Smelt for Bait

[The Dad Fisherman]

Going up to Maine tomorrow night for some smelting and was thinking about bringing a bucket and aerator to try and bring a few back home alive to use as bait. Anybody ever try this before? Any laws gainst doing it?

I'm thinking it would be pissah for Lake Trout or Pike

[BaitBucket]

Think there was a thread earlier about it being illegal to transfer bait from one state to another, but I could be wrong.

[Open-Handed Fish Slap]

Illegal..... You can NOT cross polinate waterways with out of state fish.

[jonserfish1]

Going up to Maine tomorrow night for some smelting and was thinking about bringing a bucket and aerator to try and bring a few back home alive to use as bait. Anybody ever try this before? Any laws gainst doing it?

I'm thinking it would be pissah for Lake Trout or Pike

Heading to Sonny's?

[sorelippin]

Second that on CANNOT transport bait back.  I was in Maine last winter and the Game Warden checked all of our traps, pulled up the line and checked the bait.  They were Emeralds bought down the street.  He said they check often.  I went to Worthings smelt shack last year in Maine and I say just eat 'em...they are delicious.  If your fishing the tide water (assuming you are) we got some huge rainbow smelts last year.  Bring a bag of flour, salt and pepper and oil up that pan and have a few in the shack!

[The Dad Fisherman]

Heading to Sonny's?

Bingo....pulling my Annual double Friday night...be there from 5:30 til 6:30 Sat. morning.

I love eating them but thought they may make good bait.

Thanx for the info guys...I guess they will just have to hit the frying pan 

[lowaccord66]

Lets clarify something here.  You can transport them back if theu are dead.  If your using them for pike and they are large enough thats the way you want them anyways. 

[jonserfish1]

Lets clarify something here.  You can transport them back if theu are dead.  If your using them for pike and they are large enough thats the way you want them anyways. 

great point

[sst4life]

Second that on CANNOT transport bait back.  I was in Maine last winter and the Game Warden checked all of our traps, pulled up the line and checked the bait.  They were Emeralds bought down the street.  He said they check often.  I went to Worthings smelt shack last year in Maine and I say just eat 'em...they are delicious.  If your fishing the tide water (assuming you are) we got some huge rainbow smelts last year.  Bring a bag of flour, salt and pepper and oil up that pan and have a few in the shack!

My question is wh did the warden make you pull up your baits..... Live sea smelt are legal to use in Maine and are sold in bait stores ?

Question say that I catch smelt in mass and keep them live can I then use them for bait since they were Mass caught. Smelt are killer bait for pike and are waht I primarily use while pike fishing in Maine

[fishlessman]

My question is wh did the warden make you pull up your baits..... Live sea smelt are legal to use in Maine and are sold in bait stores ?

Question say that I catch smelt in mass and keep them live can I then use them for bait since they were Mass caught. Smelt are killer bait for pike and are waht I primarily use while pike fishing in Maine

smelt are legal to use as live bait, you have to catch them in mass as its illegal for bait shops to sell them, atleast thats the way its been in the past.

[capt.shay]

Bait

Permit required to take baitfish for purpose of sale; see Permits. Individuals trapping fish for personal use as baitfish may use only one trap. Individuals trapping baitfish under a commercial license may use more than one trap.

    Frogs (except leopard frogs) 2½ inches or less snout to vent may be used as bait; 10 daily, 10 in possession; may not be sold.
    Baitfish may be taken by licensed anglers at any time (except for purposes of sale) with a rectangular net not exceeding 36 square feet of net area or by a hoop or circular net not exceeding 6 feet in diameter or with a fish trap with openings not exceeding one inch. The following species may be taken for personal use as bait by licensed anglers. Only the fish species listed below may be used as bait, live or dead.

        American eel
        Banded killifish
        Bluntnose minnow
        Creek chubsucker
        Emerald shiner
        Fallfish
        Fathead minnow
        Golden shiner
        Mummichog
        Pumpkinseed
        Rainbow smelt*
        Yellow perch
        Spottail shiner
        White sucker

* Smelt may be taken only by hook and line. Possession or use of smelt as bait in inland waters other than during the smelt season is prohibited.

    Herring: For current regulations on the use, possession, and taking of herring contact the Division of Marine Fisheries, (617) 626-15

[sst4life]

What is considered the smelt season in Mass ? So it is legal in Mass good to know.

