When is landlocked atlantic salmon season in New Hampshire?

Open April 1 – September 30 on the designated salmon lakes; closed October 1 – March 31; may not be taken through the ice. 15-inch minimum, 2 salmon within a combined 4-fish trout + salmon daily limit. Those are the 2026 New Hampshire dates; always confirm against New Hampshire Fish & Game Department (NHF&G) — Inland Fisheries Division + Marine Fisheries Division before a trip, because an emergency order can shift an opener with little notice.

What is the New Hampshire bag limit for landlocked atlantic salmon?

The New Hampshire daily bag limit for landlocked atlantic salmon is 2 / day per angler (within a combined 4-fish trout + salmon daily limit on designated salmon lakes; no more than 2 may be salmon). The possession limit is Same as daily bag. Some named waters set a different limit — check the water-body overrides above.

Do you need a license to fish for landlocked atlantic salmon in New Hampshire?

Yes. New Hampshire requires a valid fishing license to fish for landlocked atlantic salmon, with the usual exemptions for young children, state free-fishing days, and some senior or disabled-veteran categories. A license is valid only in the state that issued it, so non-residents need a New Hampshire license — compare resident and non-resident New Hampshire fees on the state regulations page below.

Are there gear restrictions for landlocked atlantic salmon in New Hampshire?

Yes. In New Hampshire, landlocked atlantic salmon fishing carries these gear rules: Open April 1 – September 30 only; may NOT be taken through the ice or October 1 – March 31; Head + tail must remain intact while on or leaving NH waters; Trolling (smelt / streamers / lead-core) is the marquee tactic; trolling restrictions apply on listed lakes; NH does NOT issue a separate Trout Stamp — standard freshwater licence covers salmon fishing; Confirm current-year NHF&G salmon-lake list + per-lake rules.

Do specific New Hampshire waters have different landlocked atlantic salmon rules?

Yes. 6 named New Hampshire waters carry rules that override the statewide landlocked atlantic salmon regulation, including Lake Winnipesaukee, Big Squam Lake, Lake Sunapee, and 3 more. See the named water-body overrides above for the exact rule on each.

2026 regulation year

New Hampshire Landlocked Atlantic salmon 2026 — Season, Bag Limit, Size Rules

Salmo salar (landlocked form)

Last updated June 3, 2026

Landlocked Atlantic salmon are New Hampshire's premier coldwater gamefish — the iconic spring 'big lake' troll. NHF&G stocks landlocked salmon annually in roughly 15 waterbodies anchored by Lake Winnipesaukee (NH's largest at 71 sq mi), Big Squam Lake, Lake Sunapee, Newfound Lake, Winnisquam Lake, Ossipee Lake, and First Connecticut Lake (the Pittsburg headwaters). Lake Sunapee is famous as the type-locality of the functionally-extinct Sunapee Trout (Salvelinus alpinus oquassa, a glacial-relict Arctic charr) — displaced in part by the early-20th-century introduction of rainbow + brown trout. Salmon stage near the surface at ice-out to chase rainbow smelt for the celebrated April–May troll, then go deep through summer. The season runs April 1 through September 30 — salmon may NOT be taken October 1 – March 31, and may not be taken through the ice. The minimum length is 15 inches and the daily limit is 2 salmon, taken within a combined 4-fish trout-and-salmon daily limit on the designated salmon lakes (no more than 2 of the 4 may be salmon). Salmon must be landed with head and tail intact while on or leaving NH waters. NH state-record landlocked Atlantic salmon 18 lb 8 oz (34.50 in, Pleasant Lake, New London, 1942, Mrs. Letty M. Clark) — one of the oldest standing records in the Northeast; the modern fishery produces 2-4 lb fish with occasional 6-8 lb trophies.

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Season

Open April 1 – September 30 on the designated salmon lakes; closed October 1 – March 31; may not be taken through the ice. 15-inch minimum, 2 salmon within a combined 4-fish trout + salmon daily limit.

Apr 1 – Sep 30Designated salmon lakes — open season
Salmon may not be taken Oct 1 – Mar 31, or through the ice

Bag & possession

Daily bag: 2 / day per angler (within a combined 4-fish trout + salmon daily limit on designated salmon lakes; no more than 2 may be salmon)
Possession: Same as daily bag

Size, slot, trophy rules

Size: 15 in min
Trophy rule: NH state-record landlocked Atlantic salmon 18 lb 8 oz (Pleasant Lake, New London, 1942, Mrs. Letty M. Clark — one of the oldest standing Northeast records); modern fishery 2-4 lb typical with 6-8 lb trophies; the spring ice-out smelt troll on Winnipesaukee + Squam + Sunapee is the marquee fishery

