New Hampshire vs Vermont fishing license
For a visitor fishing fresh water for 3 days, Vermont is $5 cheaper than New Hampshire. For a visitor's annual fresh-water license, Vermont is $9 cheaper than New Hampshire. You need a license from age 16 in New Hampshire and from 15 in Vermont.
- 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 | New Hampshire | Vermont |
|---|---|---|
| Fresh water | ||
| 1 day | $15 | $21 |
| 3 days | $28 | $23 |
| 7 days | $35 | $31 |
| 1 year | $63 | $54 |
| Residents, annual | ||
| Fresh water | $45 | $28 |
| Prices for | 2026 | 2026 |
Rules side by side
| New Hampshire | Vermont | |
|---|---|---|
| License needed from age | 16 | 15 |
| Senior residents | Resident senior freshwater fishing license (68+): $7 (ages 68+) | Resident permanent license (66+): $60 (ages 66+) |
| Senior visitors | Normal visitor prices | Normal visitor prices |
| Required stamps | None | None |
| Next free fishing day | Sat, Jan 16, 2027 Sat, Jun 5, 2027 Not yet announced | Sat, Jan 30, 2027 Sat, Jun 12, 2027 Not yet announced |
| On a charter | Usually not: the boat's license covers its passengers | It depends on the boat and where you fish |
| License on your phone | Accepted | Accepted |
| Annual licenses last | To 12-31 | To End of the license year (exact date not confirmed) |
| Last checked | Nov 5, 2026 | Nov 4, 2026 |
Full details and sources: New Hampshire fishing license · Vermont fishing license
Shared waters
Connecticut River (Vermont) (New Hampshire rules)
New Hampshire and Vermont resident licenses are valid on the river. Non-residents with a New Hampshire license may fish only east of the Vermont low-water mark. Secondary source: New Hampshire Fishing Digest 2026 (eRegulations)
Connecticut River (New Hampshire) (Vermont rules)
A Vermont resident fishing license lets you fish anywhere in the Connecticut River, subject to Vermont and New Hampshire rules. Secondary source: Vermont Fishing Regulations 2026-27 (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 | New Hampshire | Vermont |
|---|---|---|
| Largemouth bass |
Black bass (smallmouth and largemouth) |
Largemouth and smallmouth bass Lake Champlain (Vermont waters) |
| Smallmouth bass |
Black bass (smallmouth and largemouth) |
Largemouth and smallmouth bass Lake Champlain (Vermont waters) |
| Trout |
Brook, rainbow and brown trout Lake trout |
Brook, brown and rainbow trout Lake trout and landlocked Atlantic salmon |
| Walleye |
18" minimum; bag 2 |
Walleye Lake Champlain (Vermont waters) |
| Crappie |
Yellow perch, white perch, black crappie, sunfish and horned pout |
Panfish (yellow perch, crappie, sunfish, bullhead) |
| Catfish |
Yellow perch, white perch, black crappie, sunfish and horned pout |
Panfish (yellow perch, crappie, sunfish, bullhead) Chain pickerel, catfish and other species |
| Northern pike |
28" minimum; bag 1 |
Northern pike Lake Champlain (Vermont waters) |
| Yellow perch |
Yellow perch, white perch, black crappie, sunfish and horned pout |
Panfish (yellow perch, crappie, sunfish, bullhead) Lake Champlain (Vermont waters) |
| Salmon |
Landlocked salmon |
Lake trout and landlocked Atlantic salmon Lake Champlain (Vermont waters) |
Questions
Is a New Hampshire fishing license valid in Vermont?
No. Each state needs its own license, except on shared waters covered by a border agreement: Connecticut River (Vermont); Connecticut River (New Hampshire).
Which is cheaper for visitors, New Hampshire or Vermont?
1 day (fresh water): New Hampshire $15, Vermont $21. 1 year (fresh water): New Hampshire $63, Vermont $54.
At what age do you need a fishing license in New Hampshire and Vermont?
You need a license from age 16 in New Hampshire and from 15 in Vermont.