License Information
Buying a License
Fishing and hunting licenses, valid January 1 to December 31 of each year, may be purchased online via www.FishNH.com, from license agents, Fish and Game Department headquarters in Concord, Fish and Game Region 1, 2 and 4 offices and some town or city clerks. The license must be carried on your person when fishing and/or hunting.
Lost Licenses
Lost licenses can be replaced at Fish and Game’s Concord headquarters, or at the license agency that issued the original license. The cost of a duplicate license is $6.00 per license form.
Violation/Revocation
Violation of any fishing law or rule, littering, or criminal trespass (RSA 214:19; 207:36-b; 635:2) may result in the revocation of your fishing license or privilege.
Exceptions
A fishing license is not required for children under the age of 16
(RSA 214:2).
Fisheries Habitat Fee
All freshwater anglers pay a $1 fisheries habitat fee, which is included in the license price. Revenue is used to improve and restore fisheries habitats.
Residency Requirements
To obtain a license at resident rates, the person must present to the issuing agent a valid New Hampshire driver’s license or non-driver’s picture identification card issued by the N.H. Department of Safety, Division of Motor Vehicles. Whenever the applicant is under 18 years of age, the parent or guardian of the applicant shall be a resident and present their valid N.H. driver’s license or non-driver’s picture identification.
Note: Any person who is no longer a legal resident of the state, but still retains a valid N.H. driver’s license, is guilty of a misdemeanor if he/she tries to obtain a resident fishing, hunting or trapping license based on this driver’s license.
Military Licenses
N.H. residents who are regular active duty in the U.S. Army, Navy, Marines, Air Force, or Coast Guard permanently stationed outside the state are eligible for free temporary hunting and fishing licenses and may acquire them at no charge. Available at N.H. Fish and Game Headquarters in Concord; Region 1, 2 and 4 offices; or by mail or fax (603) 271-5829. Download an Active Duty Military License application from the Fish and Game website and send with duty orders. A copy of duty orders must be presented for verification. Call (603) 271-3422 for information.
Non-resident military personnel on regular, active duty, and permanently stationed in New Hampshire, may purchase licenses at N.H. resident rates.
Licenses: Fees & Requirements
|
Fishing License Type |
Category |
Fee |
State Reporting Requirements |
License (L) or Application (A) Available Online* |
|
Recreational Saltwater Fishing1 Allows taking, possessing, or transporting finfish from NH coastal and estuarine waters. |
Resident or nonresident ages 16 and older |
$11.002 |
|
L |
|
Saltwater Fishing Charter Boat1 Allows a for-hire vessel less than 100 gross tons and USCG licensed to carry 6 or fewer passengers to provide recreational saltwater fishing opportunity to take, possess, or transport finfish from NH coastal and estuarine waters. |
Resident or nonresident |
$51.002 per vessel |
|
A** |
|
Saltwater Fishing Party Boat1 Allows a vessel holding a valid USCG Certificate of Inspection to carry passengers for-hire to provide recreational saltwater fishing opportunity to take, possess, or transport finfish from NH coastal and estuarine waters. |
Resident or nonresident |
$101.002 per vessel |
|
A** |
|
Freshwater Fishing Allows taking all freshwater species of fish |
Residents ages 16–68 |
$35.002,3 |
|
L |
|
Nonresidents 16 and older |
$53.002,3 |
|||
|
Resident Softshell Clam N.H. residents only. See Shellfish for rules. |
6 years and older |
$30.002 |
|
L |
|
68 years and older |
Free |
|
No |
|
|
Resident Oyster |
All ages |
$30.002 |
|
L |
|
68 years and older |
Free |
|
No |
|
|
Resident Commercial Sea Clam |
|
$300.00 |
Yes |
A** |
|
Resident Lobster and Crab Required to take lobsters and crabs from state waters. |
Recreational: |
$35.00 |
Yes |
A** |
|
Part-time Commercial:4 |
$103.00 |
|||
|
Limited Commercial:5 |
$175.00 |
|||
|
Commercial:5 |
$300.00 |
|||
|
Helper’s License6 |
$10.00 |
|||
|
Nonresident Lobster and Crab Prohibited if applicant’s state excludes non-resident harvest. |
Limited Commercial:5 |
$350.00 |
||
|
Commercial:5 |
$600.00 |
|||
