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New Hampshire Fishing
It's time to get out the gear and plan your fishing trips. Don't forget to clean out your tackle box and get your gear in order. Reels need cleaning, license need renewing, knives need sharpening, it's time for a trip to the tackle shop. Wether you are going to fish from the shore, a pier or a boat there is plenty of exciting preperagtions to make. It's time to breath that fresh air and feel the warmth of the sun on your bones.
Catching and Releasing 1. It is so important to act as quickly as possible or the fish will become too fatigued to survive. Imagine how you would struggle if held underwater, well the fish is out of its environment and struggling is natural. To calm the fish hold it in an upside down position. The fish is covered with a slime that protects it from infection, thus it is important to handle the fish as gently, but firmly, as not to drop it.
2. When removing the hook use a pair of needle-nose pliers or a J-Hook Remover.  Remember some fish have spines that are covered with the same slime we discussed earlier and if your skin is punctured you could end up with a nasty infection. If the hook is too difficult to remove, simply cut the leader as close to the fish as possible. Most often the hook will come out by itself or simply disintegrate. 3. You aren’t finished… when possible, hold the fish in a swimming position with one hand under it’s bottom jaw and the other hand grasping the fish in front of the tail. Gently move the fish back and forth through the water until it is revived enough to swim away. 4. Circle Hooks  will prevent gut hooking and removing the hook will be consideably easier.
Brook Trout, Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout & their Hybrids: Rivers & Streams: January 1 - October 15. Wild Trout Streams: January 1 - Labor Day. Trout Ponds: 4th Saturday in April - October 15.Wild Trout Ponds: 4th Saturday in April - Labor Day. Lake Trout &/or Salmon Waters: January 1 - September 30. All Other Waters: No closed season
Lake Trout: All Waters: January 1 - September 30 Landlocked Salmon 4th Saturday in April - September 30 (Pleasant Lake, New London) All Other Waters: April 1 - September 30th Largemouth Bass & Smallmouth Bass: Rivers & Streams: January 1 - October 15; Catch & Release May 15 - June 15 Trout Ponds: 4th Saturday in April - October 15; Catch & Release May 15 - June 15 All Other Waters: No closed season; Catch & Release May 15 - June 15 Rainbow Smelt: See page 56 in the 2006 N.H. Freshwater Fishing Digest All Other Species: Rivers & Streams: January 1 - October 15 Trout Ponds: 4th Saturday in April - October 15 All Other Waters: No closed season
For online fishing license information click here. Do yourself a favor...Take a kid fishing
Brook Trout You can catch the Brook Trout, also known as a speckled or squaretail trout in meadow brooks, ponds, rivers and streams. Because of their low nutrient levels, they are small and short-lived unless the ponds are well stocked adn managed. In such cases they can grow to be in the four pound range. Rainbow Trout  The rainbow trout loves cold weather, but can deal with water temperature up to 77 degrees if there is plenty of air in the water. Lakes and streams are the perfect home for trout. They usually grow between 6 to 12 inches and weigh less than a pound, however, in larger lakes they can grow 3-5 lbs. Brown Trout  You can find brown trout in warmer waters of 65 and 70 degrees. They prefer slow moving deep streams or pools. They In New Hampshire, brown trout are usually between 7 and 14 inches and weigh less than one pound. However, in New Hampshire you will even find fish weighing between 2-4 pounds. They mostly feed on baitfish from late afternoon to evening. Landlocked Salmon  When it is summer these salmon rest 40+- feet below the surface where the water is cold. Originally, these salmon were an ocean fish until they became landlocked. You will catch them in the early spring to late September. When the smelt bait fish spawn the Landlocked Salmon feast near the mouth of the lakes and streams. Salmon swim upstream to spawn in the fall. Lake Trout  This highly prized game fish is a powerful fighter and will weigh between three and ten pounds. Winter ice fishing on New Hampshire’s big lakes for Lake Trout is a popular sport. Fishing Season: All Waters: January 1 - September 30 Whitefish  Another name for whitefish is shad and they prefer deep cold clear lakes and can be caught both summer and winter by placing fresh cut bait several days in advance. When ice fishing flies are used at the surface. WARMWATER SPECIES
