An Act to Create a For-hire Charter Boat Operator License and to
Maine Legislature, Session 132, LD 0214
Sponsors: HEPLER
Amends: 12 MRSA §6312, 12 MRSA §6313

Legislative Document
No. 214
H.P. 137
House of Representatives, January 21, 2025
An Act to Create a For-hire Charter Boat Operator License and to 
Require Individuals Recreationally Fishing for Halibut in Coastal 
Waters to Register with the Saltwater Recreational Fishing Registry
Submitted by the Department of Marine Resources pursuant to Joint Rule 204.
Received by the Clerk of the House on January 16, 2025.  Referred to the Committee on 
Marine Resources pursuant to Joint Rule 308.2 and ordered printed pursuant to Joint Rule 401.
ROBERT B. HUNT
Clerk
Presented by Representative HEPLER of Woolwich.
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1.  12 MRSA §6312, sub-§3, ¶B, as amended by PL 2011, c. 421, §2, is further 
amended to read:
B.  A passenger on board a vessel captained by an individual who possesses a valid 
recreational fishing for-hire charter boat operator's license pursuant to subsection 5 
section 6313;
Sec. 2.  12 MRSA §6312, sub-§3, ¶H, as enacted by PL 2011, c. 421, §2, is 
amended to read:
H.  A person who has employed the guiding services of an individual who possesses a 
current guide license for tidewater fishing as provided by rule pursuant to section 12853 
and a valid recreational fishing for-hire charter boat operator's license pursuant to 
subsection 5 section 6313;
Sec. 3.  12 MRSA §6312, sub-§3-A is enacted to read:
3-A.  Registration required for fishing for halibut.  Notwithstanding subsection 3, 
an individual fishing for halibut in the coastal waters of the State is required to register and 
obtain recreational halibut tags.
Sec. 4.  12 MRSA §6312, sub-§5, as amended by PL 2011, c. 421, §2, is further 
amended to read:
5.  Recreational fishing operator's license.  The following persons are eligible to hold 
a recreational fishing operator's license issued by the commissioner:
A.  A captain of a vessel licensed to carry passengers for hire for saltwater recreational 
fishing;
B.  A person operating a business that rents smelt fishing camps for saltwater 
recreational smelt fishing; and
C.  A person who owns a private dock, pier or wharf and makes that wharf available to 
customers for the purpose of recreational fishing as part of a commercial enterprise; 
and.
D.  An individual who possesses a current guide license for tidewater fishing as 
provided by rule pursuant to section 12853.
A person who holds a recreational fishing operator's license shall collect data from persons 
who engage in saltwater recreational fishing and report the data to the commissioner as 
specified by the commissioner by rule.
There is no fee for a recreational fishing operator's license.
Sec. 5.  12 MRSA §6313 is enacted to read:
§6313.  For-hire charter boat operator's license
1.  License required.  A person may not engage in the activities authorized under this 
section without a current for-hire charter boat operator's license. 
2.  Licensed activity.  The holder of a for-hire charter boat operator's license may take 
paying passengers recreationally fishing for fish in the coastal waters of the State on the 
vessel identified on that for-hire charter boat operator's license.  The license does not 
authorize the holder or the holder's passengers to sell any fish taken under this license. 
3.  License fee.  The fee for a for-hire charter boat operator's license is $25 for a resident 
of this State and $50 for a nonresident.  Fees must be deposited in the Marine Recreation 
Fishing Conservation and Management Fund established under section 6032-A.
4. Eligibility.  A for-hire charter boat operator's license may be issued only to an 
individual.  A for-hire charter boat operator's license may be issued to an individual only if 
the individual:
A.  Is a captain of a vessel holding a valid and current certificate of inspection issued 
by the United States Coast Guard; or
B.  Holds a current guide license for tidewater fishing as provided by rule pursuant to 
section 12853.
5.  Violation. A person who violates this section commits a civil violation for which a 
fine of not less than $100 nor more than $500 may be adjudged.
SUMMARY
This bill creates a new requirement for individuals who take paying customers 
recreationally fishing for fish in the coastal waters of the State to obtain a for-hire charter 
boat operator's license.  The fee for the license is $25 for residents and $50 for nonresidents, 
all of which must be deposited in the Marine Recreation Fishing Conservation and 
Management Fund.  The license is available only to an individual holding a current guide 
license for tidewater fishing or who is a captain of a vessel holding a valid and current 
certificate of inspection issued by the United States Coast Guard.  It also eliminates 
exceptions from having to register with the saltwater registry for individuals fishing 
recreationally for halibut.