New Hampshire charges more than its neighbours for freshwater and almost nothing for salt: forty-five dollars to fish the Connecticut Lakes, eleven to fish the coast, and the saltwater licence costs a visitor exactly the same as a resident. The other thing to budget for is the transaction fee, which is charged per licence rather than per order, and the habitat fee that rides along with the combination licences.
What it costs you
Set your situation and the figure below is the one you will actually pay at checkout.
Every New Hampshire fishing fee
Licences run by calendar year.
| Licence | Who | Length | Fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Freshwater, one day | Resident | 1 day | $10.00 |
| Freshwater, one day | Visitor | 1 day | $15.00 |
| Freshwater, three days | Visitor | 3 days | $28.00 |
| Freshwater, seven days | Visitor | 7 days | $35.00 |
| Senior resident freshwater | Resident | Annual | $7.00 |
| Senior hunting and fishing combination | Resident | Annual | $7.00 |
| Recreational saltwater | Resident | Annual | $11.00 |
| Recreational saltwater | Visitor | Annual | $11.00 |
| Clam, ages 6-67 | Resident | Annual | $30.00 |
| Oyster, ages 6-67 | Resident | Annual | $30.00 |
| Freshwater, annual | Resident | Annual | $45.00 |
| Hunting and freshwater fishing combination | Resident | Annual | $56.00 |
| Freshwater, annual | Visitor | Annual | $63.00 |
| Hunting and freshwater fishing combination | Visitor | Annual | $151.00 |
A $2.00 transaction fee is added per licence, $2.75 online, and the combination licences carry a $2.50 Wildlife Habitat Fee on top.
A proposed change did not happen: Fish and Game proposed higher licence fees and a doubling of the $2.50 wildlife habitat fee, then withdrew them at the Governorβs request. Old and new prices, the date and the law (withdrawn or rejected, pulled in june 2026; to be revisited in 2027).
Passing through? A visitor pays $15 for one day here, and the annual works out cheaper after 5 days. Compare every state's day licence.
Fishing the coast? The New Hampshire saltwater licence is a separate purchase with its own fees.
Do you need a fishing licence in New Hampshire?
Yes, from age 16. Residents and visitors both need one from that birthday. What changes is the price, not the requirement.
$45.00 a year if you live in New Hampshire, $63.00 if you are visiting, for fresh water. New Hampshire licenses fresh and salt water separately, so check which one your trip needs.
Who does not need one
- Everyone on the state free fishing days.
Nobody needs a licence on New Hampshireβs free fishing days: the dates for this year, and what the day does not waive.
How to buy it
New Hampshire Fish and Game Department sells online, by phone and through licence agents: tackle shops, sporting goods stores and county offices.
Official NHFG licensing page β
We link the agency and never resell licences. If a site charges you a "processing fee" on top of the state fee, you are not on the state's own system.
Where to use it
We track 15 New Hampshire waters daily, with live flow, tides and conditions. A sample of what your licence covers:
- Hampton β Rockingham County
- Lake Winnipesaukee β Belknap County
- Androscoggin River β Coos County
- Squam Lake β Grafton County
- Newfound Lake β Grafton County
- Connecticut River β Grafton County
- Lake Sunapee β Sullivan County
- Great Bay β Rockingham County
- Saco River β Carroll County
- Pemigewasset River β Grafton County
- First Connecticut Lake β Coos County
- Ossipee Lake β Carroll County
All 15 New Hampshire waters β
Questions
How much is a fishing licence in New Hampshire?
$45.00 for a resident annual freshwater licence and $63.00 for a non-resident. Short-term licences cost less and are listed in full above.
Do you need a fishing license in New Hampshire?
Yes, from age 16, and it makes no difference whether you live there: residents and visitors both need one, they just pay different prices. $45.00 for a resident annual freshwater licence, $63.00 for a visitor. 1 exemptions apply, listed on this page.
What age do you need a fishing licence in New Hampshire?
From age 16. Anglers under 16 fish without one, though the other rules, bag limits and catch record cards included, still apply to them.
Can I buy a New Hampshire fishing licence online?
Yes. New Hampshire Fish and Game Department sells online and through licence agents. A $2.00 transaction fee is added per licence, $2.75 online, and the combination licences carry a $2.50 Wildlife Habitat Fee on top.
Do I need separate freshwater and saltwater licences in New Hampshire?
Yes. New Hampshire sells them separately, so fishing both sides means either two licences or the combined option listed in the fee table.
Why is the New Hampshire saltwater licence so cheap?
It is a recreational saltwater licence priced the same for residents and visitors at eleven dollars. The state prices its freshwater licence, which funds the inland hatcheries and the Connecticut Lakes fishery, very differently.
Are there extra fees on top of a New Hampshire licence?
Yes: a $2.00 transaction fee per licence, $2.75 if you buy online, and a $2.50 Wildlife Habitat Fee on the combination licences.