New Hampshire Administrative Code

(a) No person shall have in possession, while fishing a stream, pond, or lake, or when leaving such waters, more than one day's legal bag limit of fish. (b) Such possession shall be prima facie evidence that those fish exceeding one day's legal bag limit, but less than the 2 day'…

All waters above and below all state fish hatcheries, from a posted point 200 feet upstream, to a posted point 200 feet downstream, shall be closed to all fishing. Notes N.H. Admin. Code § Fis 402.05 (See Revision Notes at chapter headings for Fis 400 and Fis 500) #5016, eff 1-1-…

(a) No live fish shall be released in any waters of the state unless they shall be returned into the waters from where taken, except as permitted by the executive director under a permit to release specified in Fis 805. (b) No person shall possess any species of live fish except:…

(a) In addition to the restrictions and closures specified in Fis 602.02 the waters surrounding any dam which contains a fishway shall be closed to all fishing as described below: (1) The Merrimack River as follows: a. The Amoskeag Dam in Manchester shall be closed to all fishing…

(a) Only the following species shall be possessed and used as live fish for bait when fishing any freshwaters of the state:(1) Rainbow smelt (Osmerus mordax); (2) Longnose dace (Rhinichthys cataractae); (3) Blacknose dace (Rhinichthys atratulus); (4) Northern redbelly dace (Phoxi…

In addition to the requirements of RSA 211:17-a relative to identification markings on any smelt shanty or bob house, each shanty or bob house shall be marked on the outside approximately halfway up on each side with 12 square inches of reflective material. Notes N.H. Admin. Code…

No person shall use a gaff in any freshwater of the state to take fish. Notes N.H. Admin. Code § Fis 402.10 #8442, eff 1-1-06; ss by #10425, eff 1-1-14 Amended by Number 32, Filed August 10, 2023, Proposed by #13698, Effective 7/26/2023, Expires 7/26/2033 (formerly Fis 402.11) (s…

While anglers are being guided, as defined in RSA 207:1I and XIII, XI, and taking freshwater fish by trolling, as defined in Fis 401.01(y), the number of lines being used for angling shall not exceed the legal number of lines allowed for each angler, excluding the guide(s). Notes…

No person shall tag, brand, fin clip or otherwise mark any fish taken from the freshwaters of the state prior to release of that fish back into waters of the state without first receiving either a permit to release wildlife pursuant to Fis 805.05 or a scientific license issued pu…

(a) The minimum sizes and daily bag limits specified in this part shall apply: (1) To all state waters except on boundary waters lying between this state and another state; and (2) Only during such periods when such waters are open to the taking of fish under Fis 406 and Fis 407.…

Whenever a length limit is specified, the head and tail of the fish shall remain intact while on or leaving the waters of the state. Notes N.H. Admin. Code § Fis 403.02 #6086, eff 1-1-96; ss by #6629, eff 1-1-98; ss by #8442, eff 1-1-06; ss by #10425, eff 1-1-14 Amended by Number…

The daily bag limit for black bass shall be: (a) From January 1 to May 14, 2 fish; (b) Between May 15 to June 15, all black bass shall be immediately released unharmed at the site of catch to the waters from which taken; and (c) From June 16 to December 31, 5 fish. Notes N.H. Adm…

(a) The daily bag limit for walleye shall be 2 fish. (b) The minimum length for walleye shall be 18 inches. Notes N.H. Admin. Code § Fis 403.04 (See Revision Notes at chapter headings for Fis 400 and Fis 500) #5016, eff 1-1-91; EXPIRED 1-1-97 New. #6432, eff 1-21-97; ss by #6629,…

(a) The daily limit for yellow perch (Perca flavescens), black crappie (Pomoxis nigromaculatus), and white perch (Morone americana) shall be 25 fish for each species. (b) The daily limit for sunfish (Lepomis auritus, Lepomis gibbosus, Lepomis macrochirus) shall be 25 fish. (c) Th…

(a) The daily bag limit for lake whitefish shall be 2 fish. (b) There shall be no limits on length or weight of lake whitefish taken. Notes N.H. Admin. Code § Fis 403.06 (See Revision Notes at chapter headings for Fis 400 and Fis 500) #5016, eff 1-1-91; EXPIRED 1-1-97 New. #6432,…

