the 2010 digest - New Hampshire Fish and Game Department

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Know the Difference! ATTENTION ANGLERS: Know the Difference Between Salmon and Brown Trout Migratory and landlocked Atlantic salmon juveniles and adults can be difficult to distinguish from brown trout. There are size and bag limit restrictions that differ for these two species; therefore, it is important to know how to identify them properly. Young Salmon & Brown Trout Here’s what you need to know: Set young salmon free! Study these pictures and note the points of difference between young salmon and brown trout. If you catch a salmon parr or smolt, remove the hook gently and place the fish back in the water to grow up. Atlantic Salmon Parr Similar markings to a brown trout. Adult Salmon & Brown Trout Here’s what you need to know: The more obvious differences between adult salmon and brown trout may be found in the head and tail areas. Knowing them may help the angler release a fish more quickly. When in doubt about identifying adult salmon and brown trout, play it safe and release the fish unharmed. Salmon (Adult) Very forked tail Adipose fin not tinged with red (greyish) No spots on dorsal fin Jaw extends to midpoint of eye Caudal fin may be slightly forked Caudal peduncle is narrow and tapered Adipose fin is grey to olive—never orange Maxillary usually extends to rear edge of eye or slightly beyond Roof of the Mouth Vomerine teeth Small and arranged in a single row along a raised shaft on the roof of the mouth. Brown Trout Parr A colorful fish with red and black dots along its sides and very similar in appearance to salmon parr. Brown Trout (Adult) Caudal fin is square and unforked Adipose fin may be fringed or spotted with orange or red Roof of the Mouth Tail more rounded, less forked Adipose fin tinged with red Spots usually evident on dorsal fin Jaw extends to posterior of eye Caudal peduncle is thick and stocky Maxillary usually extends well past rear edge of eye Vomerine teeth Well developed and arranged in zig-zag rows along a raised shaft on the roof of the mouth. Salmon Smolt Almost totally silver. Generally lacks the vertical sidebars of the salmon parr or brown trout. Is it a pickerel or a pike? Look for the color pattern, but particularly notice the scalation of the cheek and gill cover: Very forked tail Black spots on upper sides and cheeks Pickerel have both cheek and gill cover fully scaled. Jaw extends to midpoint of eye Northern Pike have upper half of gill cover scaled and fully scaled cheek. Illustrations © NHFG Victor Young 32 2010 New Hampshire Freshwater Fishing Digest
Atlantic Salmon Rivers and Streams Stocked with Juvenile Atlantic Salmon The following rivers and streams are stocked with juvenile Atlantic salmon as part of cooperative state-federal agency restoration programs in the Merrimack and Connecticut River basins. If fishing in these waters, please be aware that regulations require that all juvenile salmon be released. Catch the King! The Atlantic Salmon Brood Stock Fishery In 1993, the New Hampshire Fish and Game Department, in cooperation with the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, created the Atlantic salmon brood stock program to provide a unique recreational fishing opportunity in the Merrimack River. Approximately 1,500 brood stock Atlantic salmon, weighing 3 to 12 pounds each, are released annually in the Merrimack and lower Pemigewasset rivers. The fishery includes both a spring and a fall stocking program. The brood stock program is part of the Merrimack River Anadromous Fish Restoration Program. Before they are released, these brood fish provide eggs for the restoration program’s fry-stocking efforts. Each year, the New Hampshire Fish and Game Department, the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, the U.S. Forest Service and conservation groups stock over one million fry in the Merrimack River and its tributaries. While the brood stock program has generated a lot of enthusiasm among anglers, the recreational fishing opportunity is secondary to the overall goal of restoring salmon, shad and river herring to the Merrimack River. Anglers must purchase an Atlantic salmon license ($11) in addition to a regular NH fishing license. Each angler can keep one salmon per day and five for the season. Only salmon marked with a tag on the base of the dorsal fin are legal to keep. For a map and specific rules governing the Atlantic salmon brood stock fishery, go to: www.fishnh.com/Fishing/atlantic_salmon.htm or call (603) 271-2501. Merrimack River Basin Bagley Brook Baker River Beebe River Blood Brook Bog Brook East Br. Pemigewasset Eastman Brook Hall Brook Hancock Branch Hazelton Brook Hubbard Brook Jackman Brook Johnson Brook Mad River Mill Brook Moosilauke Brook Needle Shop Brook Pemigewasset River Pemigewasset R. (tributaries) Pond Brook Smith River Soucook River Souhegan River South Br. Baker River South Br. Piscataquog Stinson Brook Stoney Brook Connecticut River Basin Ammonoosuc River Bloods Brook Cold River Gale River Gunnison Brook Israel River Little River Little Sugar River Mascoma River (lower) Mill Brook Minnewawa Brook Nash Stream Otter Brook Roaring Brook South Br. Ashuelot River South Br. Sugar River Sugar River Thompson Brook Tunnel Brook Warren Brook Wild Ammonoosuc River www.FishNH.com 33
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Page 6 and 7: License Information How To Use This
Page 8 and 9: Definitions Angling: The taking of
Page 10 and 11: Important Laws & Rules Violation of
Page 12 and 13: Lakes & Ponds: General and Special
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Page 20 and 21: Rivers & Streams: General and Speci
Page 22 and 23: Rivers & Streams with Special Rules
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Page 26 and 27: Boating in NH New Hampshire is a bo
Page 28 and 29: You can… Walk on Water! What’s
Page 30 and 31: Stop Aquatic Hitchhikers! It’s up
Page 32 and 33: Fish Identification Upper jaw to re
Page 36 and 37: Interstate Waters NEW HAMPSHIRE •
Page 38 and 39: Fish Consumption Guidelines Is it s
Page 40 and 41: Reel Fun : Go Fish with the Kids! F
Page 42 and 43: Investing in New Hampshire now, to
Page 44: Your favorite fishing spot. A fishi

the 2010 digest - New Hampshire Fish and Game Department

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