Smallmouth Bass  In the spring smallmouth bass can be found in gravel and rock covered lake bottoms where the temperatures are cooler. They can be found near dropoffs and among rocks building their nests. In the summer the smallmouth bass searches in shallow water for crayfish. In the fall they return to shallow water where they gain weight for the winter. Largemouth Bass  Unlike the smallmouth bass, the largemouth bass enjoys warm, mud-bottomed lakes that are shallow and heavy with weeds. They prefer to be alone They hide to catch their prey to swim by. They eat frogs and small fish. They will even eat snails, worms and snakes. Pickerel  Like the Largemout bass the Pickerel choose quiet mud-covered bottom with lots of vegetation grown in the shallow waters. They prefer optimum water temperature of apparently 80 to 90 degrees. They choose to attack their prey from hidden weed laden shadows. They devour golden shiners, brown bullheads, yellow perch and sunfish. When living and feeding in clean waters they are good to eat, however, if they are raised in brackish or muddy waters they are filled with tiny bones and have a undesirable fishy flavor. Horned Pout  In ponds and small lakes you will find what New Englanders call the "horned pout" also known as the brown bullhead. You will also find their habitat in teh sleepy parts of streams and riavers. The Horned Pout thrives in large lakes with muddy bottoms and isn't bothered by warm temeratures or low levels of oxygen. |
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White Perch
The white perch is a fine tasting fish and worth the fight it puts up when hooked. The perch will take most kinds of bait near dark as it moves into shallow shorelines. is a determined fighter when hooked, and is one of the tastier and more popular panfishes. It is an easy fish to catch, but be careful of the sharp spines on its back. This fish will accept most any kind of bait: both live and artificial.
The white perch is a fine tasting fish and worth the fight it puts up when hooked. The perch will take most kinds of bait near dark as it moves into shallow shorelines. is a determined fighter when hooked, and is one of the tastier and more popular panfishes. It is an easy fish to catch, but be careful of the sharp spines on its back. This fish will accept most any kind of bait: both live and artificial.
Northern Pike
The northern pike is a rapid growing canivorous fish that as an adult can consume frogs, ducklings and small muskrats. Only a few quiet, shallow weedy lakes are home to this voracious fish.
Walleye
Walleye is comfortable living in only a few New Hampshire clean lakes or streams that have gravel or bedrock bottoms. It is active at night feeding on sandbars and rocky shoals, but returns to deeper water during the day. Anglers consider them a real prize to find in the evening or early morning.
Black Crappie
Black crappie have been recently introduced in the southern parts of New Hampshire. This fish prefers lakes, ponds and streams that are quiet and weed laden.
Bluegill
The bluegill, also known as a "kibbee" is at home in warm, weedy and quite waters like that of other sunfish like its cousin the pumpkinseed. It is highly appreciated as a good meal.
Yellow Perch
Schools of the Yellow perch are found in shallow, weedy water. In the spring they prefer the protection of coves and backwaters, living mainly on insects, small fishes and crustations. You can catch them year round.
SALTWATER SPECIES
Striped Bass
The striped bass migrates north during the spring and south during the fall. They spend their summers in the Great Bay area. They can be up to 50 inches in length and weigh over 50 pounds. Anglers catch "stripers" from the surf and from boats from evening to early morning.
Bluefish
During the summer, large schools of adults migrate from the late July to the early September. These bluefish can range between 18 and 36 inches. Fishing for Bluefish is most especially effective in Great Bay and its tributaries, along the coast and at the Isles of Shoals.
Atlantic Mackerel
Large schools of The Atlantic mackerel travel both in the early summer and again in September. First headed inland to spawn and then again in the fall to deeper colder waters. They are mostly in 10 to 25 feet of water in a trough along the New England coast. Anglers consider the best mackerel fishing is in early summer or late fall.
