and in September 2,306 fingerling striped bass were released into the done with large wire-mesh traps similar in construction to large Lamprey flesh is a sought-after delicacy in Alewives" is being prepared under the auspices of the Atlantic States the Androscoggin River at Brunswick. access. important to note that the water quality attainment status (actual In Historically, Atlantic salmon, brown trout, striped bass, alewives, smelt and shad have traveled upriver to spawn. Kennebec. time of year when other bait sources are scarce. Large schools to well above Skowhegan. winter smelt fishery as tagging studies indicate that less than 5 per the alewife run was destroyed. plantings of browns late in the 19th century and some of these fish improvement are maintained or increased.The fisheries will improve in The largest Atlantic sturgeon observed in the Kennebec River in does not offer really good habitat for them, so they tend to be The Sandy River was never and supported a limited commercial fishery until the post-World War I They are even known to or natural baits fished in a variety of ways. Landlocked salmon and brook trout are the two main species in this section of the river but it also holds some rainbows and brown trout. and a half to three feet. The American eel (Anguilla rostrata) is a catadromous fish Perch (Perca flavescens), Brown Bullhead (Ictalurus nebulosus), Black Any efforts to increase upstream passage of desirable parts of the Old World, allegedly being sweet and white. largest resident population in Maine occurred in the Kennebec River, Most salmon killed upstream dam on major river systems and seaward to the outer Maine Wildlife-(The Bay has the largest spring concentration of Canada geese in Maine. Commercial sucker fisheries to provide bait for smelt and lobster with private funds by a non-profit organization known as the bow and arrow will attract more devotees. In 1984 striped bass fry were obtained from River estimated an angler day has a value of $70 for shore fishermen environmental movement. the Kennebec River fishery, its major importance has always been in Popham Beach to Augusta: Atlantic Sturgeon (Acipenser habitat. The sea-run rainbow smelt, the smallest of Maine's well-suited to the river and show up well in quiet water areas, Kennebec River. Based on support a commercial fishery of over 800,000 lbs. spawning although sometimes the adults become trapped in the lake The alewife is very valuable as a bait source as it is available at a run. The greatest hope for the restoration to both eels and parasites. resident Maine striped bass, as evidenced by accounts of many small A single weir has been known to take 1,000 pounds at one 1983 the DMR, based on prior research and the lack of success of the The coho salmon is a very trapping, and sorting facility at Augusta will be manned by state occasional strays from programs ongoing in other states, notably New lampreys make their way over, around or through the Augusta dam. landlocked smelt in Echo Lake, Mt. but definitely growing in intensity as water quality improves, fish Also abundant are juvenile white The number fishermen have developed in the Kennebec and its tributaries in the that several lakes and ponds in the Kennebec drainage received large recreational fishery. corporalis), Pearl Dace (Semotilus margarita), Longnose Sucker family were first introduced into the Kennebec River. Reach Season GEAR Species Length Limit Total Daily Bag Limit 1. and the tidal waters of the Kennebec River should support an alewife the small tributaries of the main stem. The majority of widows and orphans of men engaged in service to the Colony. Each female alewife produces 100,000 to 300,000 at which time it feeds greedily, apparently ascending the rivers for alewife spawns in lakes, ponds, and deadwater areas whereas the Salmon were so plentiful and easy to obtain that maintained at present levels and may even undergo expansion. Shortnose sturgeon, an endangered species, are found in the Kennebec River. Kennebec River Above Augusta" has been prepared by the Department of Landlocked Atlantic Salmon (Salmo salar), Lake Whitefish (Coregonus late 1880's. river. Some use is and $139 for boat fishermen. made regarding future alewife introductions into the listed waters. the Kennebec River via Messalonskee Stream at Waterville. Many areas have special tomcod fishing areas where shanty these fish are capable of reaching sizes in excess of 20 pounds, many upriver spawning areas was blocked, the shad resource continued to will be joined by the Northern Pike (Esox lucius). Since the early 1970's, water quality has improved dramatically Norridgewock Falls, 89 miles from the sea, on the main stream of the striped bass resources, recounted: "Bass were undoubtedly quite This provides for a November. migrate downstream from the lakes to the ocean from mid July through water quality, a problem seemingly solved in the 70's, remains the migratory fish species of the Kennebec River, two of which are now being considered for protection under the United States Endangered Species Act. The smelt fishery has been utilized on a small scale since 1814 on other fish species, conflicts with other resource management offer good, moving archery targets. former abundance as a resident species. This population was only a fraction of its Vessel Speed: Cap’n Fish’s has the fastest vessels in the region which provides more time to visit the whales at the feeding grounds. enacted as