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Species
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Season/Day/Time Restrictions
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Size
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Limit
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License Needed
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Notes
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Recreational Shellfish Regulations*
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Blue Mussels
(Mytilus edulis)
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- No closed season except for Hampton/Seabrook Estuary
- Saturday only, 9AM–sunset, Little Bay, Bellamy River, Oyster River
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No limit
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No limit
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No
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- 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.
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Oysters
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- 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.
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No limit
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½ bushel unshucked/day
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Yes
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- 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.
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Sea Scallops
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Open November 1 – April 14 by diving; December 1 – April 14 by dredge
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Min. 3½ inches shell height
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75 lbs. shucked meats or 625 lbs. unshucked (shell)/day
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No
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- Personal use only
- May be taken by diving or dredge
- Must be landed in shell if taken by hand
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Softshell Clam
(Mya arenaria)
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- 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.
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No limit
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10 liquid quarts unshucked/day
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Yes
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- 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.
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Quahog, little neck or cherrystone clam
(Mercenaria mercenaria)
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No open season
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No limit
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No limit
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No
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Other Bivalve
Mollusks
(surf & razor clams, mahogany quahog)
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- No closed season except Little Bay/Oyster River/Bellamy River Open Areas
- Saturday only, 9AM–sunset, Little Bay, Bellamy River, Oyster River.
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No limit
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No limit
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No
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- 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.
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Whelks
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- No closed season
- Harvest only from 1 hr. before sunrise to sunset
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Min. 2½ inches
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5/day
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No
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- Personal use only
- Residents only
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Commercial Shellfish Regulations*
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Sea Scallops
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Open November 1 – April 14 by diving; December 1 – April 14 by dredge
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Min. 3½ inches shell height
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75 lbs. shucked meats or 625 lbs. unshucked (shell)/day
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Yes ***
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- 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
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Other Bivalve Mollusks (surf and razor clams, mahogany quahog)
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No closed season
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No limit
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500 unshucked bushels/day
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Yes
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- Dredge blade/knife/manifold: maximum 48 inches.
- Monthly reporting required: Contact Marine Division (603) 868-1095
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Whelks
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- No closed season
- Harvest only from 1 hr. before sunrise to sunset
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Min. 2½ inches
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No limit
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Yes
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- 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
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