Cod Spawning Protection Area - New Hampshire Fish and Game ...

NH RecreationalSaltwater LicenseIn 2009, the NH legislature passed, and GovernorLynch signed into law, legislation implementinga Recreational Saltwater Licensein New Hampshire, in addition to CharterBoat and Party Boat licenses. Passage of thislaw exempted licensed NH saltwater anglersfrom NOAA’s National Saltwater AnglerRegistry (countmyfish.noaa.gov) and tookeffect in 2011.Cost• $11* (NH resident and nonresident)Recreational fishing licenses are availablefor purchase online or through any of 250+NH license agents statewide.Who Needs the License?All persons ages 16 and older participatingin recreational saltwater fishing who wish totake, possess, or transport finfish from coastaland estuarine waters of New Hampshire. Thisincludes anglers, spearfishers, and personsusing other gear types to take marine finfishfor personal use and which are not sold.There is no exemption for persons over age68 from the recreational saltwater license.This is because we need to collect the name,address, and phone number of all those fishingin saltwater each year in order to obtainan exemption for NH license holders fromthe National Saltwater Angler Registry andthe associated fee.ExemptionsYou do not need the recreational fishinglicense to fish from a licensed charter orparty boat.Persons who purchased a Lifetime fishingor combination license prior to 2011 mayobtain a Limited Annual Saltwater Licensefor Lifetime Licensees to fish for saltwatersmelt, American shad, trout and salmon incoastal and estuarine waters. This permitmust be applied for each year by mail or atFish and Game in Concord and is good onlyfor the fish listed above. If you wish to fishfor other fish species such as striped bass,flounder, cod, etc. you must purchase a NHRecreational Saltwater License.ReciprocityResident anglers possessing a valid NH RecreationalSaltwater License can legally fish inall tidal and estuarine areas of Massachusettsand in Maine. Reciprocity will be granted inNH for those nonresident anglers possessing avalid Maine or Mass. saltwater license.Charter and Party Boat LicenseCost• Charter boat: $51*• Party boat: $101*Who Needs the License?A charter or party boat license is required forparty boats, charter boats, dive boats, headboats, and other boats hired by persons toRecreational Licensesengage in recreational saltwater fishing opportunitieswhich includes the taking of anymarine finfish, by any means for personaluse only and which are not sold.Charter boat is a vessel less than 100gross tons that meets the requirements ofthe US Coast Guard to carry 6 or fewer passengersfor hire.Party boat or head boat is a vessel thatholds a valid Certificate of Inspection issuedby the US Coast Guard to carry passengersfor hire.Passengers hiring a licensed party or charterboat do not need to have a RecreationalSaltwater Fishing license while fishing fromthe vessel.*Includes $1 agent feeReciprocityNew Hampshire law provides reciprocity forMaine and Massachusetts licensed charterand party boats but only if those states providereciprocity for NH licensed vessels. Atthis time, only Massachusetts provides reciprocityfor NH licensed charter and partyboat vessels; licensed NH vessels may operateand fish in Mass. state waters, but maynot pick up or drop off passengers or landfish in Mass.New for Charter & Party Boat Operators in 2012Operators of vessels with a NH party or charter boat license operating in coastal and estuarinewaters of the state are exempt from the need to obtain a NH Guide license if:1. They possess a US Coast Guard-issued Master License or “6-pack” license, and2. They or a crew member on board the vessel has current certification (with practicalexam) in basic first aid and CPR.RestrictionsSale prohibitedSeaweed, rockweed or sea moss of N.H. originmay not be sold outside the state. Softshellclams and oysters of N.H. origin, striped bassregardless of origin, and quahogs, littlenecksand cherrystones (Mercenaria mercenaria) lessthan 1 inch in shell thickness cannot be sold.It is unlawful to:• import any living marine plant or animalfor release without a permit;• set a net so it extends beyond the threadof the stream. The thread of stream meansthe center of the main channel;• set a net within 1,000 feet of another net,measured along the thread of the stream;• take lobsters by diving, angling, spearingor dipping;• dump dead or injured fish or fish partswithin bays, rivers, harbors or upon theshores. This does not restrict the use offish or fish parts for chum or bait, nor thereleasing of dead or injured undersizedfish taken by angling;• be on a fishway without permission;• take salmon or striped bass by netting,except when landing by use of handhelddip nets;• harvest finfish, horseshoe crabs or Americaneels in marine or tidal waters, if otherthan by angling, without obtaining a harvestpermit.LAW ENFORCEMENTProhibitionIt is unlawful to throw, dump, destroy or otherwisedispose of any fish, lobsters, crabs, orshellfish when a Conservation Officer hasinformed a person his boat, motor vehicle,wharf, dock or landing, or contents thereof,are about to be inspected. The same applies toany pot, trap, car, or any other receptacle usedto catch or store lobsters or crabs. Any personwho refuses or attempts to refuse to stand byfor such inspection is guilty of a misdemeanor.Any lobsters or crabs, thrown or dumped orcaused to be thrown or dumped, are prima facieevidence they were illegally taken. A personis guilty of a violation for each lobster or crabthrown or dumped.www.FishNH.com 7