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Do I need a fishing license in New Hampshire?

New Hampshire's license age rule, quoted from New Hampshire Fish and Game Department, checked against your age and residency, plus its free fishing days.

The rule in New Hampshire

Residents and nonresidents 16 and older need a license.

"The provisions of RSA 214:1 shall not apply to resident land owners while upon their own land ... to persons under 16 years of age while fishing"

New Hampshire Fish and Game Department. Section 214:2 License Required; Exception., checked October 2026.

Free fishing days

"No fishing license shall be required to take fish, by angling, in any public waters within the jurisdiction of the state on the first Saturday of June and the third Saturday in January, except that those anglers participating in a fishing tournament on either day shall be required to possess a valid fishing license."

Source: Fis 1200-1400 Licensing.

Fishing License CheckNew Hampshire

Where will you fish?

Do you live there?

Your age

It depends on your age.

The rule

Residents and nonresidents 16 and older need a license.

"The provisions of RSA 214:1 shall not apply to resident land owners while upon their own land ... to persons under 16 years of age while fishing"

Source: Section 214:2 License Required; Exception., checked October 2026.

Exemptions

"The provisions of RSA 214:1 shall not apply to resident land owners while upon their own land or to the owner's children under 16 years of age when accompanied by the owner or another licensed person 18 years of age or over on such land, to persons fishing in ponds operated and maintained in an aquaculture operation"

"Fishing licenses may be issued without charge to resident legally blind persons, but no hunting licenses shall be issued to such persons."

Free fishing days in New Hampshire

No more dated free days are published for this year yet.

"No fishing license shall be required to take fish, by angling, in any public waters within the jurisdiction of the state on the first Saturday of June and the third Saturday in January, except that those anglers participating in a fishing tournament on either day shall be required to possess a valid fishing license."

Source: Fis 1200-1400 Licensing.

A guide to each state's published rule, not legal advice. Rules change; the linked page is the authority.

Each state's own rule, quoted
Residents and visitors
Free fishing days by date

Fishing in New Hampshire

22 guides, charters and outfitters listed in New Hampshire.

See New Hampshire fishing guides

Common questions

Fishing license questions

Residents and nonresidents 16 and older need a license. Source: Section 214:2 License Required; Exception..

It depends on the state. Across the 48 states we have checked, a resident needs one from age 9, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18 depending on the state. Nonresidents often start at a different age. Pick your state in the tool for its exact rule, quoted from the state's own page.

A day or weekend when the state lets anyone fish without a license. 41 of the states we have checked publish them. The next ones: New York, Nov 11, 2026; Oregon, Nov 27 to 28, 2026; North Dakota, Dec 26 to 27, 2026. Size, bag and season limits still apply.

In some coastal states, yes; in others the same license covers both, or saltwater anglers sign a free registry instead. Pick a coastal state in the tool to see its own wording.

Yes. It is free, needs no account, and links every answer to the state page it comes from. Always read the state's current rules before you fish.

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