Saltwater Fishing FAQs

All persons age 16 and older recreationally fishing in coastal and estuarine waters of the state must purchase a NH Saltwater Recreational Fishing License. This includes anglers, spearfishers and persons using other gear types who wish to take, possess, or transport marine finfish for personal use and which are not sold.

The license costs $11 (includes $1 agent fee) for individuals.

Children under the age of 16, resident or nonresident, are not required to purchase a NH fishing license.

Your NH Recreational Saltwater Fishing License allows you to fish in NH coastal and estuarine waters, all Massachusetts coastal and estuarine waters, as well as the entire Maine coast!

No. By State law, NH residents cannot fish in New Hampshire using a Massachusetts saltwater license or Maine saltwater license, registry or endorsement. NH residents must have a New Hampshire Recreational Saltwater Fishing License to fish coastal or estuarine waters in New Hampshire.

"Coastal and estuarine waters" means all waters within the rise and fall of the tide, and water below any fishway or dam which is normally the dividing line between tide water and fresh water. For example, anglers will need a NH Saltwater Recreational Fishing License to fish below the dam on the Lamprey River in Newmarket. Above the dam, they would need a NH Freshwater Fishing License.

"Coastal and estuarine waters" means all waters within the rise and fall of the tide, and water below any fishway or dam which is normally the dividing line between tide water and fresh water. For example, anglers will need a NH Saltwater Recreational Fishing License to fish below the dam on the Lamprey River in Newmarket. Above the dam, they would need a NH Freshwater Fishing License.

Yes. All anglers age 16 and older must pay for a NH Recreational Saltwater Fishing License to fish recreationally in the coastal and estuarine waters of the state.

In order to qualify for the exemption from the National Saltwater Angler Registry, we need to provide specific current information each year about all saltwater recreational fishermen 16+ years of age. If we gave people a free license at age 68, as we do for the freshwater license, the information would be unusable if they moved or changed phone numbers. Given that the cost of the license is relatively low compared to many fishing and hunting licenses, plus the fact that the seniors would still need to get a license every year, the decision was made to make the price the same for all anglers age 16 and older – both residents and non-residents.

If you purchased a Lifetime Fishing License prior to 2011, you may obtain a free permit each year limited to fishing for saltwater smelt, American shad, trout and salmon in coastal and estuarine waters. The permit must be applied for each year at the NH Fish and Game Department office in Concord, NH. NOTE: If you fish for any species other than saltwater smelt, American shad, trout and salmon, you must hold a paid N.H Recreational Saltwater Fishing License. Please note that a Lifetime License is different than the "over 68" freshwater fishing license.

No. There is a separate license for charter and party boats. You will be exempt from holding a NH Recreational Saltwater Fishing License as long as you are fishing on a licensed charter or party boat.

No. To fish in federal waters, you need a valid state saltwater fishing license or a federal permit that exempts you from the National Saltwater Angler Registry. However, if you have a recreational federal permit such as the HMS Angling category permit, you still need the NH Recreational Saltwater Fishing License to take, possess, or transport your recreationally caught species through New Hampshire state waters.

Yes. The exception is that if you hold a NH Recreational Saltwater Fishing License, you may legally fish in all coastal and estuarine waters of Massachusetts and Maine. If you are visiting another state, you will have to purchase their saltwater license.

The difference is in how our states are funded. In both Maine and Massachusetts, state marine fisheries agencies get state general fund monies to run their programs. New Hampshire is different in that our programs are paid for primarily by license fees.

No. You are only required to purchase the NH Recreational Saltwater Fishing License.

Yes. If you are fishing for finfish in coastal and estuarine waters you will need a recreational saltwater fishing license take, possess, or transport finfish for personal use and which are not sold. However, if you plan to sell any of the finfish, you would need a Commercial Saltwater License. Your lobster license only provides the opportunity to fish for and harvest lobsters and crab.

If your catch is for personal use, you need both a Harvest Permit and a NH Recreational Saltwater Fishing License; if you plan to sell the catch, you need a Commercial Saltwater License.

Yes. On New Hampshire's designated Free Fishing Day (the first Saturday in June), both residents and nonresidents can fish inland, coastal or estuarine waters in New Hampshire without a fishing license. Note that season dates, bag limits and all other fishing regulations must be followed on Free Fishing Day.

Recreational saltwater fishing license fees go into the Fish and Game fund, as other license revenue does, providing the largest source of funding for the Department's work managing and conserving New Hampshire's fish, wildlife and marine resources. If the saltwater license had not been implemented, New Hampshire anglers would have been required to pay a similar fee to the National Angler Registry and the funds would have gone directly to the federal government.

Since 2010, recreational anglers who fish in federal waters have been required to register each year with NOAA Fisheries. Registration is also required for those who may catch anadromous species such as salmon, striped bass, smelt and shad that spawn in rivers and streams and spend their adult lives in estuaries and the ocean. Required by the reauthorized Magnuson-Stevens Act, the National Angler Registry is key to closing a major gap in information on recreational saltwater fishing. It also helps NOAA demonstrate the economic value of saltwater recreational fishing on local and national economies. NOAA allowed states to exempt anglers from federal registration if they had a program in place to account for all of its saltwater anglers. New Hampshire met this requirement by establishing a recreational saltwater fishing license effective January 1, 2011. The state license ensures that fees paid by New Hampshire anglers stay in the state to help manage fish and wildlife.

Licenses are not sold at Fish and Game's Region 3 Office.

No, only residents are allowed to purchase licenses for the taking of clams and oysters.

Generally, yes, with exceptions: if there is a Red Tide warning or other shellfish contamination issue, it will be shown on the Clam Flat Status page. Shellfish from closed areas may not be harvested or eaten.

No. It is illegal to harvest lobster by diving in the State of New Hampshire.

Issues with lobster trap tags must be resolved through the Marine Fisheries Division (603) 868-1095, not Cambridge Security Seals.

NH Fish and Game organizes a spring cleanup each year with the NH Commercial Fishermen’s Association to clean up all the lobster gear debris caused by storms, etc.

Call the Clam Flat Hotline at 1-800-43CLAMS (1-800-432-5267) for the most up-to-date information or see the same info on this website. The hotline is generally updated by Friday afternoon each week.

Maps are available in the NH Saltwater Fishing Digest or visit the Department of Environmental Services Shellfish Program website.

• In order to be eligible to transfer a limited-access lobster license eligibility, you must have harvested or landed a certain amount of pounds EACH year for 2 of the previous 3 years for a standard transfer, or 2 of the previous 5 years in the case of a permanent physical disability or death (see Table below).
• Your license can’t be transferred if you are under a lobster license suspension, and the person you are transferring to must not have any outstanding violations.
• A person who transfers a limited-access lobster license eligibility due to a permanent physical disability will no longer be eligible to purchase a commercial, limited commercial, or part-time commercial lobster and crab license but may purchase a recreational lobster and crab license.
• Transfer regulations can be found in Fis 602.14 and 602.15.

• In order to transfer, you will need to submit a letter with specific information about both you and the individual you are planning to transfer to.  Contact the Marine Fisheries Division at the Region 3 office (603)868-1095 for more information of the process.
• Processing the request may take up to 6 weeks on average, but may be longer or shorter.  Staff needs to ensure transfer criteria are met before approval by the Director.
• Transfer regulations can be found in Fis 602.14 and 602.15.