Legal Hauling Times for the Maine Lobster Fishery, 2017

The Weekends Closed Periods are date specific and not about the Memorial Day Holiday or the Labor Day Holiday. Lobster fishing is permissible on Sundays from September 1st until May 31st, both days inclusive.

Attached to this message is a document showing the legal hauling times for 2017 for the Maine lobster fishery.

This information pertains to both commercial and non-commercial state licensed lobster harvesters in both state and federal waters.

It is unlawful to raise or haul any lobster trap:

SUMMER: During the period ½ hour after sunset until ½ hour before sunrise from June 1st to October 31st, both days inclusive;

WEEKENDS: During the period from 4 p.m., EDST, Saturday to ½ hour before sunrise the following Monday morning from June 1st to August 31st, both days inclusive*.

It is legal to haul lobster traps at any time from Nov 1st to May 31st; it is also legal to set lobster traps at any time throughout the year.

Legal hauling times statewide (as shown in the attached chart) are computed from the times of sunrise and sunset for Augusta, Maine as established by the National Almanac Office of the U.S. Naval Observatory.

*It is lawful to raise or haul traps during this period if a hurricane warning issued by NWS is in effect for the coastal waters of the State.

For more information, contact the Maine Marine Patrol Division Office nearest you.

Division I Office – Boothbay Harbor 207-633-9595

Division II Office – Lamoine 207-667-3373