5.__Exception to permit requirement.__Notwithstanding subsection 1:

A.__A person may fish for alewives by use of a dip net or single hook and line for consumption by that person or members of that person's family, provided that the person takes or possesses no more than one bushel in any day and provided also that the alewives are not taken from any waters in which a municipality or other person has been granted exclusive rights under section 6131;

C.__A person may fish for or possess alewives from inland waters if that person has been granted fishing rights under section 6131; and

D.__A person may take suckers for use as bait for fishing in inland waters as provided in section 12551-A without a permit under subsection 2.

6.__Eels and elvers prohibitions.__The following prohibitions apply to the harvesting of eels and elvers in inland waters.

A.__A person may not fish for or take elvers from inland waters.

B.__A person other than the owner of a weir used to fish for or take eels in inland waters may not tend that weir while the weir is immersed unless that person has in the person's possession written permission from the owner to tend the weir or is in the presence of the owner and has the owner's permission to tend the weir.

A person who violates this subsection commits a Class E crime.

7. Other harvesting methods for suckers.__Notwithstanding subsection 1, a person licensed or otherwise entitled to fish in Maine waters may take suckers for that person's use in all rivers, brooks and streams that are open to fishing between April 1st and June 30th of each calendar year by the use of a hand spear, by bow and arrow or by snagging.

A.__A person may not use a bow and arrow to harvest suckers unless the arrow used has a barbed or pronged point and the arrow is attached to the bow with a line.