Saltwater Fishing License Is Coming

At a recent meeting at New Hampshire Fish and Game’s headquarters in Concord, questions were asked by Henry Camirand, of Derry, concerning the issue of saltwater fishing licenses. At this meeting we were informed that, beginning on January 1, 2010, a new federal law goes into effect requiring most New Hampshire saltwater anglers to sign up with the National Saltwater Angler Registry. Registration is quick, easy and free in 2010. 

Who needs to register? New Hampshire anglers who fish for or catch anadromous species in tidal waters (fish like striped bass or smelt that spend part of their lives in freshwater and part in saltwater) or fish in Federal waters more than 3 miles from the ocean shore or the mouths of rivers, harbors or bays, or don’t meet any of the exceptions below. Registration will be the law and it helps the NOAA and anglers work together to gather better data on angling catches to help ensure the future of saltwater fishing. 

Who is exempt? New Hampshire saltwater anglers will not need to register if they are under 16, fish on licensed charter, party or guide boats, hold a Highly Migratory Species Angling permit, or hold and are fishing under a valid commercial license. Out-of-state saltwater anglers who are already registered with NOAA, do not need to re-register to fish in New Hampshire. 

Beginning January 1, 2011, New Hampshire will have a Recreational Saltwater License. The fee for this license will be $15 for individual anglers, ages 16 and older, both New Hampshire residents and non-residents. The license will be available for purchase online or through any of the 250+ New Hampshire license agents statewide. This new license will be required for those fishing New Hampshire’s coastal and estuarine waters, and it is separate from the New Hampshire Freshwater Fishing License. You will not need the license to fish from a licensed charter or party boat. 

Beginning in 2011, this license will replace the National Saltwater Angler Registry License described earlier. Unless exempt, you still must sign up with the National Registry in 2010. Funds from the N.H. Recreational Saltwater license will help the New Hampshire Fish and Game

Department manage marine species and habitats as well as improve saltwater access sites for fishing.

Bob Harris can be reached via e-mail at: outwriter2@aol.com

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