Section Fis 410.03 - Open Water Restrictions(a) The open water fishing season, except on the Salmon Falls River, shall be April 1 to December 31 except that in all lakes and ponds between October 1 and December 31, all trout, landlocked salmon, and lake trout shall be released alive at once.(b) From May 15 to June 30, black bass shall be taken only with artificial lures and flies.(c) The daily bag limits shall be as follows: (1) Two lake trout, also known as togue, 2 salmon, , 2 rainbow trout, 2 brown trout, or 2 brook trout except in Lake Umbagog as specified in Fis 410.07;(2) For pickerel the limit shall be 10 fish;(3) For black bass the limit shall be:a. Two fish from April 1 to May 14;b. Catch and immediate release from May 15 to June 30; andc. Two fish from July 1 to December 31;(4) For smelt the limit shall be 2 quarts; and(5) There shall be no bag limits on all other species of fish.(d) The minimum total length shall be as follows:(1) For salmon the minimum total length shall be 14 inches;(2) For lake trout also known as togue, the minimum total length shall be 18 inches, except in Great East Lake pursuant to Fis 410.06;(3) For brook trout the minimum total length shall be 6 inches, except in Lake Umbagog pursuant to Fis 410.07;(4) For brown trout and rainbow trout the total minimum length shall be 10 inches in lakes and ponds and 6 inches in rivers and streams;(5) Only one black bass shall be greater than 14 inches; and(6) There shall be no length or weight limits on all other species of fish.(e) No person shall use more than 2 lines to take fish.(f) No dead or living pickerel, goldfish, yellow perch, white perch, black bass, sunfish, crappie, horned pout, carp or any spiny finned fish shall be taken, sold, or possessed for use as bait for fishing in New Hampshire-Maine interstate waters.(g) In all interstate waters and their tributaries smelt shall be taken only by angling except as follows: (1) In Lower Kimball Pond dip nets not over 18" in diameter shall be permitted between sunset and 12 midnight during the open water season; and(2) In the tributaries of Great East Lake the taking of smelt shall be closed.N.H. Admin. Code § Fis 410.03
#745, eff 1-25-76; ss by #2263, eff 1-7-83; ss by #2839, eff 8-31-84; ss by #4723, eff 1-1-90; ss by #5718, eff 1-1-94, EXPIRED: 1-1-00
New. #7384, eff 10-25-00; amd by #7582, eff 1-1-02; ss by #8442, eff 1-1-06; ss by #9005, eff 1-1-08; ss by #10425, eff 1-1-14
Amended by Volume XXXV Number 40, Filed October 8, 2015, Proposed by #10936, Effective 1/1/2016, Expires 1/1/2026.