American shad (Alosa sapidissima) taken by any method shall be immediately released back into the waters from which it was taken. Notes N.H. Admin. Code § Fis 403.07 (See Revision Notes at chapter headings for Fis 400 and Fis 500) #5016, eff 1-1-91; EXPIRED 1-1-97 New. #6432, eff…

(a) The daily bag limit for pickerel shall be 10 fish. (b) There shall be no limits on length or weight of pickerel taken. Notes N.H. Admin. Code § Fis 403.08 (See Revision Notes at chapter headings for Fis 400 and Fis 500) #5016, eff 1-1-91; amd by #6086, eff 1-1-96; EXPIRED 1-1…

(a) The minimum length for northern pike shall be 28 inches, except in Jericho Lake, Berlin as specified in Fis 406.05(f)(10). (b) The daily bag limit for northern pike shall be one fish, except in Jericho Lake, Berlin as specified in Fis 406.05(f)(9). Notes N.H. Admin. Code § Fi…

The daily bag limit for smelt shall be 2 quarts liquid measure of whole, with head and tail intact, freshwater smelt in the 24 hours between 12 o'clock noon one day and 12 o'clock noon the following day except as otherwise provided in Fis 502. Notes N.H. Admin. Code § Fis 403.10 …

The daily limit for trout, as defined in Fis 401.01(z), taken in freshwaters of the state shall not exceed 5 fish or 5 pounds, whether taken from a single waterbody or several waterbodies. More restrictive limits specified in Fis 406 and Fis 407 shall apply to specific waterbodie…

The aggregate daily limit for lake trout and salmon taken in freshwaters of the state shall not exceed 2 fish whether taken from a single waterbody or several waterbodies. More restrictive limits specified in Parts Fis 406 and 407 shall apply to specific waterbodies. Notes N.H. A…

The Merrimack River and tributaries shall be closed to the taking of alewife (Alosa pseudoharengus) and blueback herring (Alosa aestivalis). Notes N.H. Admin. Code § Fis 403.13 Derived From Volume XXXV Number 40, Filed October 8, 2015, Proposed by #10936, Effective 1/1/2016, Expi…

Round whitefish (Prosopium cylindraceum) taken by any method shall be immediately released back into the waters from which it was taken. Notes N.H. Admin. Code § Fis 403.14 Derived From Volume XXXVII Number 19, Filed May 11, 2017, Proposed by #12161, Effective 4/18/2017, Expires …

During the open season, fish shall be taken from the freshwaters of the state only by angling or by ice fishing except as listed below or as specified in RSA 211:9 and 211:2. Notes N.H. Admin. Code § Fis 405.01 (See Revision Notes at chapter headings for Fis 400 and Fis 500) #501…

(a) In the freshwaters of the state open to the taking of fish, black bass may be taken by angling and ice fishing as follows:(1) During the period beginning June 16 and ending May 14, black bass may be taken by the use of bait, flies, and artificial lures; and (2) During the per…

In addition to angling and ice fishing, carp may be taken by bow and arrow with cord attached from the Merrimack River and Mascoma Lake. Notes N.H. Admin. Code § Fis 405.03 (See Revision Notes at chapter headings for Fis 400 and Fis 500) #5016, eff 1-1-91; EXPIRED 1-1-97 New. #64…

(a) In addition to angling and ice fishing, cusk may be taken through the ice by the use of a cusk fishing device as follows: (1) All cusk fishing devices shall be plainly marked with the name and address of the person setting, using and having control of it; (2) The sinker of th…

(a) In accordance with RSA 211:2-e, freshwater smelt shall be taken by angling only, except as otherwise provided in Fis 406, Fis 407, and Fis 502. (b) Smelt shall not be taken from the freshwaters of the state by any method from March 15 through June 15 except as otherwise provi…

(a) In addition to angling and ice fishing, white suckers may be taken by hand dip nets not over 18 inches in diameter, drop nets not over 48 inches in diameter, or spears or bow and arrow with cord attached, in accordance with RSA 211:9, between March 1 and May 31, except as oth…

(a) While ice fishing, only a single hook with a single hook point, per ice fishing device, shall be used for bait. (b) Except as specified in Fis 406.04(a), while taking fish in open water, 2 hooks may be used with bait per line, one with a single hook point and the other with n…

