Species Information

Select an underlined link in the table below for more information about that species.

Also see the Commercial Fishing page for recent and historical Maine commercial catch data for many of these species.  Visit the Maine State Aquarium to see many Maine marine fish and invertebrate species in person!

Information on federally managed species is provided here by links to NOAA Fisheries, NOAA's FishWatch program which includes recipes and nutritional information, and the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC).

If you need further regulatory information, please contact your local Marine Patrol officer or one of the three Marine Patrol offices.

For more information, other species, and identification keys, try Leland W. Pollock's A Practical Guide to the Marine Animals of Northeastern North America from Rutgers University Press, available in part here free via Google Books or the 1953 classic, Bigelow and Schroeder's Fishes of the Gulf of Maine, available here free via Google Books.

Please contact DMR's webmaster if any of these links fail.

Species Name Picture and Basic Info from
Do You Know Your Catch?		 More Information
Alewife Alewife Description See River Herring below
Asian Shore Crab   Asian Shore Crab Fact Sheet and Questionnaire
Black Sea Bass Black Sea Bass Description Black Sea Bass Fishery Info c/o NOAA | Black Sea Bass Info c/o ASMFC | Black Sea Bass Info c/o NOAA FishWatch | Maine Sport Fishing Regulations (see Groundfish and Other Finfish & Chapter 51 in DMR Regulations)
Blood Worms   Marine Worm Info
Blueback Herring Blueback Herring Description See River Herring below
Blue Shark Blue Shark Description see Sharks below
Bluefin Tuna Bluefin Tuna Description Maine Recreational Fishing Info for Large Pelagics | Bluefin Tuna Info c/o NOAA | Bluefin Tuna Info c/o NOAA FishWatch  Also see Tunas below
Bluefish Bluefish Description Bluefish Fishery Info c/o NOAA | Bluefish Info c/o ASMFC | Bluefish Info c/o NOAA FishWatch | Maine Sport Fishing Regulations (see Groundfish and Other Finfish & Chapter 43 in DMR Regulations)
Brook Trout Brook Trout Description Maine Sport Fishing Regulations (see Sea Run Fish and Chapter 37 in DMR Regulations)
Brown Trout Brown Trout Description Maine Sport Fishing Regulations (see Sea Run Fish and Chapter 37 in DMR Regulations)
Butterfish   Butterfish Info c/o NOAA FishWatch | Butterfish Info c/o NOAA
Clams   Maine Shellfish Sanitation and Management | Clam Species Identification
Cod Atlantic Cod Description Multispecies Fishery | Multispecies Fishery Info c/o NOAA | Cod Info c/o NOAA | Cod Info c/o NOAA FishWatch | Maine Sport Fishing Regulations (see Groundfish & Chapter 34 in DMR Regulations)
Crabs   See Green Crabs, Horseshoe Crabs, and Jonah Crabs below, and Invasive Species below for Asian Shore Crab and Chinese Mitten Crab
Cunner Cunner Description  
Cusk Cusk Description Maine Sport Fishing Regulations (see Groundfish & Chapter 34 in DMR Regulations) | Cusk Info c/o NOAA
Dab   see Plaice below
Dogfish Spiny Dogfish Description Spiny Dogfish Fishery Info c/o NOAA | Spiny Dogfish Info c/o ASMFC | Spiny Dogfish Info c/o NOAA FishWatch | Fishing Regulations (see Chapter 50)
Dolphins   Maine Marine Mammals Info & Reporting Hotline | Dolphin Info c/o NOAA
Eelgrass   Maps of Maine Eelgrass Beds
Eels and Elvers   American Eel and Elver Info | American Eel Info c/o ASMFC | Eel Sport Fishing Regulations (see Sea Run Fish)
Flounder   see Summer, Windowpane, Winter, Witch, and Yellowtail Flounder below
Goosefish Goosefish Description see Monkfish below
Green Crabs   Green Crab Info
Groundfish (multispecies)   Maine Multispecies Commercial Fishery | Multispecies Fishery Info c/o NOAA | The species managed under the northeast multispecies fishery plan include: American Plaice, Atlantic Cod, Atlantic Halibut, Atlantic Wolffish, Haddock, Ocean Pout, Pollock, Redfish, White Hake, Windowpane Flounder, Winter Flounder, Witch Flounder, and Yellowtail Flounder | Maine Sport Fishing Regulations (see Groundfish & Chapter 34 in DMR Regulations)