Gear restrictions

Open April 1 – September 30 only; may NOT be taken through the ice or October 1 – March 31
Head + tail must remain intact while on or leaving NH waters
Trolling (smelt / streamers / lead-core) is the marquee tactic; trolling restrictions apply on listed lakes
NH does NOT issue a separate Trout Stamp — standard freshwater licence covers salmon fishing
Confirm current-year NHF&G salmon-lake list + per-lake rules

Named water-body overrides

Where statewide rules differ on specific New Hampshire waters:

Lake Winnipesaukee
15 in min, 2 / day (within combined 4-fish trout + salmon); NH's flagship salmon-troll lake; trolling restrictions apply
Big Squam Lake
15 in min, 2 / day (within combined 4-fish trout + salmon); self-sustaining lake trout + stocked salmon
Lake Sunapee
15 in min, 2 / day (within combined 4-fish trout + salmon); type-locality of the extinct Sunapee Trout
Newfound Lake
15 in min, 2 / day (within combined 4-fish trout + salmon); clean deep-water lake
First Connecticut Lake
15 in min, 2 / day (within combined 4-fish trout + salmon); northern NH headwaters
Pleasant Lake
NH state-record landlocked Atlantic salmon 18 lb 8 oz (1942); New London, designated trout pond

Official source

New Hampshire Fish & Game Department (NHF&G) — Inland Fisheries Division + Marine Fisheries Division publishes the authoritative 2026 New Hampshirefishing regulations. Always verify the current rule before fishing — emergency closures and in-season changes can override what's published here.

The landlocked atlantic salmon rules on this page are sourced from New Hampshire Fish & Game Department (NHF&G) — Inland Fisheries Division + Marine Fisheries Division's official landlocked atlantic salmon regulation page.

Visit official New Hampshire fishing regulations →

Emergency-order channel

Landlocked Atlantic salmon closures, slot-limit changes, and harvest pauses are posted to New Hampshire Fish & Game Department's emergency-order feed — check it before any New Hampshire trip during the active season.

Frequently asked questions

When is landlocked atlantic salmon season in New Hampshire?: Open April 1 – September 30 on the designated salmon lakes; closed October 1 – March 31; may not be taken through the ice. 15-inch minimum, 2 salmon within a combined 4-fish trout + salmon daily limit. Those are the 2026 New Hampshire dates; always confirm against New Hampshire Fish & Game Department (NHF&G) — Inland Fisheries Division + Marine Fisheries Division before a trip, because an emergency order can shift an opener with little notice.
What is the New Hampshire bag limit for landlocked atlantic salmon?: The New Hampshire daily bag limit for landlocked atlantic salmon is 2 / day per angler (within a combined 4-fish trout + salmon daily limit on designated salmon lakes; no more than 2 may be salmon). The possession limit is Same as daily bag. Some named waters set a different limit — check the water-body overrides above.
What size landlocked atlantic salmon can you keep in New Hampshire?: The New Hampshire size rule for landlocked atlantic salmon is 15 in min. Trophy rule: NH state-record landlocked Atlantic salmon 18 lb 8 oz (Pleasant Lake, New London, 1942, Mrs. Letty M. Clark — one of the oldest standing Northeast records); modern fishery 2-4 lb typical with 6-8 lb trophies; the spring ice-out smelt troll on Winnipesaukee + Squam + Sunapee is the marquee fishery.
Do you need a license to fish for landlocked atlantic salmon in New Hampshire?: Yes. New Hampshire requires a valid fishing license to fish for landlocked atlantic salmon, with the usual exemptions for young children, state free-fishing days, and some senior or disabled-veteran categories. A license is valid only in the state that issued it, so non-residents need a New Hampshire license — compare resident and non-resident New Hampshire fees on the state regulations page below.
Are there gear restrictions for landlocked atlantic salmon in New Hampshire?: Yes. In New Hampshire, landlocked atlantic salmon fishing carries these gear rules: Open April 1 – September 30 only; may NOT be taken through the ice or October 1 – March 31; Head + tail must remain intact while on or leaving NH waters; Trolling (smelt / streamers / lead-core) is the marquee tactic; trolling restrictions apply on listed lakes; NH does NOT issue a separate Trout Stamp — standard freshwater licence covers salmon fishing; Confirm current-year NHF&G salmon-lake list + per-lake rules.
Do specific New Hampshire waters have different landlocked atlantic salmon rules?: Yes. 6 named New Hampshire waters carry rules that override the statewide landlocked atlantic salmon regulation, including Lake Winnipesaukee, Big Squam Lake, Lake Sunapee, and 3 more. See the named water-body overrides above for the exact rule on each.

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