Species |
Season/Day/Time Restrictions |
Size |
Limit |
License Needed |
Notes |
Recreational Shellfish Regulations* |
Blue Mussels (Mytilus edulis) |
- No closed season except for Hampton/Seabrook Estuary
- Saturday only, 9AM–sunset, Little Bay, Bellamy River, Oyster River
|
No limit |
No limit |
No |
- Residents only
- Personal use only, no sale allowed
- Harvest by hand or handheld tools only
- Other mussel species (e.g. horse and ribbed mussel) may also be taken
- Hampton/Seabrook Estuary only: ½ hour before sunrise to sunset on Saturdays only, open Nov. 1 – May 31
- Lower Little Bay (Dover Point to Fox Point/Durham Point), Oyster River, Bellamy River Open Areas: Open on Saturdays only from 9AM to sunset.
- Upper Little Bay (Fox Point to Adams Point) Open Areas: Open on Saturdays only from 9AM to sunset.
|
Oysters |
- Open Sept. 1 – June 30
- Sunrise to sunset only, except Little Bay/Oyster River/Bellamy River Open Areas
- Saturday only, 9AM–sunset, Little Bay, Bellamy River, Oyster River.
|
No limit |
½ bushel unshucked/day |
Yes |
- Residents only
- Personal use only, no sale allowed
- May be taken by hand, hand rake or tongs only
- No taking through ice
- No shucked oysters may be possessed while on or leaving N.H. waters
- Oyster license number must be permanently marked on outside of container
- Must have oyster license on person
- No take during months of July & August
- Lower Little Bay (Dover Point to Fox Point/Durham Point), Oyster River, Bellamy River Open Areas: Open on Saturdays only from 9AM to sunset.
- Upper Little Bay (Fox Point to Adams Point) Open Areas: Open on Saturdays only from 9AM to sunset.
|
Sea Scallops |
Open November 1 – April 14 by diving; December 1 – April 14 by dredge |
Min. 3½ inches shell height |
75 lbs. shucked meats or 625 lbs. unshucked (shell)/day |
No |
- Personal use only
- May be taken by diving or dredge
- Must be landed in shell if taken by hand
|
Softshell Clam (Mya arenaria) |
- Open the first Saturday after Labor Day – May 31 except for Hampton/Seabrook Estuary
- Saturday only
- ½ hr. before sunrise to sunset, except Little Bay/Oyster River/Bellamy River Open Areas
- Saturday only, 9AM–sunset, Little Bay, Bellamy River, Oyster River.
|
No limit |
10 liquid quarts unshucked/day |
Yes |
- Residents only (6 years of age or older)
- Personal use only, no sale allowed
- License must be displayed in plain view while clamming
- Clam license number must be permanently marked on outside of container
- Handheld tools only, with handles not exceeding 18 inches
- No shucked clams allowed on or while leaving N.H. waters
- Hampton/Seabrook Estuary only: Open Nov. 1 – May 31**
- Lower Little Bay (Dover Point to Fox Point/Durham Point), Oyster River, Bellamy River Open Areas: Saturdays only from 9AM to sunset.
- Upper Little Bay (Fox Point to Adams Point) Open Areas: Open on Saturdays only from 9AM to sunset.
|
Quahog, little neck or cherrystone clam (Mercenaria mercenaria) |
No open season |
No limit |
No limit |
No |
|
Other Bivalve Mollusks (surf & razor clams, mahogany quahog) |
- No closed season except Little Bay/Oyster River/Bellamy River Open Areas
- Saturday only, 9AM–sunset, Little Bay, Bellamy River, Oyster River.
|
No limit |
No limit |
No |
- Residents only
- Harvest by hand or handheld tools only
- Harvest of surf clams and quahogs limited to approved water within 500 feet of low tide line
- No shell discards in state waters if harvest by dredge
- Lower Little Bay (Dover Point to Fox Point/Durham Point), Oyster River, Bellamy River Open Areas: Open on Saturdays only from 9AM to sunset.
- Upper Little Bay (Fox Point to Adams Point) Open Areas: Open on Saturdays only from 9AM to sunset.
|
Whelks |
- No closed season
- Harvest only from 1 hr. before sunrise to sunset
|
Min. 2½ inches |
5/day |
No |
- Personal use only
- Residents only
|
Commercial Shellfish Regulations* |
Sea Scallops |
Open November 1 – April 14 by diving; December 1 – April 14 by dredge |
Min. 3½ inches shell height |
75 lbs. shucked meats or 625 lbs. unshucked (shell)/day |
Yes *** |
- May be taken by diving or one dredge only
- Must be landed in shell if taken by hand
- Helpers working under the Commercial Saltwater License shall not take by diving
- Dredge: width limit = maximum 4 feet., ring size = 4 inches, minimum mesh size = 10 inches
- No obstructions or liners attached in dredge
- Call Marine Fisheries (603) 868-1095 for chafing gear restrictions
- No possession of other marine species when dredging except surf clams and mahogany quahogs and only in accordance with species regulations
|
Other Bivalve Mollusks (surf and razor clams, mahogany quahog) |
No closed season |
No limit |
500 unshucked bushels/day |
Yes |
- Dredge blade/knife/manifold: maximum 48 inches.
- Monthly reporting required: Contact Marine Division (603) 868-1095
|
Whelks |
- No closed season
- Harvest only from 1 hr. before sunrise to sunset
|
Min. 2½ inches |
No limit |
Yes |
- Harvest by pot, trap or other contrivance
- Each buoy and trap shall be marked with a “W” and the first initial and last name of licensee when fishing solely for whelks
|