Haddock Haddock Description Maine Multispecies Fishery | Multispecies Fishery Info c/o NOAA | Haddock Info c/o NOAA | Haddock Info c/o NOAA FishWatch | Maine Sport Fishing Regulations (see Groundfish & Chapter 34 in DMR Regulations)
Hake   see Red Hake, White Hake, and Whiting (Silver Hake) below
Halibut Atlantic Halibut Description Maine Halibut Fishery | Multispecies Fishery | Multispecies Fishery Info c/o NOAA | Atlantic Halibut Info c/o NOAA | Maine Sport Fishing Regulations (see Groundfish & Chapter 34 in DMR Regulations)
Herring Atlantic Herring Description & Blueback Herring Description Maine Atlantic Herring Info | Atlantic Herring Info c/o NOAA | Atlantic Herring Info c/o ASMFC | Atlantic Herring Info c/o NOAA FishWatch | also see Blueback Herring above
Horseshoe Crabs   Horseshoe Crab Info c/o ASMFC
Invasive Species   Non-Native Invasive Marine Species in Maine | Green Crab | Asian Shore Crab | Chinese Mitten Crab
Jonah Crabs   Jonah Crab Info c/o NOAA | Jonah Crab Info c/o ASMFC
Lobsters   Maine Lobster Biology, Fishery, Management, and More! | Lobster Info c/o NOAA | Lobster info c/o NOAA FishWatch
Mackerel Atlantic Mackerel Description Atlantic Mackerel Info c/o NOAA | Atlantic Mackerel Info c/o NOAA FishWatch | Maine Sport Fishing Regulations (see Groundfish and Other Finfish)
Mako Shark Mako Shark Description Atlantic Shortfin Mako Shark Info c/o NOAA | Shortfin Mako Shark Info c/o NOAA FishWatch | also see Sharks below
Marine Mammals   Maine Marine Mammals, Seals, Whales, Dophins, Porpoises — Info & Reporting Hotline
Marine Worms   Maine Marine Worm Info
Menhaden Atlantic Menhaden Description
Monkfish Goosefish Description Monkfish Fishery Info c/o NOAA | Monkfish Info c/o NOAA FishWatch
Mussels   Maine Blue Mussel Info | Maine Shellfish Sanitation and Management | Aquaculture | Blue Mussel info c/o NOAA | Blue Mussel (Farmed) info c/o NOAA | Maine Shellfish Species Identification
Ocean Pout Ocean Pout Description Maine Multispecies Fishery | Multispecies Fishery Info c/o NOAA | Ocean Pout Info c/o NOAA
Oysters   Maine Aquaculture | Maine Shellfish Species Identification (for Eastern and European Oysters) | Maine Shellfish Sanitation and Management | Eastern (American) Oyster Info c/o NOAA
Plaice (American), Dab   Maine Multispecies Fishery | Multispecies Fishery Info c/o NOAA | American Plaice Info c/o NOAA | Maine Sport Fishing Regulations (see Chapter 34, section 34.06)
Pollock Pollock Description Maine Multispecies Fishery | Multispecies Fishery Info c/o NOAA | Pollock Info c/o NOAA | Pollock Info c/o NOAA FishWatch | Maine Sport Fishing Regulations (see Groundfish & Chapter 34 in DMR Regulations)
Porbeagle Shark Porbeagle Shark Description see Sharks below
Porpoises   Maine Marine Mammal Info & Reporting Hotline | Porpoise Info c/o NOAA
Protected Species   Maine Protected Species (Whales, Seals, Dolphins, Porpoises, Sea Turtles — Info & Reporting Hotline
Quahog   Ocean Quahog Info c/o NOAA | Ocean Quahog Info c/o NOAA FishWatch | Northern Quahog Info c/o NOAA | Maine Shellfish Species Identification (see Mahogany Quahog and Hard Clam)
Redfish Redfish Description Maine Multispecies Fishery | Multispecies Fishery Info c/o NOAA | Acadian Redfish Info c/o NOAA FishWatch | Acadian Redfish Info c/o NOAA | Maine Sport Fishing Regulations (see Groundfish & Chapter 34 in DMR Regulations)
Red Hake   Red Hake Info c/o NOAA | Red Hake Info c/o NOAA FishWatch
River Herring Alewife & Blueback Herring Descriptions Maine River Herring Info | River Herring Info c/o NOAA | River Herring Info c/o ASMFC | Maine Sport Fishing Regulations (see Sea Run Fish & Chapter 30 in DMR Regulations)
Rockweed   Maine Rockweed Info
Salmon Atlantic Salmon Description Maine Salmon Projects | Atlantic Salmon info c/o NOAA | Farm-Raised Atlantic Salmon Info c/o NOAA | Atlantic Salmon Info c/o NOAA FishWatch | Maine Aquaculture | Tips on Releasing
Sand Worms   Maine Marine Worm Info
Scallops   Maine Sea Scallop Info | Atlantic Sea Scallop Info c/o NOAA | Atlantic Sea Scallop Info c/o NOAA FishWatch
