New Hampshire Public Waters

Public waters in New Hampshire covered here

This state hub indexes 3 notable public water bodies: 2 lakes, 1 river. The dataset is a curated list of destination waters rather than every public access point, so a productive local pond or municipal lake near you may still be missing.

Species profiles exist for 3 of the 3 tracked waters. Commonly indexed destinations include Lake Winnipesaukee, Connecticut River (NH) and Pawtuckaway Lake.

Use the "Fishing near me" sorter on this page to reorder the list by straight-line distance from your location. Straight-line distance is a planning estimate, not a drive time — a water 20 miles away across a ridge or a bay can take far longer to reach than one 40 miles down a highway, and seasonal closures, launch fees, and permit requirements are set by the managing agency rather than by this list.

What a New Hampshire fishing license costs

A resident annual license for New Hampshire is $45.00, and the non-resident annual license is $63.00 — a difference of $18.00. The non-resident rate is roughly 1.4 times the resident rate — meaning the license is usually the smallest expense in the trip budget.

Short-term options as published: Resident 1-day $10.00; Nonresident 1-day $15.00, 3-day $28.00, 7-day $35.00.

At the published short-term prices, a resident annual license breaks even at about 5 single days, 2 three-day passes, 2 seven-day passes. Below that trip count the short-term pass is cheaper; above it the annual license is. (Break-even arithmetic from the published fees — confirm current products with New Hampshire Fish and Game Department.)

Saltwater: Recreational Saltwater Fishing license $11.00 (age 16+, resident or nonresident)..

Senior and reduced-rate options: Resident senior (age 68+) freshwater $7.00; residents born 1947 or earlier get a free permanent Milestone license..

Separate aquatic-invasive-species stamp: $20 (RSA 487:43)..

Source: New Hampshire Fish and Game — Fishing Licenses, Fees & Requirements (eregulations.com / huntnh.com, 2026).

Stocking in New Hampshire

A statewide annual stocking total for New Hampshire is pending verification in this dataset, so this tool shows no number rather than an estimate. New Hampshire Fish and Game Department publishes stocking by water, county, and species.

Stocking totals for New Hampshire are pending verification. State fish agencies publish annual stocking lists by water, county, and species; consult New Hampshire Fish and Game Department for current figures before relying on any number.

Source: verify locally — see New Hampshire Fish and Game Department stocking reports.

Why stocking matters to planning: put-and-take fisheries are the most catch-rate-sensitive to plant timing, so a water that fishes poorly in April can fish well in May once the trucks arrive. Check the current-year plant list before writing off a water, and check it again before assuming a hot bite will last.

Size and bag limits tracked for New Hampshire

New Hampshire has 11 statewide limits resolved in this tool — Bluegill, Brook Trout, Brown Trout, Crappie, Largemouth Bass, Northern Pike, Rainbow Trout and Smallmouth Bass, among 11 in the tracked set. Each entry below carries the agency citation it came from.

Bluegill: bag 25 (sunfish aggregate, 50 total); season Jan 1 – Oct 15 (general-law waters); Rivers/streams general rule; lakes/ponds may differ.. Citation: New Hampshire Fish and Game — 2026–2027 NH Freshwater Fishing Regulations (eRegulations).

Brook Trout: bag 5; season Jan 1 – Oct 15 (many general-law waters); Oct 16 – Dec 31 catch-and-release on rivers/streams; 2026–2027 NH rules changed; some lakes/ponds and special waters have minimum sizes (e.g., 6 in brook trout) — verify NHFG guide.. Citation: New Hampshire Fish and Game — 2026–2027 NH Freshwater Fishing Regulations (eRegulations).

Brown Trout: bag 5; season Jan 1 – Oct 15 (many general-law waters); Oct 16 – Dec 31 catch-and-release on rivers/streams; 2026–2027 NH rules changed; some lakes/ponds and special waters have minimum sizes — verify NHFG guide.. Citation: New Hampshire Fish and Game — 2026–2027 NH Freshwater Fishing Regulations (eRegulations).

Crappie: bag 25 (50 aggregate with other panfish); season Jan 1 – Oct 15 (general-law waters); Rivers/streams general rule; lakes/ponds may differ.. Citation: New Hampshire Fish and Game — 2026–2027 NH Freshwater Fishing Regulations (eRegulations).

Largemouth Bass: minimum length 12 in; bag 5 (open harvest season); 2 (Jan 1 – May 14); season May 15 – Jun 15 catch-and-release only; harvest Jun 16 – Oct 15 (5 fish) and Jan 1 – May 14 (2 fish); 2026–2027 rules changed the season structure; verify the current NHFG guide. Only 1 bass over 14 in on some periods.. Citation: New Hampshire Fish and Game — 2026–2027 NH Freshwater Fishing Regulations (eRegulations).

Northern Pike: minimum length 28 in; bag 1; season Jan 1 – Oct 15; Connecticut River section differs.. Citation: New Hampshire Fish and Game — 2026–2027 NH Freshwater Fishing Regulations (eRegulations).

These are statewide general rules only. Slot limits, special-regulation waters, catch-and-release stretches, and zone-by-zone seasons override them — and a general rule that is absent from this list is not the same as no restriction. Confirm the rule for the exact water you are fishing with New Hampshire Fish and Game Department before keeping a fish.

Free fishing days in New Hampshire

Reported license-free dates for 2026: January 17 & June 6, 2026 (reported). Most states waive the license only, not the rules — size and bag limits, gear restrictions, seasons, and any required report card still apply, and some states still require a free or zero-cost license to be issued before you fish.

Reported for 2026 by public aggregators and may not match the official state schedule. Always confirm the current year’s dates and any species/stamp exceptions with the agency before planning.

Source: Compiled from 2026 public Free-Fishing-Day roundups (modefreefinds.com, heyitsfree.net, fishkillflea.com). Not an official source — verify with the state agency. (compiled 2026-08-29).