Winter Flounder
The winter flounder, also known as teh blackback is the species most often caught by anglers in the waters of New Hampshire from May through September. They begin moving into the bay and esturaries in April or May to spawn. They remain in there until the fall when they return to deeper waters. You can find these fish near piers, jetties, bridges and the mouths of harbors and estuaries.
Rainbow Smelt
You will find Rainbow smelt gathering in bays and esturaries feeding on small fish and crustaceans waiting for the water temperatures to rise. As the break-up of ice begins they spawn in the rocky bottoms of high water estuarine rivers. Anglers begin to catch Rainbow Smelt as the ice begins to form. They often use cross beams with lines tied to in their ice shanties or some use two short rods. They are most successful in the beginning or ending of high tides at night (more about ice fishing to come).
Atlantic Codfish
You can catch cod near the surface or as deep as 1,200 feet. Commonly they live from a couple of hundred feet all the way within a few feet of the bottom.Anglers can catch these beauties from boats offshore or from the shore using jigs with teasers or fresh bait. The average size caught from the shore range from six to 30 pounds. Codfish are found in coastal New Hampshire near the Isles of Shoals and along Jeffrey's Ledge. Occasionally they are found feeding on herring in the trough.
Haddock
You will find this member of the cod family in shallow waters off the Gulf of Maine in the summer and then as they migrate to cool deep water with smooth rock substrates of New England from spring to fall. The angler must be sensitive to the soft mouth of the cod if they expect to set the hook. They are a relatively small fish weighing little more than from three to five inches and rarely exceeding more than 24 inches in length.
Pollock
The smaller "harbor" pollock, weight around 10 to 16 nches and can be found at or near the surface seeking food such as shrimp, baitfish and invertebrates. They tend to hang around breakwaers or structures. If you are seeking the larger Pollock you will find them deeper and farther from the coast. They are very active fish and can range from two to three feet in length.
The striped bass migrates north during the spring and south during the fall. They spend their summers in the Great Bay area. They can be up to 50 inches in length and weigh over 50 pounds. Anglers catch "stripers" from the surf and from boats from evening to early morning.
Bluefish
During the summer, large schools of adults migrate from the late July to the early September. These bluefish can range between 18 and 36 inches. Fishing for Bluefish is most especially effective in Great Bay and its tributaries, along the coast and at the Isles of Shoals.
Atlantic Mackerel
Large schools of The Atlantic mackerel travel both in the early summer and again in September. First headed inland to spawn and then again in the fall to deeper colder waters. They are mostly in 10 to 25 feet of water in a trough along the New England coast. Anglers consider the best mackerel fishing is in early summer or late fall.
Winter Flounder
The winter flounder, also known as teh blackback is the species most often caught by anglers in the waters of New Hampshire from May through September. They begin moving into the bay and esturaries in April or May to spawn. They remain in there until the fall when they return to deeper waters. You can find these fish near piers, jetties, bridges and the mouths of harbors and estuaries.
Rainbow Smelt
You will find Rainbow smelt gathering in bays and esturaries feeding on small fish and crustaceans waiting for the water temperatures to rise. As the break-up of ice begins they spawn in the rocky bottoms of high water estuarine rivers. Anglers begin to catch Rainbow Smelt as the ice begins to form. They often use cross beams with lines tied to in their ice shanties or some use two short rods. They are most successful in the beginning or ending of high tides at night (more about ice fishing to come).
Atlantic Codfish
You can catch cod near the surface or as deep as 1,200 feet. Commonly they live from a couple of hundred feet all the way within a few feet of the bottom.Anglers can catch these beauties from boats offshore or from the shore using jigs with teasers or fresh bait. The average size caught from the shore range from six to 30 pounds. Codfish are found in coastal New Hampshire near the Isles of Shoals and along Jeffrey's Ledge. Occasionally they are found feeding on herring in the trough.
Haddock
You will find this member of the cod family in shallow waters off the Gulf of Maine in the summer and then as they migrate to cool deep water with smooth rock substrates of New England from spring to fall. The angler must be sensitive to the soft mouth of the cod if they expect to set the hook. They are a relatively small fish weighing little more than from three to five inches and rarely exceeding more than 24 inches in length.
