New Hampshire Fishing Laws: Licenses, Limits, and Gear Rules

New Hampshire fishing laws require anyone 16 or older to carry a valid license, follow species-specific seasons and daily bag limits, use only legal gear and bait, and clean gear between waters to prevent the spread of invasive species. The rules are set and enforced by the New Hampshire Fish and Game Department, and they apply to residents and visitors alike.

Who Needs a License and What It Costs

Everyone 16 and older must hold a fishing license to fish New Hampshire’s public waters.1State of New Hampshire Fish and Game. New Hampshire License Requirements Children under 16 fish license-free under RSA 214:2 but still have to obey every other rule in the book.2New Hampshire General Court. New Hampshire Code 214:2 – License Required; Exception

Current license prices:3State of New Hampshire Fish and Game. License Prices

  • Annual freshwater: $45 resident, $63 non-resident
  • One-day freshwater: $10 resident, $15 non-resident
  • Three-day freshwater (non-resident only): $28
  • Seven-day freshwater (non-resident only): $35
  • Recreational saltwater: $11 for residents and non-residents
  • Hunting and freshwater combo: $56 resident, $151 non-resident (Wildlife Habitat Fee of $2.50 not included)
  • Senior freshwater for residents 68 and older: $7

Every purchase adds a $2.00 processing fee, or $2.75 online.3State of New Hampshire Fish and Game. License Prices Saltwater is a separate license from freshwater, so if you plan to do both, you need both. Carry proof while fishing; a digital copy is fine, and a conservation officer can ask to see it.

Open Seasons by Species

Closed seasons protect fish during spawning, and fishing during one is a serious violation. Dates can shift year to year based on biological assessments, so confirm the current schedule before you go. The main windows:4State of New Hampshire Fish and Game. Fishing Seasons in NH

  • Trout ponds: fourth Saturday in April through October 15.
  • Landlocked salmon: April 1 through September 30 in most waters. Pleasant Lake in New London opens on the fourth Saturday in April.
  • Lake trout: January 1 through September 30, but open-water fishing starts after ice-out. Lake trout may only be taken through the ice from January 1 through March 31.
  • Brook, rainbow, and brown trout in lake trout or salmon waters: January 1 through September 30, with ice fishing allowed January 1 through March 31.

Several rivers and stream sections have additional closures tied to spawning migrations. Atlantic salmon on the Connecticut River have no open season at all unless the Connecticut River Atlantic Salmon Commission declares one.5New Hampshire Fish and Game. New Hampshire Freshwater Fishing Digest

Daily Limits and Fish Size

Bag limits cap how many fish of each species you can keep in a day, and going over by even one fish can mean a fine and loss of your catch. The most common statewide limits:

Specific waters often tighten these numbers. On some combined salmon and trout waters, the daily limit for salmon and trout together drops to two fish rather than two of each.6State of New Hampshire Fish and Game. Fis 400 Adopted Rules Designated trout ponds sometimes allow only one fish per day. Check the regulations posted for the water you’re fishing before assuming statewide rules apply.

Largemouth and smallmouth bass carry minimum length requirements in most waters. If a fish is undersized, it must go back immediately, and you’re responsible for measuring accurately on the spot.

Gear Rules

In open water, you’re limited to two lines unless the specific water body posts a different limit.8State of New Hampshire Fish and Game. Fishing in New Hampshire FAQs Certain river sections designated as catch-and-release require barbless or de-barbed hooks to improve the survival of released fish, and fly-fishing-only waters require an artificial fly tied to a single hook. Treble hooks are prohibited where they cause excessive damage.

Lead Tackle Ban

Lead sinkers and lead jigs weighing one ounce or less are prohibited in all New Hampshire freshwater, and selling them in the state is also banned.9State of New Hampshire Fish and Game. New Hampshire Lead Free Law The ban targets small lead tackle that loons and other waterbirds swallow. Lead-core line, spinnerbaits, spoons, plugs, and flies are not covered. Steel, tin, bismuth, and tungsten alternatives are sold throughout the state.

Ice Fishing Lines

Ice fishing allows more lines than open water. Most New Hampshire waters permit six devices per angler, with these exceptions:10State of New Hampshire Fish and Game. Ice Fishing

  • Lake trout waters: two devices.
  • NH-Maine border waters: five lines, except Great East Lake, which caps at two.

Each device must be labeled with your name and address. Unmarked gear left on the ice can be confiscated and bring a citation.

Bait and Invasive Species Rules

Using carp or goldfish as live bait is illegal in any state water, and simply having live carp or goldfish while fishing counts as evidence of a violation.11New Hampshire General Court. New Hampshire Code 211:16 – Bait Prohibited Shad and whitefish are also prohibited as bait for cusk, and individual waters sometimes add their own live-bait restrictions.

Every time you leave the water, state law requires you to clean and drain. Under RSA 487:16-c you must remove all visible mud, plants, fish, and animals from your gear, and under RSA 487:16-d you must drain water from engines, bilges, live wells, and bait buckets.12State of New Hampshire Fish and Game. Invasive Species and Parasites Never release plants, fish, or animals into any water other than the one they came from. These obligations apply to everyone on the water, licensed or not.

Kids, Free Fishing Days, and the Adult-Helper Rule

Children under 16 don’t need a license, but every season, limit, and gear rule still applies to them.2New Hampshire General Court. New Hampshire Code 214:2 – License Required; Exception An adult who sets the hook or reels the fish in is actively fishing and generally needs their own license.

Two free fishing days each year let residents and non-residents fish any inland or saltwater without a license:13State of New Hampshire Fish and Game. Free Fishing Days in New Hampshire

  • First Saturday in June.
  • Third Saturday in January, typically an ice-fishing event.

One exception: anglers in a fishing tournament still need a license even on a free fishing day.13State of New Hampshire Fish and Game. Free Fishing Days in New Hampshire Every other rule stays in effect on those days.

Penalties and the Interstate Compact

Penalties scale with the violation and your record. Fishing without a license is the most common citation; first offenses bring a fine, repeat violations can escalate to misdemeanor charges. Fishing a closed season, exceeding bag limits, or harming protected species can lead to license revocation. Conviction can also mean confiscation of the gear used in the violation, held at the owner’s expense until fines and costs are paid.14New Hampshire General Court. New Hampshire Code 206:26 – Powers

Using prohibited commercial gear such as trawls or seines in state waters is a misdemeanor for an individual and a felony if done through a business entity.15New Hampshire General Court. New Hampshire Code 211:58 – Penalties

New Hampshire joined the Interstate Wildlife Violator Compact in 2014.16CSG National Center for Interstate Compacts. Wildlife Violator Compact A license suspension here can be recognized by other member states, which can then deny you fishing or hunting privileges in their jurisdictions. Most U.S. states belong, so a serious violation in New Hampshire can follow you across state lines.

If a conservation officer approaches you on the water, cooperate. They have authority to inspect your license and your catch, and seized equipment stays in state custody until any penalty is paid.14New Hampshire General Court. New Hampshire Code 206:26 – Powers