Specialized Tidewater Guide License

This Two Day - packed with pertinent information  - Tidewater Guide License course is designed  for prospective Captains and Captains wanting to guide anglers below head of tide. 

$250 / 2 Days / 14 Hours /  Professional Instruction /  Student Guide License Handbook 

Whether you obtain this specialized Tidewater Guide license  before getting your USCG Captain's License or after,  this license is required for Guiding along the Maine coast for  Striped Bass Fishing or any fishing below Head of Tide.

This two-day course will take you through all the required information to pass both the oral and written portions of the tidewater exam with IF&W / Marine Patrol; Navigation, Plotting, Catastrophic Events,  Survival Techniques,  Regulations, and more. 

You Will Be 100% Prepared! 

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Specialized Tide-Water Fishing classification means that a person has met the qualifications to guide sport fishing activities on the State's territorial seas and tributaries of the State up to the head of tide out to the three-mile limit, including overnight camping trips in conjunction with those tide-water fishing activities. This license shall apply to any person engaged in guiding fishing activity for any species of fish, except those species harvested under the authority of a Department of Marine Resources license. This rule does not apply to activity occurring on board a vessel holding a valid and current certificate of inspection issued by the United States Coast Guard.

Note: Any person operating a motorboat on the State's territorial seas and tributaries for the purpose of guiding hunting and fishing activities must obtain U.S. Coast Guard license authorizing the carriage of passengers for hire.

Frequently asked questions: 

What license do I need to guide people stripe bass fishing?

The answer is: Tidewater guides license and a USCG Captains license. The Tidewater Guide License enables you to guide from shore waters, and the USCG License enables to guide from a boat. 

What license do I need to guide people sea duck hunting?

The answer is: Hunting Guides license and a USCG Captains license.

Any guiding done below head tide in a boat requires a USCG Captains license.

Tidewater Guides license can only be used to guide someone from shore unless you hold a valid USCG Captains license, which makes the license alone quite useless.

The regulations drawn up by the DIF&W clearly state that anyone operating a motorboat on the State’s territorial seas and tributaries for the purpose of guiding hunting fishing activities must obtain a USCG Captains license authorizing the carriage of passengers for hire.

What is needed to take the USCG course: OUPV (6-Pack):

If you want to use your Tidewater Guide License in a boat - You'll also need a OUPV 6-pack Captains License. For un-inspected, 6 passenger vessels on inland or offshore up to 100 miles. Requires 360 days total boating experience. 90 of those days must be in the last 3 years. 90 days, in any time frame. 

You will be required to have the following before being sworn in by the USCG, but not before taking the course:

· Application ~ Proof of Citizenship ~ Original Social Security Card ~ CPR and First Aid Certification

· Documentation of Service ~ Physical Exam ~ Drug Test ~ Certificate of Class Completion

“Any person operating a motorboat on the State's territorial seas and tributaries for the purpose of guiding hunting and fishing activities must obtain U.S. Coast Guard license authorizing the carriage of passengers for hire.” DMR 

Required for Class: 

• Writing utensils plus Highlighter
• Parallel Rulers
• Dividers

MOLC’s Tidewater Handbook will be given the first day of class.