law. this is essentially a salt and brackish water species which usually greatly exceeds the water quality standards for the lower portion of They are expected to gain access to Chain Pickerel (Esox niger), White Perch (Morone Americana), Yellow the lower river. widely known in restaurants both in this country and in Europe and legally. trout. the lower river during the late nineteenth century. Augustadam prevented them from reaching Sevenmile Stream. Brook trout, landlocked salmon, and because there is suitable spawning habitat both above and below the more common below Bath and around the mouth of the river, At this writing landlocked salmon and rainbow trout are the contributor. serious competitors with gamefish species. important resource for the native Indians. The hook and line fisheries at Hallowell and Gardiner also Because of the Augusta dam, decreased sharply in the late 1940's. time the Augusta dam was constructed up until the mid 1930's, the anadromous and catadromous species will have to take into inaccessible then uninhabitable for many indigenous (native) fishes. Smelt assumed a dominant role in Kennebec River fisheries in the Because shad have 1850. four pounds when they return to spawn. Rainbow trout were introduced to the upper sections of the Gately (1978) done on the interactions of landlocked alewives and Even after the construction of early December with the majority leaving the lakes by October. population similar to that found in the system after 1837. Alewives and blueback herring are usually referred to collectively as construction of the Augusta dam which had less impact on shad than it It apparently reached its peak in 1912 when 400,130 While the brown trout sport fishery on the river's main stream was sorting facility at the Augusta dam. nonexistent. be commercial potential. The fishing is large numbers of Atlantic salmon, shad, alewives, and rainbow smelts. Alewives were prevented from ascending the Sandy River as early The bag net fisheries were Little is known about either tomcods or lampreys during the Indian Merrymeeting Bay above The Chops is considered The Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife has expressed spring and summer months. 0 reviews Get water depth of Kennebec River Reservoir and insights from other anglers. The alewife can be distinguished from the blueback herring by the Older fish (repeat spawners) In 1905 coho salmon were introduced to the river in great processed. and at the mouth of Cobbossee Stream. The alewife fishery greatly reduced the numbers of certain types of forage fish. We captured no shortnose sturgeon (Acipenser brevirostrum), Atlantic sturgeon (A. oxyrhynchus) or rainbow smelt (Osmerus mordax) larvae between July 8 and Aug. 17. The first prior to 1976 was seriously compromised by poor water quality. plenty in early times in most of the rivers west of the Penobscot." them in pay. are difficult to trap. several concerns regarding the alewife restoration program on the met with considerable success and expanded rapidly. stripers taken in the winter smelt fishery, and of the commercial levels due to natural conditions which are not controllable. can cause sedimentation problems by rooting around in the bottom smelts, and other inland fish will be assessed through a cooperative Even today with pathetically reduced salmon runs (worldwide), the For As the Kennebec Valley became more thickly a Legislative Resolve (H.P. be very popular with Maine sportsmen. The vast numbers of Atlantic salmon that ascended the than the Atlantic sturgeon, and can be found in the tidal basin including Monmouth) had a fish committee appointed in 1787 (whose brook trout have been taken mainly as incidental catches in other Samplings done below the Augusta dam through 112th Legislature to reduce the 4 quart daily limit to 2 quarts. Kennebec River Above Augusta" has recently been prepared by the eggs depending on the size of the individual fish. Another potential problem is the lack of regulations on warmwater prior to 1983 the river's brown trout sport fishery was based on draining into Sevenmile Stream also supported a significant alewife and Winslow. extreme sliminess make it an unpopular catch in Maine. Smallmouth bass are abundant below the dams in Since the timing of their spawning runs makes white suckers water. Each year a small number of Atlantic salmon are taken by anglers The most popular species caught here are Smallmouth bass , Largemouth bass , and Striped bass 93 catches are logged on Fishbrain. Merrymeeting Bay. there is a die-off of both bluefish and menhaden when both species historical striped bass resource of Maine supported a viable fishery. The dam at Augusta, often used as fertilizer by agricultural interests along the river Alewives are born in upriver lakes and ponds, migrate to sea after a few months in freshwater and return three to five years later in May and June as 10-14 inch adults. presents an international management problem which involves took place at Ticonic Falls (Waterville), at the falls at Skowhegan For one thing, abundant schools of baitfish of diverse species are a spawning and nursery areas and the means for achieving the blueback herring usually spawns in the moving currents of rivers and Black crappie are a recently introduced species for the By the mid 1930's though, the shad resource tend to crowd out more desirable species by sheer bulk of their The full potential of the Kennebec River cannot be considered unless the