New Hampshire Fish and Game Department
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New Hampshire Fish and Game Department NEW HAMPSHIRE FRESHWATER FISHING 2016 DIGEST Jan. 1–Dec. 31, 2016 Go Fish New Hampshire! Nearly 1,000 fishable lakes and 12,000 miles of rivers and streams… The Official New Hampshire fishnh.com Digest of Regulations SAVE TODAY. SMOOTH WATER TOMORROW. See how much you could save on boat insurance. for your boat geico.com | 1-800-865-4846 | local offi ce Some discounts, coverages, payment plans and features are not available in all states or all GEICO companies. Boat and PWC coverages are underwritten by Seaworthy Insurance Company, a GEICO company. GEICO is a registered service mark of Government Employees Insurance Company, Washington, D.C. 20076; a Berkshire Hathaway Inc. subsidiary. GEICO Gecko Image © 1999-2016. © 2016 GEICO Jan. 1–Dec. 31, 2016 NEW HAMPSHIRE Fish and Game Department FRESHWATER FISHING 2016 DIGEST Fish New Hampshire and Relax Greetings, anglers! With 12,000 miles of rivers and streams and 975 lakes and ponds in New Hampshire, you are never far from great fishing – and the relaxation and magnificent scenery that go with it. Angling adventures here are as diverse as the state itself. You can target native brookies in our mountain streams, bring in a big bass or laker in the Lakes Region, or head for the mighty Connecticut River, with a dozen or more different species of fish. For your fishing pleasure, we stock nearly a million rainbow, brook and brown trout, as well as landlocked ON THE COVER: salmon every year. Check out locations in the stocking reports on our mobile-friendly Rainbow Trout website at fishnh.com. New Hampshire’s strong warmwater fisheries, from bass, pike (©Jeff Strauss / istockphoto.com) and pickerel to perch, pumpkinseeds and crappie, offer action-packed adventure, as well. With the 2016 license year, the cost of some New Hampshire fishing licenses has risen a bit. These moderate increases are necessary so that the Department’s hard- working staff can continue to provide you the great level of services you’ve come to expect when you fish in New Hampshire. Basic hunting and freshwater fishing license fees have not increased since 2003, while our operating costs have gone up. While no one likes to see prices go up, these licenses are still the best deal around. You get a full year of outdoor recreation, fish for dinner if you’re successful, and the CONTENTS knowledge that you’re supporting the work that conserves the resource and makes these opportunities available for yourselves and future generations. Note that one, 2 Contact Information three and seven-day fishing permit fees have not changed. 5 Wildlife Heritage Foundation of N.H. Children under age 16 fish free in New Hampshire, so be sure to take the kids along. It’s a great way to connect the next generation with the outdoors, and there’s 6 License Information no better way for families to spend time together. Thanks for your support, and have a great time fishing the Granite State! 7 License Fees 8 Definitions 10 Important Laws and Rules 12 Rules for Lakes and Ponds Glenn Normandeau 21 Reel Fun: Go Fish With the Kids Executive Director N.H. Fish and Game Department 22 Rules for Rivers and Streams 27 N.H. Record and Trophy Fish 28 Boating in N.H. 30 Ice Fishing 33 Freshwater Smelt Rules 34 Fish Identification 36 Stop Aquatic Hitchhikers © Dmitriy Shironosov | Dreamstime.com 37 Baitfish Information N.H. Fish and Game — Our Mission As the guardian of the state’s fish, wildlife and marine resources, the New Hampshire 38 Interstate Waters: VT, ME, MA Fish and Game Department works in partnership with the public to: 40 Fish Consumption Guidelines • Conserve, manage and protect these resources and their habitats; • Inform and educate the public about these resources; and 41 Sunrise/Sunset Tables • Provide the public with opportunities to use and appreciate these resources. The N.H. Fish and Game Department receives Federal Assistance from the US Fish & Wildlife Service, and thus prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, disability, age and sex, pursuant to Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, and the Age Discrimination Act of 1975. If you believe you have been discriminated against in any program, activity or service, please contact or write the US Fish & Wildlife Service, Division of Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration, 4001 N. Fairfax Drive, Mail Stop: WSFR – 4020, Arlington, Virginia 22203, Attention: Civil Rights Coordinator for Public Programs. Jan. 1–Dec. 31, 2016 NEW HAMPSHIRE Fish and Game Department N.H. Fish & Game Telephone Numbers FRESHWATER FISHING Law Enforcement 2016 DIGEST Questions about New Hampshire Fishing Laws ..........(603) 271-3127 Dispatch .....................................................................(603) 271-3361 State of New Hampshire Regular Hours: 8 a.m.–4:30 p.m., Mon.–Fri. Margaret W. Hassan, Governor Sept. 1 to Dec. 6: Seven days a week, 7 a.m.