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LakeQuality
Status
Statewide wake-surf rule
Enforcing agency
Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife
Distance from shore
300 ft
Minimum depth
15 ft
Minimum lake size
Not specified in statute
Effective
2024-08-09

What the rule says

Maine law (12 M.R.S. 13068-A, subsection 18), effective August 9, 2024, prohibits operating a motorboat engaged in a wakesurfing activity in less than 15 feet of water or within 300 feet of the shoreline. Violations are a civil offense (fine up to $100), with a Class E crime for repeat offenders. The Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife was directed to develop a wake-boater education plan.

Source: Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife. The linked statute or agency page is the authority — wake-sport law is changing quickly in many states, so confirm there before you ride.

Statewide rules are the floor, not the whole picture

Individual lakes routinely add stricter limits on top of the state rule — no-wake zones, time-of-day windows, horsepower caps, and wider shoreline setbacks are all set locally by counties, lake districts, and land managers. Check the local authority for the specific water before launching.

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