An Act to Amend the Laws Governing Baitfish Wholesaler's
Maine Legislature, Session 132, LD 1478
Committee: Inland Fisheries and Wildlife
Sponsors: STROUT, MOORE
Amends: 12 MRSA §12551-A

Legislative Document
No. 1478
H.P. 970
House of Representatives, April 3, 2025
An Act to Amend the Laws Governing Baitfish Wholesaler's 
Licenses
Reference to the Committee on Inland Fisheries and Wildlife suggested and ordered 
printed.
ROBERT B. HUNT
Clerk
Presented by Representative STROUT of Harrington.
Cosponsored by Senator MOORE of Washington and
Representatives: BRIDGEO of Augusta, CRAY of Palmyra, SOBOLESKI of Phillips, 
THORNE of Carmel, TUELL of East Machias, WHITE of Guilford.
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1.  12 MRSA §12551-A, sub-§6, ¶A, as enacted by PL 2003, c. 655, Pt. B, 
§259 and affected by §422, is amended by amending subparagraph (3) to read:
(3)  Designate others to assist the holder in selling live baitfish at the holder's 
business facility; and
Sec. 2.  12 MRSA §12551-A, sub-§6, ¶A, as enacted by PL 2003, c. 655, Pt. B, 
§259 and affected by §422, is amended by amending subparagraph (4) to read:
(4)  Transport live baitfish or designate another to transport live baitfish on the 
license holder's behalf.; and
Sec. 3.  12 MRSA §12551-A, sub-§6, ¶A, as enacted by PL 2003, c. 655, Pt. B, 
§259 and affected by §422, is amended by enacting a new subparagraph (5) to read:
(5)  Use the services of up to 2 unlicensed individuals to assist in the harvest 
operations, including preparing baitfish trap settings, checking baitfish traps, 
tending capture nets, transporting baitfish and other activities associated with 
baitfish harvesting in inland waters, as long as the unlicensed individuals remain 
under direct supervision of the license holder.
Sec. 4.  12 MRSA §12551-A, sub-§6, ¶B, as amended by PL 2023, c. 431, §§18 
and 19 and affected by §23, is further amended by repealing subparagraph (5).
Sec. 5.  12 MRSA §12551-A, sub-§6, ¶B, as amended by PL 2023, c. 431, §§18 
and 19 and affected by §23, is further amended by amending subparagraph (6) to read:
(6)  Possess at that person's place of business any species of fish that may not 
legally be sold as bait.; or 
Sec. 6.  12 MRSA §12551-A, sub-§6, ¶B, as amended by PL 2023, c. 431, §§18 
and 19 and affected by §23, is amended by enacting a new subparagraph (7) to read:
(7)  Attempt to take from the inland waters live baitfish for resale using drop nets 
through the ice unless the license holder marks all holes made in the ice by that 
license holder for that purpose.  The holes must be marked either by evergreen 
boughs placed around the hole or by suspending at least one strand of fluorescent 
biodegradable tape at least 3 feet above the ice around the entire perimeter of the 
hole so that the tape is visible from all sides.
SUMMARY
This bill amends the authorizations and restrictions applying to baitfish wholesaler's 
licenses.  The bill allows a license holder to use the services of up to 2 unlicensed 
individuals to assist in harvest operations in inland waters of the State as long as the 
unlicensed individuals remain under the direct supervision of the license holder.  The bill 
removes the restriction that prohibits a license holder from taking or selling suckers, also 
known as Genus Catostomus, greater than 10 inches in length between April 1st and 
September 30th of each year.  Finally, the bill prohibits a license holder from attempting to 
take from inland waters live baitfish for resale using drop nets through the ice unless the 
license holder sufficiently marks the holes in the ice by evergreen boughs or fluorescent 
biodegradable tape.