Skip to Main Content Skip to Main Navigation

Commercial Saltwater Fishing—Finfish

Facebook

Twitter Email More Print

Brought to you by:

New Hampshire has an active commercial marine fishing industry. Commercial finfish harvesting occurs almost exclusively in federal waters. State licenses may be required to harvest, transport, sell, or possess.

Reporting Requirements: Any person holding a permit to net or harvest from coastal waters must submit a monthly report of fishing activities. Forms are available from Fish and Game Marine Division. Fishermen must also participate in the National Marine Fisheries Service Vessel Trip Report program, if they have a federal permit for specific species.

Groundfish: See tables below for specific information and definitions for a list of groundfish species.
No mobile gear may be used to take finfish or crustaceans in state waters.
Minimum mesh size for gillnets and mobile gear is 6.5 inches to take, transport or possess groundfish.
All federally permitted vessels must abide by current federal trip limits for groundfish.

2012 New Hampshire Commercial Saltwater Fishing Regulations
SPECIES	Min. Length (total length)	Limit	Closed Season/Day	Special Rules
American Eel	6 inches		Fishway closures: October 2 – June 14	See Coastal Harvest Section Harvest Permit required if taken by any method other than angling
American Plaice*	14 inches		April 1 – June 30
American Shad		2 fish/day		Taken by angling only in state waters Fishing license required Commercial landing cannot exceed 5% of the total landing by weight per trip
Atlantic Cod*	22 inches	500 pound limit when taken by gillnet 300 pound limit when taken by hook gear	April 1 – June 30	Head and tail intact, unless fillet is 14 inches minimum If federally permitted, current federal trip limits apply
Atlantic Halibut*	41 inches	1 fish per trip/vessel		Head and tail intact
Atlantic Sea Herring			September 21 – October 19 Contact Marine Fisheries for prohibited landing days	Fish and Game Director may revise closure dates Max. incidental catch = 2,000 lbs/day during specific area closures Permit required to possess herring (see License Information ) May be possessed without a permit for use as bait when tending lobster and crab pots and recreational fishing
Atlantic Wolffish			Closed	Taking and possession prohibited
Bluefin Tuna				Under federal management; contact NMFS — 1-888-USA-TUNA or www.nero.noaa.gov or www.hmspermits.gov
Bluefish			October 1 – June 30 (by any method)
Dogfish, Spiny		Contact Marine Division for current trip limits: (603) 868-1095	May 1 – June 30	Subject to additional closures Finning prohibited
Haddock*	18 inches		April 1 – June 30	Head and tail intact, unless fillet is 12 inches minimum
Monkfish	17 inches			Tails: minimum 11 inches; measured from the anterior portion of the fourth cephalic dorsal spine to the end of the caudal fin Livers: shall not exceed 25% of the total weight of monkfish tails or 10% of the total weight of whole monkfish on any trip
Ocean Pout*			April 1 – June 30
Pollock*	19 inches		Gill net: April 1 – June 30
Rainbow Smelt (saltwater)		10 liquid quarts/day	Net or Weirs: March 1 – December 15 North of Memorial Bridge (Portsmouth)	Head and tail intact Bow nets and dip nets held in hand may be used in: Oyster, Squamscott, Bellamy, and Lamprey Rivers Harvest Permit required for nets (see Coastal Harvest Section) Commercial saltwater license required to sell
Redfish*	9 inches		Gill net: April 1 – June 30
River Herring (Alewife/ Blueback Herring)			Wednesdays	Harvest Permit required if taken by any form of netting (including chicken wire) See specific river regulations
Sharks — Blue, Porbeagle, Shortfin Mako and Thresher				Porbeagle — no commercial take in state waters All sharks — head, fins and tail must remain attached through landing Additional federal regulations apply in federal waters (call 1-978-281-9315)
Striped Bass			Closed	Take by netting prohibited; sale prohibited
Sturgeon			Closed	Possession prohibited
Summer Flounder*			Closed	Take prohibited
White Hake*			April 1 – June 30
Windowpane Flounder*			April 1 – June 30
Winter Flounder *	12 inches		April 1 – June 30	If not federally permitted for groundfish, may possess up to 250 lbs/vessel
Witch Flounder*			April 1 – June 30
Yellowtail Flounder*	13 inches		April 1 – June 30
*All groundfish species that are filleted and skinned must retain at least 2 square inches of contiguous skin intact for identification purposes.

Brought to you by:

Conservation Partner Advertisements: The New Hampshire Fish and Game Department allows appropriate advertising in its annual regulation guides in print and online, in order to defray or eliminate expenses to the state, and support enhanced communications with New Hampshire Fish and Game Department Constituents. Through a unique partnership with J.F.Griffin Publishing, LLC & eRegulations.com, ‘Conservation Partners’ have been established that pay for advertising in support of the regulations both in print and online. The New Hampshire Fish and Game Department neither endorses products or services listed or claims made; nor accepts any liability arising from the use of products or services listed. Advertisers interested in the Conservation Partners program should contact J.F.Griffin/eRegulations.com directly at 413-884-1001,

This is not the full law. Consult the New Hampshire Fish and Game Department for further details. All persons are reminded that the statutes, code and regulations are the legal authorities.

J.F. Griffin Media reaches 9,000,000 sportsmen every year through our print and digital publications. We produce 30 hunting and fishing regulation guides for 15 state agencies. For advertising information, please visit: www.jfgriffin.com