Fishing in New Hampshire: 5 Things to Know Before Applying for a Freshwater Fishing License for Adults

Responsible anglers know that before they go out on the water, it’s important to check your state’s license requirements and regulations, and preparing to go fishing in New Hampshire is no different.

New Hampshire is about 4.2 percent water, which equates to 397 square miles of fishing. Yet, despite its small size, anglers can still have plenty of fun fishing in the Granite State in lakes, ponds, rivers, and streams with their freshwater fishing license.

Here are 5 things to know before applying for your freshwater fishing license in New Hampshire.

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1. Residents: To purchase a residential fishing license in New Hampshire, you must be able to show a state-issued photo identification card. In addition, the person cannot claim residency in another state.

2. Nonresidents: Only temporary licenses are available for non-residents of New Hampshire. These are available in one-, three- and seven-day forms, and at the time of purchase, the angler wishing to go fishing in New Hampshire must indicate which days they are going to use their fishing privileges and those dates must be consecutive for the three and seven-day licenses.

3. Age: Good news for fishermen or fisherwomen that are over age 68 — a fishing license is free for you. Before claiming your free permanent fishing license, however, be aware that you must have been a resident of New Hampshire for the two years prior to your application.

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On the flip side, only anglers older than 16 are required to have a fishing license. So, anyone younger than 16 can enjoy fishing without a license in the state.

4. Wildlife Habitat Fee: In an effort to help preserve New Hampshire’s natural habitats, this small annual fee has been instituted to help raise additional funds.

The fee is $2.50 per person and is not applicable to minors or current lifetime licensed anglers or permanent senior license holders.

New lifetime or permanent senior license holders will pay a one-time wildlife habitat fee.

5. Combination License: As with most states, a combination hunting and fishing license is available for those interested in being able to do both in the state.

However, the New Hampshire Fish and Game department reminds interested parties that this license does not cover saltwater fishing, which requires a separate license.

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