Buy
your fishing license and salmon permit online (and
secure your 2007 moose lottery application, while you're at
it) at www.nhfishandgame.com.
One-day fishing licenses for New Hampshire residents are just $10,
and annual licenses -- just $35 and good through Dec. 31 --
are still
the best bargain around. Why not bring a new fishing buddy on your
next trip! Don't forget -- kids under 16 fish free in N.H.
Fish New Hampshire and relax... We have what you're looking for.
A Good Case of the Summer 'Blues!' By Robert Royer, biological aide, Marine Division (Region 3/Durham)
Well it has been another exciting early summer on New Hampshire's seacoast. Even though fuel prices are a little higher than last year, that's not stopping the anglers from trying their luck at hooking one of the many species in our waters right now.
Like last year, the big Atlantic cod -- "white bellies" -- were in near shore this spring in good numbers. About 9 miles from shore, the location known as "The Mudhole" produced some very large Atlantic cod, upwards of 60 pounds. It made a short steam for the headboats out of Hampton and Seabrook to get to the big fish. Instead of the approximately 2-hour ride out, it took only about 20 minutes, which made for more fishing time and happy anglers.
The mackerel rush has pretty much come and gone now, with only small numbers being reported in the area. Reports from the creel survey conducted by the New Hampshire Fish and Game Department showed that it was a pretty good spring for bait fishing. Atlantic mackerel and "harbor pollock" both used as striper bait were easy to catch on a good number of days.
The story now is that the bluefish are in New Hampshire waters early this year. The reports coming in so far are showing good numbers of bluefish being caught. Talking with some anglers it seems like the evening bluefishing is having better luck at this time. As we go into July, the bluefishing should only get better as the water continues to warm.
In early July, the cod and haddock have moved offshore again. Fishing out at Jeffreys Ledge is fair in midsummer months and some nice cod are still being caught and the haddock seem to just keep coming up. But right now the cusk is the main fish biting out at Jeffreys. We can't forget about the spiny dogfish (even if some of us would like to), which can make it a little hard to get the bait through them to the groundfish below.
It's a great time now to be fishing the waters of New Hampshire -- from the bay to Jeffreys, you should have fun fishing for the many species we have available to catch all summer long!
Eyes Out for Exotic River Invaders
There have been recent concerns in parts of the US, Canada, and New Zealand about a diatom species called didymo (also known as 'rock snot'!). It affects freshwater rivers and streams only, and "pristine" reaches are not safe from this invader.
Didymo has not reached NH, but it's on the move and easily spread by even just once cell of the alga breaking off and drifting downstream in infested reaches. It is also very easily spread by waders, fishing gear, and other gear that touches the bottoms of streams in infested areas.
Please be on the lookout for didymo and if you see it in New Hampshire, contact Amy Smagula at DES, 603-271-2248 or asmagula@des.state.nh.us.
ATTENTION LAKE WINNIPESAUKEE BASS ANGLERS:
A study to examine the movement of largemouth and smallmouth bass after bass tournament release has been initiated by the New Hampshire Fish and Game Department. Upon release from bass tournament weigh-ins at Ames Farm Inn on Lake Winnipesaukee, bass will be tagged with a numbered yellow tag at the base of the fish's dorsal fin (click for more info and photo of tagged fish). Angler captures of tagged bass will be the major source of information for this study. Please pass the word on to all bass anglers to look for tagged bass as they fish Lake Winnipesaukee.
If you catch a tagged bass, please record the following information and relay it to the New Hampshire Fish and Game Department:
* Tag Number
* Date Of Catch
* Location of Catch (GPS/general location) + Release location (if fish was released)
* Whether fish was kept or released
* Angler contact information (name, phone number)
Tags look like a 2-inch piece of spaghetti and may be covered with algae. Please DO NOT remove the tag from fish that are to be released. Please contact the New Hampshire Fish and Game Department with information on tagged bass or with any questions or concerns regarding the study.
A
User-Pay, User-Benefit Program Researching and managing fisheries and teaching people
about aquatic ecosystems are funded by your license dollars and by the
Federal Aid in Sport Fish and Wildlife Restoration Program. Your purchases of
fishing equipment and motorboat fuels make a difference to New Hampshire's fisheries.
Click here to learn more.
