Greenville public hearing on proposed fishing regulation changes July 22

    AUGUSTA — The Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife will hold four public hearings this month on proposed regulation changes to the upcoming open water and ice fishing seasons.
    These regulation changes are necessary to provide for the effective management of Maine’s inland fisheries, and to enhance fishing opportunity throughout the state. The public is encouraged to attend and present testimony on the proposed changes.

    One of the hearings is scheduled for Tuesday, July 22 at 6:30 p.m. at the Greenville town office meeting room.
    Highlights of the proposed regulation changes include:
    Expanding early open water season fishing opportunity in several lakes in the Moosehead Lake area by eliminating the special May 1 opening dates and replacing them with April 1 (general law).
    Applying  State Heritage Fish protections to several newly-surveyed brook trout ponds.
    Providing additional protection to high-quality brook trout waters by minimizing the opportunity to transport invasive fish. This will be achieved by prohibiting baitfish trapping on several new lakes and river systems.
    Simplifying the regulation framework for general law management of bass by consolidating the current three-tiered system that uses changing dates and bag limits into a single year-round regulation.
    Modifying the current S-15 special rule by expanding the protective length slot limit and reducing the daily bag limit to provide more protection to large bass in certain lakes. This proposal also simplifies the S-15 rule by making it consistent on a year-round basis.
    Modifying the list of complimentary license holders eligible to fish in S-9 waters (formerly restricted to children only). This change will more closely reflect the department’s intent to provide additional special fishing opportunities to anglers with physical or cognitive disabilities.
    A full list of proposed regulation changes can be found online at www.mefishwildlife.com or by contacting Becky Orff at becky.orff@maine.gov. The proposals, if adopted, will become effective Jan. 1, 2015.