Recreational Saltwater Fishing — Finfish
Recreational saltwater fishing in New Hampshire provides diverse opportunities. Saltwater anglers can cast a line from boats, bridges, jetties or the beach. Many saltwater fish species are available along the coast and in our rivers and bays. Recreational saltwater fishing in N.H. requires a recreational saltwater license. See Recreational Licenses for details.
Below are species that have rules or laws that apply to recreational anglers or spearfishers while fishing in state waters.
Additional regulations apply in federal waters for most of the below-listed species — contact NOAA Fisheries at (978) 281-9315 or fisheries.noaa.gov/new-england-mid-atlantic/recreational-fishing/recreational-fishing-regulations-species directly if you have questions regarding fishing in federal waters.
New Hampshire Recreational Saltwater Fishing Regulations |
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Species |
Closed Season |
Minimum Length (Total Length) |
Daily Bag Limit |
Special Rules |
American Eel |
No closed season (except surrounding fishways) |
9 inches |
25 fish per day |
Fishway closures apply October 2 – June 14 |
American Plaice* |
No closed season |
14 inches |
No bag limit |
|
American Shad |
No closed season |
No minimum length |
No bag limit |
All shad must be immediately released |
Atlantic Cod* |
April 15 – Aug. 31 and Oct. 8 – March 31. |
22 inches |
1 fish per day |
|
Atlantic Halibut |
No closed season |
41 inches |
1 fish per trip/vessel |
Head and tail intact while on or leaving waters of the state |
Atlantic Mackerel |
No closed season |
No minimum length |
20 fish harvest or possession per day |
|
Atlantic Sea Herring |
No closed season |
No minimum length |
No bag limit |
Federal regulations apply in federal waters |
Atlantic Salmon |
No closed season |
No minimum length |
No bag limit |
All sea-run Atlantic salmon caught on coastal and estuarine waters must be immediately released |
Atlantic Wolffish |
Closed year round |
Possession is prohibited |
Possession is prohibited |
|
Black Sea Bass |
No closed season |
16.5 inches |
4 fish per day |
Length does not include filament/tail extension |
Bluefin Tuna |
No closed season |
27 inches CFL** |
Variable; see website |
Federally managed — follow federal regulations (call 1-888-USA-TUNA) or visit hmspermits.noaa.gov |
Bluefish |
No closed season |
No minimum length |
Recreational — 3 fish per day For-Hire — 5 fish per day |
Non-offset, corrodible circle hooks required if angling with bait. |
Dogfish, Spiny |
No closed season |
No minimum length |
No bag limit |
Finning prohibited |
Haddock* |
March 1 – March 31 |
17 inches |
20 fish per day |
Head and tail intact, unless fillet is 10 inches minimum |
Monkfish |
No closed season |
17 inches |
No bag limit |
|
Pollock* |
No closed season |
No minimum length |
No bag limit |
19 inches, if taken in federal waters |
Ocean Pout |
Closed year round |
Possession is prohibited |
Possession is prohibited |
|
Rainbow Smelt (Saltwater) |
No closed season |
No minimum length |
4 liquid quarts |
Head and tail must remain intact |
Redfish* |
No closed season |
9 inches |
No bag limit |
|
River Herring |
Closed to all harvest in NH waters |
No minimum length |
No bag limit |
|
Salters (Sea-run Trout) |
No closed season |
No minimum length |
1 fish per day |
|
No closed season |
No possession |
No bag limit |
|
|
Sharks — Shortfin Mako |
Closed year round |
Possession is prohibited |
Possession is prohibited |
|
Striped Bass |
No closed season |
28 inches to less than 31 inches |
1 fish per day |
|
Sturgeon |
Closed year round |
Possession is prohibited |
Possession is prohibited |
|
Summer Flounder* |
No closed season |
15 inches |
No bag limit |
Recreational angling only; No sale allowed |
White Perch |
No closed season |
No minimum length |
25 fish per day |
Sale is prohibited |
Windowpane Flounder |
No closed season |
No minimum length |
Possession is prohibited |
|
Winter Flounder* |
No closed season |
12 inches |
8 fish per day |
|
Yellowtail Flounder* |
No closed season |
13 inches |
No bag limit |
|
