water is a bow with a properly rigged fish arrow.
For reference on how other states handle equipment rules, see the bowfishing laws in Ohio and bowfishing laws in Pennsylvania, both of which have more detailed equipment lists.
Pro Tip: Use a bowfishing reel — either a hand-wrap style or a spin-cast reel mounted to your bow — to keep your line tangle-free and your arrow retrieval fast. This setup also keeps you compliant with Maine’s line-attachment requirement.
Where You Can and Cannot Bowfish in Maine
Maine law limits bowfishing for suckers to rivers, streams, and brooks — not lakes or ponds. Persons licensed may take suckers between April 1st and June 30th from all rivers, streams, and brooks open to fishing. If you are standing on the bank of a lake or paddling across a pond, you are not in a legal bowfishing location for this species under current inland rules.
You should check whether the water you want to fish is listed in the alphabetical Special Fishing Laws. If the water is listed, any exceptions to the General Fishing Laws will be designated by text or special season or law codes. If the water is not listed, only General Fishing Laws apply. Always check the MDIFW’s Special Fishing Laws database before heading to a specific body of water.
There are also several categories of water where bowfishing is effectively off the table regardless of species:
- Fishway buffer zones: The area within 150 feet of any operational fishway is closed to fishing.
- Tribal waters: Unlisted tribal waters located in Passamaquoddy or Penobscot Indian Territory are an exception to general fishing rules and require separate review.
- Allagash Wilderness Waterway and Baxter State Park: Some waters are collectively listed under area listings including the Allagash Wilderness Waterway and Baxter State Park, which carry their own restrictions.
- Posted private land: You need landowner permission to access private banks and shorelines.
Maine’s inland waters split into a North Zone and South Zone, and fishing seasons differ between them. There are different General Law Season dates depending on zone, North or South. The North Zone contains an abundance of wild and native coldwater fish populations. These zone distinctions affect when rivers and streams are open to fishing at all, which in turn affects your legal bowfishing window.
For a broader look at how Maine regulates outdoor activities on and near private property, the dog leash laws in Maine and roadkill laws in Maine pages cover related land-access considerations.
Night Bowfishing Rules in Maine
Night bowfishing is a gray area in Maine that you need to approach carefully. Maine’s inland fishing laws do not explicitly authorize bowfishing at night for suckers, and the state’s general fishing framework does not include a specific nighttime bowfishing provision the way states like Minnesota do.
In Minnesota, for example, you can bowfish for rough fish over open water or through the ice in a fish house or shelter, day or night, with or without lights, during the open season. Maine offers no equivalent explicit permission for night bowfishing in fresh water.
Maine’s hunting laws do restrict the use of artificial lights at night for locating wildlife. From September 1 to December 15, it is unlawful to use artificial lights from one-half hour after sunset until one-half hour before sunrise to illuminate, jack, locate, attempt to locate, or show up wild animals or wild birds. While this specific provision targets hunting rather than fishing, it reflects Maine’s general caution around nighttime use of lights near wildlife.
Because Maine’s sucker bowfishing season runs April 1 through June 30, and because there is no explicit authorization for nighttime bowfishing in the inland fishing statutes, the safest and most legally defensible approach is to bowfish during daylight hours only. If you want to pursue night bowfishing, contact the MDIFW directly at (207) 287-8000 for a written clarification before going out after dark.
Important Note: Do not assume that silence in the law means permission. Maine’s default rule is that fishing must be done with hook and line unless an explicit exception exists. Night bowfishing without clear statutory authorization puts you at risk of a violation.
Compare this to states with clearer night bowfishing rules, such as bowfishing laws in Missouri or bowfishing laws in North Carolina, where nighttime rules are spelled out in regulation.
Saltwater Bowfishing Rules in Maine
Saltwater bowfishing in Maine falls under a completely different regulatory body. While inland freshwater fishing is managed by the MDIFW, saltwater and tidal waters are regulated by the Maine Department of Marine Resources (DMR).
The DMR does allow recreational spearfishing in Maine’s tidal and saltwater areas, and bow-and-arrow fishing in tidal waters may fall under similar rules — though Maine law does not use the term “bowfishing” in its saltwater regulations. In recent years the Maine DMR has been getting increased questions about recreational spearfishing in Maine’s territorial waters, and yes, it is allowed, but there are regulations for certain species.
Species you can legally spearfish (and potentially bowfish) in Maine saltwater include:
- Winter flounder, summer flounder, cunner, tautog, haddock, Atlantic cod, pollock, bluefish, and Atlantic menhaden
Species that are explicitly off-limits for spearfishing in Maine saltwater include:
- Striped bass, black sea bass, Atlantic halibut, Atlantic sturgeon, shortnose sturgeon, Atlantic salmon, American shad, and American lobster
Note that size, bag limits, and other restrictions may apply. Check the species regulations section or printable regulation sheets from the DMR. Saltwater regulations also change more frequently than inland rules, so verify current rules directly with the DMR before heading out on tidal water.
If fishing in the tidal portion of rivers, DMR Regulations Chapter 55 lists gear restrictions and closed areas by body of water for your reference. Tidal river sections — such as the lower Kennebec or Penobscot — are saltwater jurisdiction, not inland, so the MDIFW rules for suckers do not apply there.
If you want to see how other states handle the saltwater side of bowfishing, the bowfishing laws in Tennessee page covers a state with active river bowfishing that shares some regulatory similarities. For other Maine-specific outdoor regulations, you may also find the pet vaccination laws in Maine and pit bull laws in Maine useful if you own animals and spend time outdoors in the state.
Pro Tip: If you plan to bowfish in tidal or coastal waters, contact the Maine DMR directly at their Augusta office or visit the DMR spearfishing FAQ page for the most current species list and gear restrictions before your trip.
Key Takeaways for Bowfishing in Maine
Maine is not a bowfisher’s paradise, but it is a legal and viable option if you know the rules. The state’s freshwater bowfishing is limited to suckers in rivers, streams, and brooks during a defined spring season, with strict equipment requirements and no explicit night fishing authorization. Saltwater presents more species options under DMR spearfishing rules, but you need to verify current regulations before you go.
Here is a quick summary of what to remember:
- Bowfishing is legal in Maine for non-game species only — game fish are prohibited.
- Suckers are the primary legal freshwater target, available April 1 through June 30 in rivers, streams, and brooks.
- Your arrow must have a barbed or pronged tip and must be attached to your bow with a retrieval line.
- A valid Maine fishing license (age 16+) is required — no separate bowfishing license exists.
- Night bowfishing is not explicitly authorized in inland waters — stick to daylight to avoid violations.
- Saltwater spearfishing is permitted for select species under DMR rules; striped bass and Atlantic salmon are off-limits.
- Always check the MDIFW Special Fishing Laws database for the specific water body you plan to fish.
For more on Maine’s outdoor laws, explore our guides on goat ownership laws in Maine, backyard chicken laws in Maine, and beekeeping laws in Maine to stay informed across all aspects of Maine’s animal and land regulations.