Maine Fishing Landlocked Atlantic Salomon
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Fishing for Landlocked Atlantic Salmon in Maine
Overview
Maine is home to the landlocked Atlantic salmon, also known as Sebago salmon or Quananiche, with the scientific name Salmo salar. These fish typically measure 16-18 inches and weigh 1-2 pounds, though specimens up to 5 pounds are not uncommon. Adults are silvery with slightly forked tails and small x-shaped markings, while juveniles feature a dark red spot between parr marks. During spawning, mature males develop a hooked jaw, or kype.
Habitat and Distribution
Landlocked salmon are a freshwater variant of the sea-run Atlantic salmon. Before 1868, they were found in only four river basins in Maine: St. Croix (including West Grand Lake), Union (including Green Lake), Penobscot (including Sebec Lake), and Presumpscot (including Sebago Lake).
Today, landlocked salmon are the main attraction in 176 lakes covering nearly 500,000 acres, and they have incidental presence in 127 additional waters covering about 160,000 acres. Maine boasts one of the world’s largest sport fisheries for this species, spanning 44 rivers and streams over approximately 290 miles.
Stocking and Reproduction
To sustain fisheries in 127 lakes lacking adequate spawning areas, hatchery stockings are critical. Without them, salmon populations would dwindle. Between 1996 and 2000, about 123,000 salmon were stocked annually in Maine lakes.
Conversely, natural reproduction supports salmon in 49 lakes with sufficient spawning and nursery habitats, primarily in western and northern Maine. Salmon spawn from mid-October to late November, with eggs laid 4-12 inches deep in gravel, hatching in early spring.
Juvenile salmon spend 1-4 years in streams before migrating to lakes, with studies indicating most wild salmon remain stream dwellers for 2 years. In wild populations, males generally spawn first at ages 3-4, while females typically spawn at 4-5. Although some may spawn in consecutive years, many skip several years between spawning.
Growth and Forage
Wild salmon, often older, generally show slower growth than hatchery salmon, reaching legal size 1-2 years later. Rainbow smelts are their primary forage in Maine lakes; without sufficient smelt, salmon growth suffers, diminishing their appeal as sportfish.
Management and Conservation
Maintaining a balanced smelt population is crucial for salmon management. Extensive studies confirm that salmon thrive best in waters with ample smelt and few predators like lake trout. From 1996 to 2000, open water anglers in Maine released over 60% of their legal salmon catch, while ice anglers released about 25%. Such practices have enhanced fishing in many lakes, though in some cases, excessive populations have led to smelt shortages and stunted salmon growth.
To address this, fishery biologists have adjusted stocking rates and implemented new regulations to balance smelt and salmon numbers. Hatchery stocks, offering precise management for trophy fisheries, generally yield larger fish due to controlled predator numbers.
Conclusion
From 1996 to 2000, the average harvested salmon from Maine lakes measured 17.4 inches and weighed 1.7 pounds, marking the largest size since the 1950s. With careful management and conservation, Maine remains a premier destination for anglers seeking the prized landlocked Atlantic salmon.
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