These are some important rules are reprinted for your convenience from the
NH freshwater fishing digest. We recommend you obtain a copy
from the New Hampshire Department of Fish & Game and
familiarize yourself with it's complete text before doing some
fishing. It is not to be considered a complete list, as
rules are changes or added periodically. View the
Complete Fishing Digest and Rules.The sale of freshwater fish is
prohibited.
Snagging fish in freshwaters is
prohibited. Any fish accidentally
snagged must be immediately released to the water.
No fish may be taken by use of a
set line in fresh water.
Exceeding daily bag limits of
fish is prohibited, whether taken from
one or several water bodies.
Release of fish in waters other
than where caught is prohibited.
Fish must be returned to the water where taken.
Culling a fish, except those
permitted in licensed bass tournaments,
is prohibited.
The water surrounding any dam
containing a fishway is closed to
fishing.
The use and possession of carp or
goldfish as live bait while fishing
is prohibited. The use of shad or whitefish as bait for cusk is
prohibited. The use of alewives as live bait is prohibited.
Importation of fish or their
eggs, including bait fish, is prohibited without a special permit.
Except as otherwise specifically
permitted, it is unlawful to use or
have in possession a set line, net, fishing otter, trawl, grapple,
spear, jack, jack light, poisons, explosives or electrical device
or
any other device for killing or stunning fish.
To counsel or aid another in
violating a fishing rule is prohibited.
The use of lead sinkers (1 ounce
or less) and jigs (less than 1 inch
along its longest axis) in freshwater lakes and ponds is
prohibited.
Shiners may be taken for personal use by
licensed anglers with up to six traps not over 18 inches long with
an opening not over one inch in diameter, or a circular drop net
not over 48 inches in diameter, or a square net of equal area. The
traps must have angler's name and address on them.
Commercial harvesting of bait is permitted with
a bait dealer’s license and under specific rules. The license is
available from the New Hampshire Fish and Game Department.
Traps, nets, fish houses, holding boxes or other
receptacles used to take, hold or to keep live bait in public
waters must be marked with the name and address of the owner and
user.
Hooks used for bait from ice-in to March 31 must
have only a single hook point. From April 1 to ice-in, 2 hooks for
bait may be used. One must be a single hook point and the other
must not exceed three hook points.
Bob houses must be removed from public waters,
public property or private property prior to April 1. Owner’s
name and address shall be plainly marked on the bob house.
No more than 6 ice fishing devices per person
shall be used to take fish while ice fishing, unless otherwise
specified for a particular waterbody.
Violation of any fishing rule or regulation will
result in
the loss of the violator's license or privilege to fish in
New Hampshire. |
