Official NH Digest of Regulations - New Hampshire Fish and Game ...

New Hampshire Fish and Game Department
Saltwater fishing
2010 DIGEST
See You on the Coast!
As a longtime seacoast resident it is my pleasure to welcome
you to our digest of regulations for saltwater fishing on
New Hampshire’s seacoast. Our coastal anglers have the
chance to experience sport fishing at its finest. Striped
bass are one of our biggest marine fisheries management
success stories, but recreational saltwater anglers can
find bluefish, mackerel, tuna and a wide assortment of
groundfish in our waters.
2010 brings something new for recreational anglers,
because the National Saltwater Angler Registry is now in place. New Hampshire
anglers must register if they fish for or catch anadromous species like striped bass or
smelt in tidal waters; or fish in federal waters
New format for 2010!
more than 3 miles from the ocean shore. The
registry is free this year, but by law you do
have to register. This is an important new
tool that will improve the accuracy of harvest
estimates of recreational anglers and help
safeguard the long-term health of our shared
marine resources. It’s all about protecting
the long-term sustainability of our oceans
and the sport of saltwater fishing. Sign up
today at www.CountMyFish.noaa.gov or
call 1-888-674-7411.
The health of our coastal resources is the
focus of Fish and Game’s Marine Fisheries
Division, based in Durham, NH, which
manages estuarine and saltwater species,
including fish, lobsters, clams and oysters.
Our biologists work closely with other state
and federal agencies to protect and maintain
marine resources for both recreational and
commercial fisheries. These efforts are key to rebuilding groundfish stocks, enhancing
related habitat and increasing populations of Atlantic herring, striped bass and lobsters
in the New England region. For several years, I owned and operated a commercial
fishing vessel out of Portsmouth, so I understand the importance of sustaining these
resources. They are a vital contributor to the state’s economy, as well—New Hampshire’s
lobster fishery alone harvests more than 3 million pounds, valued at $15.8 million
each year.
Whether you’re angling at the seacoast or making fishing a way of life, be a good
steward. Sign up for the registry, follow the rules, and report violations. Let’s work
together to keep our coastal resources in good shape for future generations.
Glenn Normandeau, Executive Director
N.H. Fish and Game Department
We hope
you like our
new look!
We’ve fully
revised and
reformatted the
N.H. Saltwater Fishing Digest
to make it more readable
and user-friendly for anglers.
Because of additional
advertising and production
support, this new Digest is
more cost-effective than the
old one—leaving more funds
for important fisheries and
habitat programs.
N.H. Fish and game — our Mission
As the guardian of the state’s fish, wildlife and marine resources, the New
Hampshire Fish and Game Department works in partnership with the public to:
• Conserve, manage and protect these resources and their habitats;
• Inform and educate the public about these resources; and
• Provide the public with opportunities to use and appreciate these resources.
On the cover: Wilton, N.H., resident Eric Stapelfield
boats a keeper striped bass. Photo: Ethan Gordon
Contents
2 Agency and Resource
Contact Information
4 License Information
5 Licenses: Fees & Requirements
6 Definitions
7 New Laws
8 Recreational Saltwater
Fishing—Finfish
9 Flounder Identification
10 Finfish Identification
12 Sharks of New Hampshire
14 Saltwater Rigging Basics
16 Great Bay National Estuarine
Research Reserve
■ Tide Table Pull-Out Section
17 Coastal Access Sites
20 Commercial Saltwater
Fishing—Finfish
21 Coastal Harvest
21 Special River Restrictions
22 Shellfish
23 Shellfish Identification
24 Shellfish Areas
26 Lobster & Crab
28 Northern Shrimp, Other
Invertebrates & Marine Plants
30 Boating in N.H.
31 Fish Consumption Guidelines