[fishlessman]

What is considered the smelt season in Mass ? So it is legal in Mass good to know.

this list shows what you can catch and use and what can be caught and sold, you can catch the smelt but not sell them but you can use them

(a) Definitions:

    Bait fish means only live or dead fish of the following species. A person shall not use as bait any fish, alive or dead, including parts thereof, except those fish listed in 321 CMR 4.01(8)(a)1. through 15:
    1. American eel (Anguilla rostrata)
    2. White sucker (Catostomus commersoni)
    3. Creek chubsucker (Erimyzon oblongus)
    4. Banded killifish (Fundulus diaphanus)
    5. Mummichog (Fundulus heteroclitus)
    6. Pumpkinseed (Lepomis gibbosus)
    7. Golden shiner (Notemigonus crysoleucas)
    8. Emerald shiner (Notropis atherinoides)
    9. Spottail shiner (Notropis hudsonius)
    10. Rainbow smelt (Osmerus mordax), only as provided in 321 CMR 4.01, Table 1.
    11. Yellow perch (Perca flavescens)
    12. Fallfish (Semotilus corporalis)
    13. Bluntnose minnow (Pimephales notatus)
    14. Fathead minnow (Pimephales promelas)
    15. Herring (Clupea spp.) may be used as bait in the Connecticut River, Merrimack River, and coastal rivers and streams, only as provided in 321 CMR 4.01: Table 1 and 322 CMR, but may not be possessed or used as bait in other rivers and streams, or in lakes, ponds, or reservoirs.

    Commercial bait fish means only live or dead fish of the following species:
    1. White sucker (Catostomus commersoni)
    2. Mummichog (Fundulus heteroclitus)
    3. Golden shiner (Notemigonus crysoleucas)
    4. Emerald shiner (Notropis atherinoides)
    5. Spottail shiner (Notropis hudsonius)
    6. Fallfish (Semotilus corporalis)
    7. Bluntnose minnow (Pimephales notatus)
    8. Fathead minnow (Pimephales promelas)

(b) Taking for personal use, but not for purposes of sale. Licensed fishermen may take bait fish for personal use, but not for purposes of sale except as provided for in 321 CMR 4.01(8)(c).

(c) Taking for purposes of sale. Commercial bait fish may be taken for purposes of sale by resident licensed fishermen only, provided that such fishermen additionally possess a current and valid shiner permit, which permit shall allow the taking of commercial bait fish only. Bait fish, other than commercial bait fish, may not be sold.

[fishlessman]

smelt season. if they do find you with smelt they will ask you alot of questions

5 Smelt may be taken in all inland waters by hook and line only from May 16 to the last day of February, excepting Quabbin Reservoir, where smelt may only be taken in open water where legal fishing is permitted from May 16 to the end of the Quabbin fishing season. There is no daily or seasonal limit for smelt on these waters. The possession of smelt or their use as bait in inland waters other than during the established open season on smelt is prohibited.

[The Dad Fisherman]

So I can use smelt as bait up to the last day of Feb?

I was planning in fishing them dead....but wanted to keep them alive until ready to use so they are fresh. At least that was the plan

[fishlessman]

So I can use smelt as bait up to the last day of Feb?

I was planning in fishing them dead....but wanted to keep them alive until ready to use so they are fresh. At least that was the plan

i dont think you can bring live fish over the border, would be worth calling fish and game to find out if it makes a difference live or dead.

[sst4life]

smelt season. if they do find you with smelt they will ask you alot of questions

5 Smelt may be taken in all inland waters by hook and line only from May 16 to the last day of February, excepting Quabbin Reservoir, where smelt may only be taken in open water where legal fishing is permitted from May 16 to the end of the Quabbin fishing season. There is no daily or seasonal limit for smelt on these waters. The possession of smelt or their use as bait in inland waters other than during the established open season on smelt is prohibited.

What about sea smelt. I have been catching a few here and there off of a bridge around winthrop.

[fishlessman]

What about sea smelt. I have been catching a few here and there off of a bridge around winthrop.

i dont know, always good to ask

[baitbig]

Then again bigger better ocean run smelt run from the Ocean to rivers right 6" to 10 "perfect,buy some for consumption you and the fish. If dont over crowd the tank they work great.
Plus cheap and stay alive long time,the bass and pike on my profile came on live smelt. Not the laker that was taken on golden this past spring 14.4lbs at gate 8 . One of the best days I ve ever had, catch one on jigging stick for fun. Ron you would have been proud about five lb and we got Seventeen total . Only day I went all year.