New Hampshire Recreational Saltwater Fishing Regulations

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Recreational saltwater fishing in New Hampshire provides diverse opportunities. Saltwater anglers can cast a line from boats, bridges, jetties or the beach. Many saltwater fish species are available along the coast and in our rivers and bays. Recreational saltwater fishing in N.H. requires a recreational saltwater license. See Recreational Licenses for details.

Below are species that have rules or laws that apply to recreational anglers or spearfishers while fishing in state waters.

Additional regulations apply in federal waters for most of the below-listed species — contact NOAA Fisheries at (978) 281-9315 or nero.noaa.gov/sfd/recfishing directly if you have questions regarding fishing in federal waters.

New Hampshire Recreational Saltwater Fishing Regulations***

SPECIES

Closed Season

Minimum Length (Total Length)

Daily Bag Limit

Special Rules
American Eel

No closed season (except surrounding fishways)

9 inches

25 fish per day

 Fishway closures apply October 2 – June 14
(see Coastal Harvest Section, Coastal Harvest)
American Plaice*

14 inches
American Shad All shad must be immediately released
Atlantic Cod*  October 1 – September 14 (or Open Season September 15-30)  21 inches

1 fish per day
Atlantic Halibut

41 inches

1 fish per trip/vessel

 Head and tail intact while on or leaving waters of the state
Atlantic Sea Herring Federal regulations apply in federal waters
Atlantic Salmon
(Sea-run )		 All sea-run Atlantic salmon caught on coastal and estuarine waters must be immediately released
Atlantic Wolffish

Possession is prohibited
Black Sea Bass

13 inches

10 fish per day

 Length does not include filament/tail extension
Bluefin Tuna

27 inches CFL**

Variable; see website

 Federally managed — follow federal regulations (call 1-888-USA-TUNA) or visit hmspermits.noaa.gov
Bluefish

10 fish per day
Dogfish, Spiny Finning prohibited
Haddock*

Mar 1 – April 14

17 inches

15 fish per day
  • Head and tail intact, unless fillet is 10 inches minimum
Monkfish

17 inches
Pollock* 19 inches, if taken in federal waters
Rainbow Smelt (Saltwater)

4 liquid quarts

 Head and tail must remain intact
Redfish*

9 inches
River Herring
(Alewife/
Blueback Herring)

Closed sunrise Wednesday – sunrise Thursday

See Squamscott River in Special River Restrictions,

Coastal Harvest.

 See Special River Restrictions and Coastal Harvest Section, Coastal Harvest. Fishing prohibited around fishway closure areas Oyster and Taylor rivers closed
Salters (Sea-run Trout)
see definitions

No closed season

1 fish per day
  • Recreational angling only
  • In Berry Brook***: Single-hook artificial lures and flies only. Immediate release required.
  • In Winnicut River: The salter daily limit applies only downstream of the B&M Railroad bridge
Sharks —
Blue, Porbeagle, Shortfin Mako and Thresher
  • Porbeagle — recreational fishing in state waters only
  • All sharks — head, fins and tail must remain attached through landing
Striped Bass

28 inches

1 fish per day
  • Gaffing and culling, is prohibited; No sale allowed, regardless of origin.
  • Head and tail must be intact while on or leaving the waters or shores of the state except may possess up to 2 fillets with skin intact if:
    1. Also possess fish rack > 28″ TL with head/tail intact that fillets came from, or
    2. Fillets measure > 28″ TL.
Sturgeon

Closed year round

Possession is prohibited
Summer Flounder*

15 inches

 Recreational angling only; No sale allowed
White Perch

25 fish per day

 Sale is prohibited
Winter Flounder*

12 inches

8 fish per day
Yellowtail Flounder*

13 inches

* All groundfish species that are filleted and skinned must retain at least 2 square inches of contiguous skin intact for identification purposes.

** Curved fork length – See definitions

*** Anglers fishing Berry Brook in Rye: All fish species caught must be immediately released.

READ MORE at eregulations.com
Open season for Atlantic Cod September 15 - 30.
Open season for Atlantic Cod September 15 - 30.