Pollock
The smaller "harbor" pollock, weight around 10 to 16 nches and can be found at or near the surface seeking food such as shrimp, baitfish and invertebrates. They tend to hang around breakwaers or structures. If you are seeking the larger Pollock you will find them deeper and farther from the coast. They are very active fish and can range from two to three feet in length.
| ...Fishing Courses for the Whole Family... Sign up for a Let's Go Fishing class today. Courses are designed to teach families basic ecological concepts, fishing skills and new ways to enjoy the outdoors together. Courses cover basic techniques for year-round fishing in ponds, lakes, streams and the ocean. A typical course offers six hours of hands-on instruction, plus a field trip. Children, ages eight and up, as well as adults, are welcome. Children must be accompanied by a parent or adult.
NEW HAMPSHIRE FRESHWATER FISHING RECORDS | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
SPECIES |
LENGTH |
WEIGHT |
PLACE |
DATE
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ANGLER |
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Landlocked Salmon |
36.00" |
18 lbs. 8 oz. |
Pleasant Lake New London |
8/30/1914
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Mr. P.H. Killelea |
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Landlocked Salmon |
34.50" |
18 lbs. 8 oz. |
Pleasant Lake New London |
8/31/1942
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Mrs. Letty M. Clark |
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Brown Trout |
32.50" |
16 lbs. 6 oz. |
Connecticut River Pittsburg |
7/4/1975
|
Ken Reed, Jr. |
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Rainbow Trout |
35.50" |
15 lbs. 7.2 oz. |
Pemigewasset River Bristol |
9/16/1996
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Lance King |
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Brook Trout  |
25.50" |
9 lbs. |
Pleasant Lake New London |
5/8/1911
|
A. Val Woodruff |
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Lake Trout |
39.50" |
28 lbs. 8 oz. |
Newfound Lake Bristol |
4/24/1958
|
Albert C. Staples |
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Sunapee Trout  |
33.00" |
11 lbs. 8 oz. |
Sunapee Lake Sunapee |
10/2/1954
|
Ernest Theoharris |
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Splake Trout  |
26.88" |
9 lbs. |
Crystal Lake Eaton |
2/20/1980
|
Thomas Barbour |
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Largemouth Bass  |
25.80" |
10 lbs. 8 oz. |
Lake Potanipo Brookline |
5/1967
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G. Bullpitt |
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Smallmouth Bass |
23.25" |
7 lbs. 14.5 oz. |
Goose Pond Canaan |
8/1970
|
Francis H. Lord |
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Bluegill |
11.25" |
2 lbs. 0.64 oz. |
Goodwins Pond Acworth |
6/18/1992
|
Justin S. Therieau |
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Pumpkinseed  |
9.50" |
12.48 oz. |
Winnisquam Lake Laconia |
9/10/1984
|
Marcel R. LeBel |
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Pumpkinseed |
9.50" |
12.48 oz. |
Winnipesaukee Moultonborough |
2/1/2005
|
James R. Viar |
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Black Crappie  |
17.25" |
2 lbs. 12.8 oz. |
Bellamy Reservoir Madbury |
2/9/2000
|
Tom Noyes |
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Rock Bass  |
13.50" |
1 lb. 8 oz. |
Island Pond Stoddard |
9/18/1982
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Linc Chamberland |
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White Perch  |
17.20" |
3 lbs. 11.5 oz. |
Winnipesaukee Moultonboro |
12/29/1986
|
John J. Ziolkowski |
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Yellow Perch  |
15.50" |
2 lbs. 6 oz. |
Head's Pond Hooksett |
3/4/1969
|
R. Hebert |
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Walleye |
34.00" |
12 lbs. 8.8 oz. |
Connecticut River Wells River, VT |
5/4/1992
|
Anthony Bartolini |
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Yellow Bullhead  |