(a) The taking of fish from a lake or pond or a tributary as named in Table 400.1 below shall be subject to all of the following restrictions: (1) All of the general restriction provisions of Fis 402; (2) All of the limits for particular species contained in Fis 403; (3) The meth…

(a) The taking of fish from this waterbody as referenced in Table 400.01 in Fis 406.01(d) shall be subject to the following restrictions:(1) This waterbody shall be managed as trout water; (2) The open season for taking all species except salmon and smelt shall be from the 4th Sa…

(a) The taking of fish from this waterbody as referenced in Table 400.1 in Fis 406.01(d) shall be subject to the following restrictions:(1) This waterbody shall be managed for trout; (2) The open season for taking all species, except salmon and smelt, shall be from the 4th Saturd…

(a) The taking of fish from this waterbody as referenced in Table 400.1 in Fis 406.01(b) shall be subject to the following restrictions:(1) This waterbody shall be managed for lake trout and salmon; (2) The open season for taking fish shall be all year round subject to the follow…

(a) The taking of fish from this waterbody, as referenced in Table 400.1 in Fis 406.01(b), shall be subject to the following restrictions:(1) The waterbody shall be open to the taking of all species, except salmon, lake trout, and smelt, all year round by all legal methods; (2) T…

(a) Tributaries to this waterbody as referenced in Table 400.1 in Fis 406.01(b) shall be managed for trout subject to the following restrictions: (1) The open season for taking of all species, except salmon and smelt, shall be January 1 through October 15; (2) The daily limit for…

(a) The taking of fish from this waterbody as referenced in Table 400.1 in Fis 406.01(b) shall be subject to the following restrictions:(1) The open season for taking all species shall be the 4 Saturday in April through Labor Day; (2) Only single hook artificial lures and flies s…

(a) The taking of fish from a river or stream as named in Table 400.2 below shall be subject to the limitations noted in the table and all of the following restrictions: (1) All of the general restriction provisions of Fis 402; (2) All of the limits for particular species contain…

(a) The taking of fish from any waterbody shown as limited by this paragraph in Table 400.2 shall be subject to the following restrictions:(1) This waterbody shall be managed for trout; (2) The open season for taking of all species, except salmon and smelt, shall be January 1 thr…

(a) The taking of fish from any waterbody shown as limited by this paragraph in Table 400.2 shall be subject to the following restrictions:(1) There shall be no closed season for all species except salmon and smelt; (2) The daily limit for brook trout shall be 5 fish or 5 pounds …

The taking of fish from this waterbody as referenced from Table 400.2 in Fis 407.01(d) shall be subject to the following restrictions: (a) This waterbody shall be managed for wild trout; (b) The open season for taking all species shall be January 1 through Labor day; (c) Only sin…

(a) Vermont resident fishing licenses and New Hampshire fishing licenses shall be deemed valid for the taking of fish in the Connecticut River. For the purposes of this, "Connecticut River" means all waters of the river including the bays, set backs, and tributaries, only to the …

(a) The season for taking brook, brown or rainbow trout by all legal methods shall open on January 1 and close October 15, except in the portion of the river from the boundary of Canaan, VT and Pittsburg, NH downstream to the Main St. bridge in West Stewartstown, NH from January …

(a) For the purposes of this section, the following definitions shall apply: (1) "Angling" means fishing with hook and line which is personally attended; (2) "Fly fishing" means angling with the use of a single or double, side by side, hook whose gape does not exceed 1/2 inch, dr…

(a) There shall be no closed season for taking black bass by all legal methods, except as otherwise provided in Fis 408.10. (b) The daily bag limits shall be as follows: (1) From January 1 to March 31, 2 fish of which only one bass may be greater than 16 inches; (2) From April 1 …

(a) There shall be no closed season for taking walleye, by all legal methods, except as provided in Fis 408.10. (b) No person shall take walleye 16 to 18 inches in length. (c) The daily bag limit shall be 4 fish of which only one may be larger than 18 inches. Notes N.H. Admin. Co…

(a) There shall be no closed season for taking pickerel, by all legal methods, except as otherwise provided in Fis 408.10. (b) The daily bag limit shall be 10 fish. Notes N.H. Admin. Code § Fis 408.06 #745, eff 1-25-76; ss by #2263, eff 1-7-83; ss by #2839, eff 8-31-84; ss by #48…