Fishing Near Me in New Hampshire — Best Spots, License Info & Local Lakes (2026)
Connecticut River smallmouth, Lake Winnipesaukee bass, and trout brooks. We've catalogued 42 fishing venues in New Hampshire — public lakes, reservoirs, rivers, and access points. Below are the top 10 spots, state license info, what's biting, and answers to every fishing-near-me question for New Hampshire.
New Hampshire Top 10
Top 10 Fishing Spots in New Hampshire
The most useful fishing venues across New Hampshire — picked for solid descriptions, on-site facilities, and confirmed species data. Click any spot for full venue details.
- 1
Great Bay National Wildlife Refuge
Rockingham County
- 2
Gulf of Maine Cod Spawning Protection Area
- source:fishing=https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/new-england-mid-atlantic/commercial-fishing/northeast-multispecies-closed-area-regulations-gulf#seasonal-closure-areas
- 3
Androscoggin Wayside Access
Coos County
- 4
Baxter Lake
Rochester city, Strafford County
- 5
Bellamy Reservoir
Strafford County
- 6
Bellamy Reservoir
Strafford County
- 7
Chapmans Landing
Rockingham County
- 8
City of Lebanon
Lebanon city, Grafton County
- 9
Clemson Pond
Exeter CDP, Rockingham County
- 10
Cold Spring Pond
Merrimack County
See all 42 fishing venues in New Hampshire in our full directory.
License Info
Fishing License Info for New Hampshire
Everything you need to know about getting legal to fish in New Hampshire — who needs a license, what it costs, where to buy, and the annual free-fishing days.
New Hampshire fishing license — the short version
Anyone fishing public waters in New Hampshire aged 16 or older needs a valid state fishing license. Licenses are issued by the New Hampshire state fish and wildlife agency. Resident annual freshwater licenses are typically priced below the federal non-resident rate, with discounted short-term, senior, and youth options. Saltwater anglers may also need a separate registry in coastal counties. Always check the latest official prices and exemptions before you buy.
Prices and rules change each season. The linked New Hampshire guide is updated for 2026 with current resident, non-resident, and short-term fees, plus where to buy online and in person.
What's Biting
What Can You Catch in New Hampshire?
The most-recorded species across our New Hampshire venue data. Click any species to open the GilledIt species guide.
- Source:Fishing=Https://Www.Fisheries.Noaa.Gov/New-England-Mid-Atlantic/Commercial-Fishing/Northeast-Multispecies-Closed-Area-Regulations-Gulf#Seasonal-Closure-Areas
New Hampshire anglers commonly target Source:Fishing=Https://Www.Fisheries.Noaa.Gov/New-England-Mid-Atlantic/Commercial-Fishing/Northeast-Multispecies-Closed-Area-Regulations-Gulf#Seasonal-Closure-Areas. Open GilledIt to see real-time catch reports for any of these species near you.
More Resources
Keep Exploring New Hampshire Fishing
Fishing Near Me in New Hampshire: FAQ
New Hampshire has 42 fishing venues in the GilledIt directory, including Great Bay National Wildlife Refuge and dozens of state-park lakes, USACE reservoirs, and public-access rivers. Browse the full New Hampshire list on the New Hampshire pond directory or open GilledIt to see live catch reports near your location.
Yes. Anyone fishing public waters in New Hampshire aged 16 or older needs a valid state fishing license issued by the state fish and wildlife agency. Resident, non-resident, short-term, senior, and youth options are available. See our New Hampshire fishing license guide for the latest 2026 prices, where to buy, and free fishing days.
Great Bay National Wildlife Refuge is one of the most-mentioned fishing spots in our New Hampshire directory. Connecticut River smallmouth, Lake Winnipesaukee bass, and trout brooks. The "best" lake depends on the species you're after — see the top 10 list above for our pick of the most useful venues across the state.
New Hampshire participates in a state Free Fishing Day each year, typically in early June, when residents and non-residents can fish public waters without a license (bag, size, and season rules still apply). Many city-park ponds and USACE reservoirs are also free to access with a state license. Confirm exact dates and locations on the New Hampshire state fish and wildlife website.
For most New Hampshire waters, spring (March–May) and fall (September–November) are the most productive months — bass spawn in spring, walleye and pike run in early spring, and nearly every species feeds heavily in fall before winter. Summer is peak topwater and inshore saltwater. Check the GilledIt community feed for live catch reports in New Hampshire this week.
Start logging catches in New Hampshire
GilledIt is the social fishing app for American anglers. Log catches with photos, auto-tagged weather, pressure, moon and tide data. Free on iOS and Android.