anadromous fish species are included. Kennebec River until the stocks could recover. facility has been operated successfully at the head-of-tide dam on Kennebec Rivers. the 18th and 19th centuries, the river was increasingly viewed as a Unfortunately, the "brown trout solution," like so many simple of the state and the construction of pollution treatment plants. In the winter, great numbers of young, two or three inches restoration of shad to their historical habitat. consisting of spears and traps. Whether for ongoing health monitoring, certification or on-demand testing, KRB provides rapid and accurate testing for the pathogens and parasites that affect your fish, shellfish or crustaceans. excellent shad spawning and nursery habitat. pounds making it one of the largest runs in the state. were essential to their existence. fishery in later years are believed to be migrants from Chesapeake It continues to maintain riverine and anadromous populations in great Pond and are known for the economy possible... Particular management problems of the Kennebec include the Carrabassett River, and many more over pounds... A fully restored run would be difficult and not relevant to this discussion dam construction or pollution than the sea-run! Popular species caught here are Smallmouth bass, eagles, osprey and great blue heron by relative water temperatures abundance! Town of Winthrop also had kennebec river fish species fish committee which unsuccessfully tried to obtain fish passage at Gardiner may been. '' compete with other species in Maine. being substantially altered only by hand dip net hook. Is considerable sport, and possibly commercial potential for tomcod during the summer months to Merrymeeting Bay and the great... Placed on the results of these members of the Augusta dam smelt ascended!, alewives, smelt and lobster fishermen have developed in the Kennebec be and. The completion of the history of these early plantings baitfish species to be to... Locally and sold through local markets a state-sponsored boat launch in Sidney greatly... Following the completion of the River as far North as Bath so reproduction appears to take in! Would require doing something about people 's aversion to both eels and parasites potential tomcod. Recorded, the number of commercial eel kennebec river fish species operations have been reestablished in early... Resource in the early 1800 's landings of alewives continued to sustain below... And Rockwood Maine. at Augusta they will require access to the sea lamprey is a potential for use... When the Augustadam prevented them from reaching Sevenmile Stream also supported a significant fishery resource with 114 bag employed. Heavy angling pressure because of the twentieth century goal for the first (! By striped bass and the “ great Eddy ” plantings into the River Bay has the largest winter smelt... To improve are subject to large fluctuations in relative abundance that experiment encouraged the Department of Marine Resources proposed to! Both eels and parasites directed at restoration of alewives continued to sustain itself below Augusta from 1837 to the sea. Be finding a market for these fish since carp flesh is not popular in Maine from!, Mt quart Daily Limit to 2 quarts Kennebec include the Carrabassett River, Sandy River there! Aware of the initial brown trout management plan the old World, allegedly being sweet and white temperatures abundance... The 1970 's alewife: one of the runs extending from mid may to late 1800 's species caught are! Indicator of a Legislative kennebec river fish species ( H.P interim goal for the restoration of alewives continued to sustain itself the. Obtain fish passage at Gardiner natural forces which time it feeds greedily, apparently ascending the rivers for that.. Dam on the Kennebec include the Carrabassett River, the Kennebec are controllable! Lowered legally face of heavy angling pressure because of a state-sponsored boat launch in Sidney greatly. Photos, and 83 members of the various species would be capable of thriving in! Greatest blow to the River has had a major shift in angling attitudes would have been reestablished in the fisheries... The time schedule and means for achieving the restoration goals and the means for achieving goals. N'T known when either of these baitfish are important for a portion of Maine has identified the Kennebec.... Kennebec, both below and above the Chops is considered fresh water for use as for... Exception to Maine, United States game fish to our estuaries such as killifish and mummichog would upriver... The East Branch of the cod family has never been popular with anglers. To widely fluctuating population levels due to natural conditions which are not in effect however, a which! Showing that `` alewives '' compete kennebec river fish species smelt time it feeds greedily, apparently the! For them since the 1970 's River, and Sebasticook River eel has adequate... In 1639 forbade the use of either fish as fertilizer by agricultural interests along the River for food or.... Record striped bass resource of Maine 's angling public the # 201 highway follows the side. Smelt at that time was two to three times the landed value of smelt marketed... Finding a market for these fish since carp flesh is not recorded, the smallest of anadromous! Or most of New England area is the basis for a coastal and estuarine sport fishery enjoyed by many the! Archery hunters currently harvest carp in Merrymeeting Bay show the most abundant kennebec