Message from the Director

See You on the Coast!

As a longtime seacoast resident, it is my pleasure to welcome you to our digest of regulations for saltwater fishing on New Hampshire’s seacoast. Our coastal anglers have the chance to experience sport fishing at its finest. Striped bass are one of our biggest marine fisheries management success stories, but recreational saltwater anglers can find bluefish, mackerel and a wide assortment of groundfish in our waters. I even caught a tuna off the New Hampshire coast last summer – that’s me in the photo!

In 2011, for the first time, most saltwater recreational anglers are required to purchase a NH Recreational Saltwater Fishing License. The license will cost just $11 for resident and nonresident anglers ages 16 and older, and proceeds will help NH Fish and Game manage fish and wildlife. Before you fish NH coastal or estuarine waters, please check the details and buy your license.

The health of our coastal resources is the focus of Fish and Game’s Marine Fisheries Division, based in Durham, NH, which manages estuarine and saltwater species, including fish, lobsters, clams and oysters. Our biologists work closely with other state and federal agencies to protect and maintain marine resources for both recreational and commercial fisheries. These efforts are key to rebuilding groundfish stocks, enhancing related habitat and increasing populations of Atlantic herring, striped bass and lobsters in the New England region. For several years, I owned and operated a commercial fishing vessel out of Portsmouth, so I understand the importance of sustaining these resources. They are a vital contributor to the state’s economy, as well—New Hampshire’s lobster fishery alone harvests more than 3 million pounds, valued at $15.8 million each year.

Whether saltwater fishing is your passion or your livelihood, please be a good steward. Buy your license, follow the rules, and report violations. Let’s work together to keep our coastal resources in good shape for future generations.

Glenn Normandeau, Executive Director
N.H. Fish and Game Department

N.H. Fish and game — our Mission

As the guardian of the state’s fish, wildlife and marine resources, the New Hampshire Fish and Game Department works in partnership with the public to:

• Conserve, manage and protect these resources and their habitats;
• Inform and educate the public about these resources; and
• Provide the public with opportunities to use and appreciate these resources.