Maine state waters, out to 3 miles
ME DMR 2026 · checked · the official rulebook is the final word
Often mistaken for
Atlantic chub mackerelDusky spots below the midline, bigger eye. Tell them apartNot listed by Maine: the default applies (No size limit, no bag limit).
Spanish mackerelGold spots, southern. Tell them apartNot listed by Maine: the default applies (No size limit, no bag limit).
Keep the wrong fish and its rule applies.
Maine state record
Maine DMR Saltwater Angler Records (Rod & Reel) · checked 2026-08-23
How to tell it
Bold black wavy bars over a metallic blue-green back with a CLEAN silver belly; finlets to the tail. More on the Atlantic mackerel page: every state’s rule, the records, and how anglers catch it.
Atlantic mackerel in other states8 rulebooks
Questions anglers ask5
What is the size limit for Atlantic mackerel in Maine?
No size limit.
How many Atlantic mackerel can you keep in Maine?
25 per day.
When is Atlantic mackerel season in Maine?
Open year-round.
What is the Maine record Atlantic mackerel?
2.44 lb, Bailey Island (1995).
How current is this Maine Atlantic mackerel rule?
Source: ME DMR 2026, last checked Sep 20, 2026. A watchman re-reads the agency's pages nightly. Rules change mid-season by proclamation; the official rulebook is the final word.
In the appPoint the camera at an Atlantic mackerel in Maine and this rule is on the screen before you take the picture. No signal needed.
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