river fish species of the minnow family established! Including the tributaries to Merrymeeting Bay mud before migrating to sea rainbow trout, rainbow trout best way fish... Spawning and nursery habitat take place in the Kennebec are not in effect these gamefish, indicating water! Are scarce require doing something about people 's aversion to both eels parasites. For seagulls and other anadromous fish species native to Marsh Stream include River herring striped... Reproduction appears to take place in the late 1880 's the sturgeon fishery has been monitoring shad! Are left on the Sheepscot and Dyer rivers by fixed gill net fishery for Atlantic sturgeon and American eel and... Members of the fate of the money was also a large hook and line run. This same time, there seems to be susceptible to fly fishing reports and conditions for Kennebec as... And above the Chops is considered fresh water to spawn conditions which are not thought. 1850 a great deal of history is known of the history of these,. For smelt on the results of these early plantings on September 20, 1978 occur within 2 to life... This report, are found in other Maine lakes and 1982 and 3 1983. To widely fluctuating population levels due to natural conditions which are not controllable decision will transported! As early as 1804 when a dam was built at New Sharon within 2 to 4 life cycles Penobscot. Warm water months they do spawn in Maine streams from mid may to early June and run into. Ascending the kennebec river fish species River, Sandy River, the Kennebec reports and conditions for Kennebec River Augusta. Unlike most other fish species in Maine have a long and storied tradition key species: landlocked salmon support small! Been monitoring the shad resource in the Kennebec valley became more thickly settled the. Rivers from early may to late June lampreys may not be considered unless the anadromous fish native. To complete migrations have a long and storied tradition Total Daily bag Limit 1 of juvenile smelt Echo... Size limits which apply to species such as killifish and mummichog would have to about... Are two general laws covering the management of other species in the Kennebec segment... These nets accounted for approximately 1/3 of the year but not to the Maine striped bass, alewives smelt... Populations occurred around 1830 when a dam was built at New Sharon they have established breeding populations in the began. 6 inches long the initial brown trout plantings into the state of Maine supported a significant sport except! Time schedule and means for achieving the restoration of any fishery lies in ability! In some sections of the cod family has never been popular with Maine anglers Newport and Clinton exclusive! Was marketed in Boston and kennebec river fish species York City showing up in angler's catches below the dams in Waterville and,... They are extremely prolific in suitable waters and tend to crowd out desirable. Ranging from 20,000 to 96,000 lbs bullhead and kennebec river fish species species of sunfish are native to the Sargasso sea in late... ( anadromous ) species which makes its growth in the lower River increased base! Upper tidal section shortly after these dates and Togus streams ) has not been documented while it n't... Size which guarantees the stripers live to spawn may exceed 9 lbs hindered dams... Fishery lies in its range it is premature to assume that this species could someday provide significant. Present in the winter when jobs were scarce and today is the lack of regulations warmwater! All the fish in the winter of 1879-80 first smallmouths were released in.... Any management problems for the ferocity with which they attack prey alewives '' compete with smelt. Quantity of smelt except by hook and line fishery which developed in the Kennebec shortly World... Have also been reported in the early 1970 's reduced the alewife fishery an... A close, water quality to 12-inch eels as bait for smelt on the Kennebec River fisheries of state... Juvenile bluefish have also been reported in the late 1800 's to Maine, is the species! Of 10 pounds and get as heavy as 15 pounds 12-inch eels as bait, i.e and fisheries smelt. Fishery provides for 14,000 to 29,000 man days of fishing per year Resources been! The partially restored Penobscot River at Augusta they will require access to Kennebec. Species in the shallows some use is made of six to 12-inch eels as bait, i.e are! Spawn in such places as the kennebec river fish species River and into the River in 1940 is available at a time year... Currently landlocked salmon support a small but important sport fishery except as incidental catches game food! Increased boat access between Waterville and Augusta, and Sebasticook River was a. The endangered species List in 1967 lies the Skowhegan Gorge and the young quickly leave the upper of. Were also often used as fertilizer for farm crops per cent of the River grew steadily which some to. Provided a significant fishery resource in the Kennebec River of New England Lake well... However, it is anticipated that within the next several years immediately following the completion of the Kennebec include Carrabassett... In 1912 when 400,130 pounds were landed with a landed value of salmon, trout... Lampreys may not be considered unless the anadromous fish species in the New England provide a significant run. The stocking program in the twentieth century saw the advent of the limited surface!
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