New Hampshire Fishing Regulations: State and Federal Rules

New Hampshire fishing regulations split at the 3-mile line. State waters run from shore to 3 miles, and federal waters in the Gulf of Maine lie beyond it. If you are fishing New Hampshire, three fisheries drive most of the rules: Gulf of Maine groundfish (cod, haddock, pollock), striped bass and Atlantic bluefin tuna. This page gives size, bag, season and gear rules per species, plus the agency that owns each rule.

New Hampshire Fishing Official Government Organizations

New Hampshire state waters are the 3-mile territorial sea, and federal waters run from 3 to 200 nautical miles. The New Hampshire Fish and Game Department, Marine Fisheries Division, sets rules inside the line, and the state’s marine laws page lays out the split. NOAA Fisheries, with the New England and Mid-Atlantic councils, sets rules outside it. When state and federal rules both apply, follow the more restrictive one. Maine and Massachusetts waters follow their own rules, so check your neighboring states’ rules before you cross a boundary.

Everyone age 16 and older who takes, possesses or transports marine finfish needs a New Hampshire Recreational Saltwater Fishing License. The fee is $11 for residents and nonresidents, plus a $2 transaction fee ($2.75 online). Passengers on a licensed charter or party boat need no license, and a nonresident holding a valid Maine or Massachusetts saltwater license is covered in New Hampshire. The saltwater recreational fishing license page has the details. Rules change with quota and season, so check the agency page before fishing.

• New Hampshire Fish and Game Department, Marine Fisheries Division – Sets and enforces rules in state waters, 225 Main Street, Durham, (603) 868-1095.
• NOAA Fisheries Greater Atlantic Regional Fisheries Office – Implements federal rules in 50 CFR part 648, rules line (978) 281-9315.
• New England Fishery Management Council – Develops federal groundfish measures.
• Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council – Develops federal measures for bluefish, mackerel, black sea bass and tilefish.
• NOAA Fisheries Atlantic Highly Migratory Species Management Division – Manages tunas, billfish, swordfish and sharks, and issues the HMS permit, 1-888-USA-TUNA.
• Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission – Coordinates interstate management plans for species such as striped bass.

New Hampshire Offshore Fishing Regulations by Species

The figures below list state rules first, then federal rules where they differ. Lengths are total length unless stated, measured as the straight line from snout tip to tail tip with the fish on its side. Filleted and skinned groundfish must keep at least 2 square inches of contiguous skin, and under federal rules 2 fillets count as 1 fish. Jeffreys Ledge and the Isles of Shoals are the main grounds, and the Gulf of Maine groundfish grounds are covered in our regional guide.

The Cod Spawning Protection Area lies south of the Isles of Shoals, inside the lines joining 42°50.95′ N 70°32.22′ W, 42°47.65′ N 70°35.64′ W, 42°54.91′ N 70°41.88′ W and 42°58.27′ N 70°38.64′ W. It is closed to all fishing and to groundfish possession in April, May and June. In the state part, gear may carry no more than 1 ounce of weight or a single lure of 1 ounce or less, and all cod are released. In the federal part, no weights or weighted lures are allowed. Vessels transiting with groundfish caught outside the area must remove bait and hooks and keep the fish gutted. See the federal spawning closure rule for the full text.