|
Helper’s License6 |
$10.00 |
|||
|
Retail Trade of Lobster Meat and Crab Meat Separate license required for each market, store, vehicle or other facility where lobsters and crabs are sold. |
Resident |
$25.00 |
|
A** |
|
Nonresident |
$50.00 |
|||
|
Landing License for Lobster and Crab Required to transport lobsters and crabs from outside the state’s jurisdiction to land and sell in N.H., unless a N.H. Lobster and Crab license or either N.H. resident or non-resident Commercial Saltwater License is held. |
Resident |
$50.00 |
|
A** |
|
Nonresident |
$500.00 |
|||
|
Resident Commercial Saltwater Required to take, land, transport or possess marine species with the intent to sell, regardless of method. Does not allow taking lobsters or crabs from state waters. Includes operator and unlimited helpers. License is not issued to a vessel, it is issued to an individual. |
Resident |
$50.00 |
|
A** |
|
Nonresident Commercial Saltwater Required to take, land, transport or possess marine species with the intent to sell, regardless of method. Includes operator and unlimited helpers. Allows for the landing of lobsters taken from areas outside the jurisdiction of New Hampshire. License is not issued to a vessel; it is issued to an individual.
|
Nonresident |
$500.00 |
||
|
Wholesale Marine Species Required to buy, sell, process and transport marine species if wholesaling marine species. A separate extra facility license shall be required for each market, store, vehicle or facility where marine species are bought or sold at wholesale. Vehicles used solely for the transportation of marine species are not required to be licensed as an extra facility, as long as the wholesale marine dealer is licensed. Cannot transport lobster and crab taken outside of the state by boat with this license. Need to obtain either a Commercial Saltwater License or Landing License. |
Resident |
$100.00 |
Yes—Lobster, Shrimp and Dogfish Dealers |
A** |
|
Nonresident |
$200.00 |
|||
|
Resident Extra Facility |
$50.00 |
|||
|
Nonresident Extra Facility |
$75.00 |
|||
|
Harvest Permit Required to take finfish by seine, net, weir, pot or trap, horseshoe crab by any method, or American eel by any method but angling, from coastal and estuarine waters of N.H. Available at Durham office. |
|
Free |
Yes |
A |
|
Shrimp Processing Permit Required to possess shrimp during closed season. Available at Durham office. |
|
Free |
|
A |
|
Sea Herring Possession Permit Required to possess sea herring. Available at Durham office. |
|
Free |
|
A |
|
Aquaculture License Marine-related aquaculture licenses are issued by NH Fish and Game, Marine Fisheries Division. Contact Marine Fisheries directly at (603) 868-1095. |
|
$200.007 |
Yes |
No |
|
Scientific License Marine-related scientific licenses are issued by NH Fish and Game, Marine Fisheries Division. Contact Marine Fisheries directly at (603) 868-1095. |
|
$25.008 |
Yes |
No |
|
Limited Annual Saltwater License for Lifetime Licensees Allows for persons holding a lifetime fishing or combination license purchased before 2011 to take saltwater smelt, saltwater shad, or saltwater salmonids. Contact NH Fish and Game in Concord or download an application from www.wildnh.com/marine. |
Resident |
Free |
|
A** |
|
* See www.wildnh.com/marine to download an application or buy a license. ** License obtained at Fish and Game in Concord only in person or by mail. 1. See Recreational Licenses for more on new saltwater license types, including information on reciprocity between states. 2. Includes $1 agent fee. 3. Includes $1 Fisheries Habitat Fee. 4. New license holders since 1/1/2006 limited to 100 traps maximum. 5 Limited entry licenses—for further information, contact Marine Fisheries Division at (603) 868-1095. 6. Helper’s license required for each helper (no residency requirement for helpers). 7. Additional fees associated with license. 8. Fee waiver only for educational and nonprofit institutions and government agencies. |
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|
Free Fishing Day Saturday, June 1, 2013
EXCEPTION: Atlantic Salmon Permit still required for Merrimack River Brood Stock Fishery Program. |
Regulations in red are new this year.
Purple text indicates an important note.
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