–7 p.m. Glenn Normandeau, Executive Director New Hampshire Fish and Game Department To Report Violations 24 Hours A Day 11 Hazen Drive • Concord, New Hampshire 03301 Operation Game Thief ..............................................1-800-344-4262 or wildnh.com/ogt Law Enforcement Districts Off Highway Recreational Vehicle (laws/education) .......(603) 271-3129 District 1 N.H. Fish and Game Region 1, 629B Main St. Headquarters/License Office .......................................(603) 271-3421 Lancaster, NH 03584 Executive Director’s Office ..........................................(603) 271-3511 (603) 788-3164 Inland Fisheries ..........................................................(603) 271-2501 Lt. Wayne Saunders License Agent Accounting/OHRV Registry ..................(603) 271-2743 District 2 License Information ....................................................(603) 271-3421 Region 2, Box 417 Marine Fisheries .........................................................(603) 868-1095 New Hampton, NH 03256 Nuisance Wildlife Questions ......................................(603) 223-6832 (603) 744-5470 Public Affairs ..............................................................(603) 271-3211 Vacant Wildlife Programs .......................................................(603) 271-2461 District 3 Regional Offices Region 2, Box 417 Region 1: Lancaster ....................................................(603) 788-3164 New Hampton, NH 03256 Region 2: New Hampton ............................................(603) 744-5470 (603) 744-5470 Region 3: Durham ......................................................(603) 868-1095 Lt. James Kneeland Region 4: Keene .........................................................(603) 352-9669 District 4 About This Publication Region 4, 15 Ash Brook Court This publication is a summary of fishing regulations. It is not Keene, NH 03431 the full laws or rules. It is intended only as a guide to inform the (603) 352-9669 angler of seasons and other necessary information. Lt. David Walsh For more detailed information concerning regulations, consult the New District 5 Hampshire Fish and Game Law Book, Fish and Game Administrative Fish and Game HQ Rules, or contact your local Conservation Officer. Fish and Game laws 11 Hazen Drive and rules may be viewed at any Fish and Game office (contact informa- Concord, NH 03301 tion on this page); Legislative Services, Administrative Rules, in the (603) 271-3361 State House Annex, 25 Capitol St., Room 219, Concord, NH 03301; Vacant and at fishnh.com or nh.gov. A compendium of Fish and Game laws District 6 may also be purchased at Department headquarters in Concord for $41. Region 3, 225 Main St. This publication is partially paid for through the sale of advertising. Durham, NH 03824-4732 The New Hampshire Fish and Game Department neither endorses (603) 868-1095 products or services listed or claims made; nor accepts any liability Lt. Michael Eastman arising from the use of products or services listed. Fish and Game Commissioners © 2015 N.H. Fish and Game Department. All rights reserved. The numbers on this page are the home phone numbers of Fish and Game Commissioners. Please use discretion with the timing of your calls. For emergency calls after hours, contact N.H. State Police or your local police. For questions about N.H. fishing laws, call (603) 271-3127. Belknap County Coos County Rockingham County John W. McGonagle Theodore A. Tichy James W. Ryan (603) 524-3134 Chair Secretary/Treasurer (603) 449-2244 (603) 942-8579 facebook.com/nhfishandgame Carroll County David L. Patch Grafton County Strafford County Vice Chair Todd Baldwin Barry Carr (603) 387-3771 (603) 726-3446 (603) 755-1175 This digest, with enlarged type, Cheshire County Hillsborough County Sullivan County is available for the visually impaired. Robert Phillipson, Jr. Walter Morse Thomas H. Hubert (603) 352-8336 (603) 464-3797 (603) 863-9213 Call N.H. Fish and Game Public Affairs Coastal Merrimack County Division at (603) 271-3211. Fred Clews, Jr. Vincent Greco (603) 926-5072 (603) 715-9091 2 2016 New Hampshire Freshwater Fishing Digest WHEN YOUR HUNT TAKES YOU OVER THE WATER TRUST ® THE® EXPERTS. Boats—the two greatest forces in fishing. We’re Bass Pro Shops and TRACKER For us, there’s no better place to be than on the water. And we know many of you feel the same way. So when you’re ready to upgrade your boat, restock your tackle box, or rethink your rod and reel selection, there’s no need to shop around. Go with those who know. Trust in the fishing authorities. 2 Commerce Dr. • Hooksett, NH 03106 603-541-5200 •Hours: Mon–Sat 9am–9pm, Sun 9am–7pm ROAM FREE AT BASSPRO.COM or TRACKERBOATS.COM facebook.com/bassproshops twitter.com/bass_pro_shops TR152439 New Hampshire Fish and Game Department NEW HAMPSHIRE FRESHWATER FISHING SUBSCRIBE 2016 DIGEST TODAY! Jan. 1–Dec. 31, 2016 2 Years of N.H. Wildlife Journal—Only $20! Go Fish New Hampshire! Nearly 1,000 fi shable lakes and 12,000 miles of rivers and streams… Enjoy New Hampshire’s premiere wildlife magazine in every season, at a reduced rate of only $20 for 2 years of N.H.