License Information

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Buying a License

Fishing and hunting licenses, valid January 1 to December 31 of each year, may be purchased online , 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 may be eligible for free temporary hunting and fishing licenses. 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.

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	$35.00^2,3		L
	Nonresidents 16 and older	$53.00^2,3		L
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 N.H. residents only. See Shellfish for rules.	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: 5 pots maximum	$35.00	Yes	A
	Limited Commercial:⁴ 100 pots maximum	$103.00
	Limited Commercial:⁵ 600 pots maximum	$175.00
	Commercial:⁵ 1,200 pots maximum	$300.00
	Helper’s License⁶	$10.00
Nonresident Lobster and Crab Prohibited if applicant’s state excludes non-resident harvest.	Limited Commercial:⁵ 600 pots maximum	$350.00
	Commercial:⁵ 1,200 pots maximum	$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		A
Landing License for Lobster and Crab Required to transport lobsters and crabs from outside the state’s jurisdiction and landing in N.H., unless a N.H. Lobster and Crab license or either N.H. resident or non-resident Commercial Saltwater License is held. Does not allow sale of product.	Resident	$50.00		A
	Nonresident	$500.00		A
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. Taking of sea urchins and scallops is prohibited if applicant’s state excludes nonresident harvest. Helpers not allowed to take by diving.	Nonresident	$500.00		A
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 or Scientific Permit Marine related aquaculture and scientific permits are issued by NH Fish and Game, Marine Fisheries Division. Inquiries relative to permitting process should be directed to the Marine Fisheries Division office at (603) 868-1095.			Yes	A
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.	Resident	Free		A

* See www.wildnh.com/marine to download an application or buy a license.

See New Laws for more on new saltwater license types, including information on reciprocity between states.
Includes $1 agent fee.
Includes $1 Fisheries Habitat Fee.
New license holders since 1/1/2006 limited to 100 traps maximum.
Limited entry licenses—for further information,
contact Marine Fisheries Division at (603) 868-1095.
Helper’s license required for each helper (no residency requirement for helpers).

Licenses: Fees & Requirements

New for 2011

Starting January 1, most saltwater recreational anglers in New Hampshire will be required to purchase a NH Recreational Saltwater License ($15 + $1 agent fee). See New Laws for details.

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