16.00" |
2 lbs. 8 oz. |
Pecknolds Pond Chester |
8/1980
|
Gerald Menard |
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Brown Bullhead |
17.95" |
3 lbs. 4.8 oz. |
Merrimack River Merrimack |
8/6/2005
|
Donald Robbins |
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White Catfish  |
23.00" |
5 lbs. 11 oz. |
Big Cub Pond Danville |
8/4/1996
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Zachary Cross |
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Chain Pickerel  |
26.00" |
8 lbs. |
Plummer Lake Sanbornton |
4/24/1966
|
Carroll R. Akeley |
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Northern Pike  |
45.00" |
24 lbs. 14.4 oz. |
Moore Reservoir Littleton |
3/20/2002
|
Jacques Renaud |
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Tiger Muskellunge  |
35.50" |
11 lbs. 11.68 oz. |
Connecticut River W. Lebanon |
6/27/1982
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Brian Patch |
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Round Whitefish  |
18.00" |
1 lb. 11.68 oz. |
Newfound Lake Bristol |
2/5/2005
|
Marty Martin |
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Lake Whitefish  |
21.75" |
5 lbs. 1 oz. |
Winnipesaukee Alton |
8/23/1974
|
Paul E. Littlefield |
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American Shad  |
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Carp  |
34.50" |
30 lbs. 8 oz. |
Mascoma River West Lebanon |
6/17/1985
|
Stephen Allan |
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Carp (Bow Harvested) |
34.00" |
18 lbs. 15.84 oz. |
Merrimack River Manchester |
6/29/1997
|
Todd Rivard |
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Fallfish  |
20.75" |
3 lbs. 8.96 oz. |
Lake Winnipesaukee Gilford |
7/12/1991
|
John Conti |
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Cusk  |
34.00" |
11 lbs. 13.92 oz. |
Lake Winnipesaukee Wolfeboro |
2/11/2007
|
John Dana Thurston |
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American Eel  |
44.50" |
8 lbs. |
Crystal Lake Eaton |
7/6/1975
|
Michael Hansharak |
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Bowfin  |
28.00" |
8 lbs. 13 oz. |
Wilson Pond Swanzey |
8/24/1994
|
Kenneth L'Abbe |
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NEW HAMPSHIRE SALTWATER FISHING RECORDS |
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LENGTH |
WEIGHT |
PLACE |
DATE |
ANGLER |
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Chinook Salmon |
37.00" |
19 lbs. 4 oz. |
Exeter River |
11/9/1985 |
Brian O'Connell |
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Coho Salmon |
33.50" |
16 lbs. 3 oz. |
Piscataqua River |
9/3/1984 |
Perry R. Soroko |
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Atlantic Cod |
63.00" |
98 lbs. 12 oz. |
Isle of Shoals |
6/8/1969 |
Alphonse Bielevich |
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Bluefish |
39.00"* |
21 lbs. |
Great Bay |
8/23/1975 |
Henry S. Krook |
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Striped Bass |
51.00" |
60 lbs. |
Great Bay |
6/26/1980 |
Robert A. Lindholm |
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Pollock |
50.00" |
47 lbs. |
Atlantic Ocean |
7/1/1981 |
Noborv Murakami, M |
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Winter Flounder |
19.75" |
2 lbs. 7.04 oz. |
Atlantic Ocean |
6/12/1999 |
Carol Clark |
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Mackerel |
17.50" |
3 lbs. |
Gulf of Maine |
5/12/1988 |
Donald F.X. Angerm |
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Haddock |
31.50" |
10 lbs. 10.75 oz. |
Gulf of Maine |
5/26/1988 |
George R. Koster |
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Cusk |
39.50" |
31 lbs. |
Gulf of Maine |
6/10/1996 |
Richard F. Hincman |
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Bluefin Tuna |
114.00" |
865 lbs. |
Gulf of Maine |
8/5/2001 |
Paul N. Wentworth Jr. |
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Tautog |
18.25" |
3 lbs. 12.48 oz. |
Great Bay |
6/16/1999 |
Kenneth Malone |
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