Recreational Saltwater Fishing1,**
Allows taking, possessing, or transporting finfish from N.H. coastal and estuarine waters. Exempt if fishing on licensed charter or party boat. |
Resident or nonresident ages 16 and older (including permanent licenses) |
$11.00 |
No |
O |
Resident Softshell Clam**
N.H. residents only. See Shellfish for rules. |
Age 6–67 |
$30.00 |
No |
O |
68 years and older — see above |
Free |
No |
HQ |
Resident Oyster**
N.H. residents only. See Shellfish for rules. |
Age 0–67 |
$30.00 |
No |
O |
68 years and older — see above |
Free |
No |
HQ |
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 N.H. coastal and estuarine waters. |
Resident or nonresident |
$51.00 per vessel |
No |
HQ |
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 N.H. coastal and estuarine waters. |
Resident or nonresident |
$101.00 per vessel |
No |
HQ |
Resident Commercial Sea Clam |
| $300.00 |
Yes |
HQ |
Resident Lobster and Crab
Required to take lobsters and crabs from state waters. All persons eligible for Commercial or Limited Commercial licenses must purchase a license or submit an affidavit by June 30 each year in order to maintain eligibility for the license. |
Recreational: 5 pots maximum |
$40.008 |
Yes |
HQ |
Part-time Commercial2: 100 pots maximum |
$125.008 |
Limited Commercial3: 600 pots maximum |
$200.008 |
Commercial3: 1,200 pots maximum |
$350.008 |
Helper’s License4 |
$20.00 |
Nonresident Lobster and Crab5
Prohibited if applicant’s state excludes nonresident harvest. |
Part-time Commercial 100 pots maximum |
$350.008 |
Limited Commercial: 600 pots maximum |
$400.008 |
Commercial: 1,200 pots maximum |
$600.008 |
Helper’s License |
$20.00 |
Retail Trade of Lobster Meat and Crab Meat
Separate license required for many markets, stores, restaurants, vehicles or other facilities where lobsters and crabs are sold. See new rules on Definitions. |
Resident |
$50.00 |
No |
HQ |
Nonresident |
$75.00 |
Landing License for Lobster and Crab
Required to transport lobsters and crabs from outside the state’s jurisdiction to land and/or 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 |
No |
HQ |
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 or taking, possession, landing or transport of northern shrimp. Includes operator and unlimited helpers. License is not issued to a vessel, it is issued to an individual. |
Resident |
$50.008 |
Yes—Menhaden, dogfish and herring dealers |
HQ |
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. Does not allow for the taking, possession, landing or transportation of northern shrimp.
Taking of sea urchins, clam worms, river herring and scallops is prohibited if applicant’s state excludes nonresident harvest. |
Nonresident |
$500.008 |
Commercial Shrimp License
Required to take, possess, land or transport northern shrimp on the waters of the state for sale, regardless of where catch was taken. |
Resident |
$100.00 |
Yes |
HQ |
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 |
$130.00 |
Yes—Lobster, Shrimp, Crab, Menhaden and Dogfish Dealers |
HQ |
Nonresident |
$260.00 |
Resident Extra Facility |
$75.00 |
Nonresident Extra Facility |
$100.00 |
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. Also required to take any species, except lobsters and crabs, for commercial purposes from state waters, unless reporting that catch via vessel trip reports to NOAA Fisheries. Available at Durham office. |
| Free |
Yes |
Contact Marine Fisheries |
Shrimp Processing Permit
Required to possess shrimp during closed season. Available at Durham office. |
| Free |
No |
Contact Marine Fisheries |
Sea Herring Possession Permit
Required to possess sea herring. Available at Durham office. |
| Free |
No |
Contact Marine Fisheries |
Aquaculture License
Marine-related aquaculture licenses are issued by N.H. Fish and Game, Marine Fisheries Division. Contact Marine Fisheries directly at (603) 868-1095. |
| $200.006, 8 |
Yes |
Contact Marine Fisheries |
Scientific Permit
Marine-related scientific permits are issued by N.H. Fish and Game, Marine Fisheries Division. Contact Marine Fisheries directly at (603) 868-1095. |
| $25.007 |
Yes |
Contact Marine Fisheries |
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 N.H. Fish and Game in Concord or download an application from fishnh.com/marine. |
Resident |
Free |
No |
HQ |
