Massachusetts vs New Hampshire fishing license
For a visitor fishing fresh water for 3 days, New Hampshire is $7.50 cheaper than Massachusetts. For a visitor's annual fresh-water license, Massachusetts is $8 cheaper than New Hampshire. You need a license from age 15 in Massachusetts and from 16 in New Hampshire.
- Free
- Official sources first
- Checked monthly
- Independent, not a state website
What visitors pay
Cheapest way for an adult non-resident to cover the trip, including required stamps, worked out from each state's price list. The cheaper state is marked.
| Trip | Massachusetts | New Hampshire |
|---|---|---|
| Fresh water | ||
| 1 day | $35.50 | $15 |
| 3 days | $35.50 | $28 |
| 7 days | $55 | $35 |
| 1 year | $55 | $63 |
| Salt water | ||
| 1 day | $10 | $11 |
| 3 days | $10 | $11 |
| 7 days | $10 | $11 |
| 1 year | $10 | $11 |
| Residents, annual | ||
| Fresh water | $45 | $45 |
| Salt water | $10 | $11 |
| Prices for | 2026 | 2026 |
Rules side by side
| Massachusetts | New Hampshire | |
|---|---|---|
| License needed from age | 15 | 16 |
| Senior residents | Resident freshwater fishing license (70 and over): Free (ages 70+) Recreational saltwater fishing permit (resident, 60 and over): Free (ages 60+) | Resident senior freshwater fishing license (68+): $7 (ages 68+) |
| Senior visitors | Recreational saltwater fishing permit (non-resident, 60 and over): Free (ages 60+) | Normal visitor prices |
| Required stamps | Wildlands Conservation Stamp (resident): $5 Wildlands Conservation Stamp (non-resident): $5 | None |
| Next free fishing day | Not yet announced | Sat, Jan 16, 2027 Sat, Jun 5, 2027 Not yet announced |
| On a charter | Usually not: the boat's license covers its passengers | Usually not: the boat's license covers its passengers |
| License on your phone | Accepted | Accepted |
| Annual licenses last | To 12-31 | To 12-31 |
| Last checked | Nov 4, 2026 | Nov 5, 2026 |
Full details and sources: Massachusetts fishing license · New Hampshire fishing license
Shared waters
Saltwater reciprocity with Maine, New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Connecticut (Massachusetts rules)
Massachusetts accepts valid Connecticut, New Hampshire and Rhode Island saltwater permits under reciprocity. A Massachusetts permit is accepted in Maine and Rhode Island regardless of residency, in New Hampshire for non-New Hampshire residents, and in Connecticut for Massachusetts residents. Official source
Massachusetts and Maine coastal waters (New Hampshire rules)
A New Hampshire saltwater license lets you fish all coastal and estuarine waters of Massachusetts and Maine. New Hampshire residents can't fish New Hampshire salt water with a Maine or Massachusetts license. Official source
Massachusetts border ponds (Lake Monomonac, Long Pond, Tuxbury Pond and others) (New Hampshire rules)
New Hampshire and Massachusetts fishing licenses are both valid. Secondary source: New Hampshire Fishing Digest 2026 (eRegulations)
Limits for fish found in both states
Guide only. Statewide rules; many waters have their own. Check each state's official rules before you keep a fish.
| Fish | Massachusetts | New Hampshire |
|---|---|---|
| Largemouth bass |
Largemouth and smallmouth bass |
Black bass (smallmouth and largemouth) |
| Smallmouth bass |
Largemouth and smallmouth bass |
Black bass (smallmouth and largemouth) |
| Trout |
Trout (brook, brown, rainbow, tiger) Lake trout |
Brook, rainbow and brown trout Lake trout |
| Walleye |
14" minimum; bag 5 |
18" minimum; bag 2 |
| Crappie |
Sunfish, crappie, yellow perch and catfish |
Yellow perch, white perch, black crappie, sunfish and horned pout |
| Catfish |
Sunfish, crappie, yellow perch and catfish |
Yellow perch, white perch, black crappie, sunfish and horned pout |
| Striped bass |
28" to under 31"; bag 1 |
28" to under 31"; bag 1 |
| Northern pike |
28" minimum; bag 1 |
28" minimum; bag 1 |
| Yellow perch |
Sunfish, crappie, yellow perch and catfish |
Yellow perch, white perch, black crappie, sunfish and horned pout |
| Salmon |
Landlocked salmon |
Landlocked salmon |
| Flounder |
Summer flounder (fluke) Winter flounder |
Winter flounder Summer flounder (fluke) |
| Black sea bass |
16" minimum; bag 4 from May 16 to August 31; 2 from September 1 to October 14 |
16.5" minimum; bag 4 |
Questions
Is a Massachusetts fishing license valid in New Hampshire?
No. Each state needs its own license, except on shared waters covered by a border agreement: Saltwater reciprocity with Maine, New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Connecticut; Massachusetts and Maine coastal waters; Massachusetts border ponds (Lake Monomonac, Long Pond, Tuxbury Pond and others).
Which is cheaper for visitors, Massachusetts or New Hampshire?
1 day (fresh water): Massachusetts $35.50, New Hampshire $15. 1 year (fresh water): Massachusetts $55, New Hampshire $63.
At what age do you need a fishing license in Massachusetts and New Hampshire?
You need a license from age 15 in Massachusetts and from 16 in New Hampshire.