Central Maine Fishing Report: June 19, 2007

This time of year, regional staff is busy with all sorts of fieldwork. Predominant among those tasks is the evaluation of our bass waters. We in mid-coastal Maine have almost 200 lakes and ponds the hold either large or small mouth bass. Some waters contain both species. In addition, our larger rivers, such as the Kennebec, Androscoggin, Sebasticook and Penobscot also possess viable fisheries. Our bass fishery is hugely popular with anglers from all over. Keeping an eye on its health forms an important component of our work.

The Department’s goal in management of bass fisheries is to maintain populations and angling opportunities in the waters noted above. Since we have such a large number of waters in the region, staff evaluates a portion, usually 8-10 each year. Analysis of some of the waters consist of an evaluation of whether the water in question is meeting its management goal(s), while others are being looked at for the first time.

Management emphasis for any given water is categorized into one of 5 categories: Fast action: where an angler can catch more than 20 fish in an angler day with the lengths of commonly caught fish being in the 6 to 12 inch range. In the General category, a range of 6 to 20 fish can be boated, with average sizes in the 6 to 16 inch range. Quality size waters provide a catch of greater than 3 fish in the 14 to 18 inch range. Trophy waters yield up to 3 fish, with fish over 18 inches for smallmouths and 20 inches for largemouths. Finally, there is an unclassified category. This last category is a group of waters where we need to acquire information.

We attempt to sample of the fishery utilizing a variety of techniques. We compile the number and sizes of fish to ascertain if the water is meeting management objectives. If the water is an initial evaluation, we can determine where management emphasis should be directed.