River herring (alewives and bluebacks) Regulations in New Hampshire (2026)

Where

Statewide

Season

(a) No person shall take river herring, alewives ( Alosa pseudoharengus ) or bluebacks ( Alosa aestivalis ), by any method from the waters of the state between sunrise Wednesday and sunrise Thursday of any week.

• (b) Any trap or weir used in the waters of the state during the period specified in paragraph (a) above shall be constructed so as to allow total escapement of all river herring.
• (c) Any river herring taken by any method during the period specified in paragraph (a) above shall be immediately released back into the waters from which it was taken.
• Fis 604.03 Taylor River . The Taylor River from the railroad bridge to the head of tide dam in Hampton shall be closed to the taking river herring by netting of any method.
• Fis 604.04 Squamscott River . (a) During April, May and June the taking of river herring in the Squamscott River and its tributaries from the 108 Bridge to the Great Dam in Exeter shall be subject to the following: (1) Open to the taking of river herring by netting of any method only on Saturdays and Mondays; (2) The daily limit shall be one tote per person. “Tote” means a fish box or container measuring 31.5"x 18" x 11.5"; and (3) The tote shall have the harvester’s coastal harvest permit number plainly visible on the outside of the tote.
• Fis 604.05 Oyster River . The Oyster River and its tributaries shall be closed to the taking of river herring by any method from the head-of-tide dam at Mill Pond in Durham, 43°07’51.23”N, 70°55’08.20”W and 43°07’50.31”N, 70°55’08.04”W, downstream to the river mouth at Wagon Hill Farm and Durham Point, a line extending from 43°07’31.87”N, 70°52’17.67”W to 43°07’20.18”N, 70°52’19.16”W.
• Fis 604.06 Cocheco River . The Cocheco River and its tributaries shall be closed to the taking of river herring by any method from the head-of-tide dam in Dover, downstream to the confluence of the Piscataqua River.

Official source