Sculpin Longhorn Sculpin Description  
Scup   Scup Info c/o NOAA | Scup Info c/o NOAA FishWatch
Sea Cucumbers   Maine Sea Cucumber Info
Sea Raven Sea Raven Description  
Sea Turtles   Maine Protected Species | Sea Turtle Info c/o NOAA
Sea Urchins   Maine Green Sea Urchin Info
Seals   Maine Seals, Protected Species | Maine Seals, Reporting Hotline
Seaweed   Maine Rockweed Info | Aquaculture
Shad American Shad Description Maine River Restoration Projects | River Herring & Shad Management Info c/o NOAA | Shad Info c/o ASMFC | Maine Sport Fishing Regulations (see Sea Run Fish & Chapter 44 in DMR Regulations)
Sharks Blue Shark Description | Spiny Dogfish Description | Shortfin Mako Shark Description | Porbeagle Shark Description | Thresher Shark Description | White Shark Description Maine Recreational Fishing Info for Large Pelagics | Report to the Gulf of Maine Mapping Project for Highly Migratory Species (pdf) | Coastal Sharks Info c/o ASFMC | Shark Info c/o NOAA | also see Dogfish, Mako, and Porbeagle Sharks above and Thresher Shark and White Shark below
Shrimp   Maine Northern Shrimp Info | Northern Shrimp Info c/o NOAA | Northern Shrimp Info c/o NOAA FishWatch | Northern Shrimp Info c/o ASMFC
Silver Hake   See Whiting below
Skate Little Skate Description Skate Complex Info c/o NOAA
Smelt Rainbow Smelt Description Maine Rainbow Smelt Info | Sport Fishing Regulations (see Sea Run Smelt & Chapter 40 in DMR Regulations)
Squid   Longfin Squid Info c/o NOAA | Longfin Squid Info c/o NOAA FishWatch | Shortfin Squid Info c/o NOAA | Shortfin Squid Info c/o NOAA FishWatch
Striped Bass Striped Bass Description Striped Bass Info c/o ASMFC | Striped Bass Info c/o NOAA | Striped Bass Info c/o NOAA FishWatch | Maine Sport Fishing Regulations (see Striped Bass & Chapter 42 in DMR Regulations)
Sturgeon Atlantic Sturgeon Description Maine River Restoration Projects | Atlantic Sturgeon Info c/o NOAA | Shortnose Sturgeon Info c/o NOAA | Atlantic Sturgeon Info c/o ASMFC
Summer Flounder   Summer Flounder Info c/o NOAA | Summer Flounder Info c/o ASMFC
Surf Clam   Surf Clam Info c/o NOAA | Surf Clam Info c/o NOAA FishWatch | Maine Shellfish Species Identification
Tautog Tautog Description Tautog Info c/o ASMFC
Thresher Shark Thresher Shark Description Thresher Shark Info c/o NOAA | Thresher Shark Info c/o NOAA FishWatch | also see Sharks above
Tilefish   Golden Tilefish Info c/o NOAA | Tilefish Info c/o NOAA FishWatch
Tunas Bluefin Tuna Description Maine Recreational Fishing Info for Large Pelagics | Report to the Gulf of Maine Mapping Project for Highly Migratory Species (pdf) | Bluefin Tuna Info c/o NOAA | Bigeye Tuna Info c/o NOAA | Skipjack Tuna Info c/o NOAA | Albacore Tuna Info c/o NOAA | Yellowfin Tuna Info c/o NOAA
Whales   Maine Protected Species, Reporting Hotline | Maine Whale Identification
Whelks   Maine Waved Whelk Info | Maine Shellfish Species Identification
White Hake   Maine Multispecies Fishery | Multispecies Fishery Info c/o NOAA | White Hake Info c/o NOAA
White Shark White Shark Description Maine White Shark Info | also see Sharks above
Whiting Silver Hake Description Silver Hake Info c/o NOAA | Silver Hake Info c/o NOAA FishWatch
Windowpane Flounder   Maine Multispecies Fishery | Windowpane Flounder Info c/o NOAA | Multispecies Fishery Info c/o NOAA
Winter Flounder Winter Flounder Description Maine Multispecies Fishery | Multispecies Fishery Info c/o NOAA | Winter Flounder Info c/o ASMFC | Winter Flounder Info c/o NOAA | Winter Flounder Info c/o NOAA FishWatch | Maine Sport Fishing Regulations (see Groundfish & Chapter 34 in DMR Regulations)
Witch Flounder   Maine Multispecies Fishery | Multispecies Fishery Info c/o NOAA | Witch Flounder (Grey Sole) Info c/o NOAA
Wolffish Atlantic Wolffish Description Multispecies Fishery | Multispecies Fishery Info c/o NOAA | Atlantic Wolffish Info c/o NOAA
Worms, Marine   Maine Marine Worm Info
Yellowtail Flounder   Maine Multispecies Fishery | Multispecies Fishery Info c/o NOAA | Yellowtail Flounder Info c/o NOAA | Yellowtail Flounder Info c/o NOAA FishWatch