CHAPTER
Fis 500 BAIT FISH, ORGANIZED AND/OR
COMMERCIAL ACTIVITIES
Statutory
Authority:
REVISION
NOTE:
Document #5016 made extensive changes
to the wording, format and structure of Fis 400 and Fis 500. Document #5016 supersedes all prior filings
for the sections in these chapters except for Parts Fis 408 and 410, which were
not included in Document #5016. The
prior filings for former Fis 500 include the following documents:
#0745, eff 1-25-76 |
#1999, eff 4-15-82 |
#2839, eff 8-31-84 |
#4665, eff 8-21-89 |
#0996,
eff 1-1-78 |
#2000,
eff 4-15-82 |
#3169,
eff 12-31-85 |
#4688,
eff 10-24-89 |
#1041,
eff 10-15-77 |
#2172,
eff 11-28-82 |
#4033,
eff 4-1-86 |
#4722,
eff 1-1-90 |
#1464,
eff 1-1-80 |
#2263,
eff 1-7-83 |
#4121,
eff 8-21-86 |
#4724,
eff 1-1-90 |
#1590,
eff 6-11-80 |
#2456,
eff 8-28-83 |
#4191,
eff 12-17-86 |
#4769,
eff 2-27-90 |
#1669,
eff 11-20-80 |
#2500,
eff 11-1-83 |
#4318,
eff 9-25-87 |
#4770,
eff 2-27-90 |
#1670,
eff 11-20-80 |
#2675,
eff 4-18-84 |
#4396,
eff 4-18-88 |
#4790,
eff 3-27-90 |
#1844,
eff 1-1-82 |
#2741,
eff 6-13-84 |
#4535,
eff 12-2-88 |
#4803,
eff 4-25-90 |
|
|
|
#4821,
eff 5-29-90 |
|
|
|
#4920,
eff 8-20-90 |
The rules in former Fis 501 through
Fis 511 governing county exceptions to the freshwater fishing rules have been
amended and incorporated into Fis 400 by Document #5016. The rules in former Fis 406 governing bait
fish and bait fish dealers have been amended and incorporated into Fis
502. The rules in former Fis 411
governing prohibited actions have been amended and incorporated into Fis 402. The rules governing fishing contests in
former Fis 412 have been amended and incorporated into Fis 503. The rules governing trophy fish and record
fish programs in former Fis 413 have been amended and incorporated into Fis
504. See the revision note at the head
of Chapter Fis 400 for prior filings under that chapter.
PART
Fis 501 APPLICABILITY
Fis
501.01 Person Subject to this Chapter. This chapter shall apply to persons
harvesting bait, participating in or
conducting organized or commercial activities within the freshwaters of the
state.
Source.
(See Revision Notes at chapter headings for Fis 400 and Fis 500) #5016, eff 1-1-91; ss by # 5292, eff 12-20-91, EXPIRED: 12-20-97
New. #8120, eff 7-16-04;
ss by #10279, eff 2-28-13; ss by #13532, eff 2-1-23
Fis
501.02 Definitions. All the definitions in Fis 401 shall apply to
this chapter.
Source. #5292, eff 12-20-91,
EXPIRED: 12-20-97
New. #8120, eff 7-16-04;
ss by #10279, eff 2-28-13; ss by #13532, eff 2-1-23
PART
Fis 502 BAIT FISH
Fis 502.01 Taking Bait
Fish for Personal Use by Licensed Bait Dealers.
(a) Except as provided in Fis
406, Fis 407, and Fis 410, there shall be no closed season for licensed
anglers to take bait fish listed in Fis 402.08(a) for personal use as bait by
the methods prescribed in RSA 211:9. In
addition, white suckers may be taken for personal use as bait by use of traps
made of wire slats, not more than 50 inches long nor more than 30 inches wide,
with an aperture for the entrance of fish no smaller than 3 and 1/2 inches in
diameter.
(b) The daily limit per licensee for
bait fish listed in Fis 402.08, shall be 2 quarts liquid measure.
(c) No more than 6 total bait
traps shall be used by any licensee at one time to take bait fish listed in Fis
402.08, crayfish, and all aquatic invertebrate species. All other
species taken shall be immediately released into the waters from which they
were taken.
(d) All bait traps, holding boxes, or other
receptacles shall be plainly marked with the name and contact information of the licensed
owner or user.
Source. (See Revision Notes at chapter headings for
Fis 400 and Fis 500) #5016, eff 1-1-91 (from Fis
406.01); ss by # 5292, eff 12-20-91; ss by #5723, eff 12-1-93; ss by #6713, eff
3-11-98; amd by #7582, eff 1-1-02; paragraphs (a) & (c) EXPIRED: 3-11-06;
amd by #8673, INTERIM, eff 7-6-06, EXPIRED: 1-2-07
New. #8997, eff 9-29-07;
ss by #10425, eff 1-1-14; ss by #10936, eff 1-1-16; ss by #11029, eff 1-26-16;
ss by #12933, eff 11-28-19; ss by #13798, eff 11-1-23
Fis 502.02 Taking of
Bait Fish or Aquatic Invertebrates by Licensed Bait Dealers.
(a) There shall be no closed
season for taking bait fish listed in Fis 402.08 for bait, except as otherwise
provided in Fis 406, Fis 407, and Fis 410, by persons holding a bait dealer’s license and by
methods prescribed in RSA 214:34-a.
(b) Persons holding a bait dealer’s license
may take crayfish or other aquatic invertebrates by hand, with nets, or through the use of bait traps. All other species shall
be immediately released into the waters from which they were taken.
(c) All bait traps, holding
boxes,
or other receptacles shall be plainly marked with the name and address of the
licensed owner or user.
Source.
(See Revision Notes at chapter headings for Fis 400 and Fis 500) #5016, eff 1-1-91 (from Fis 406.02); ss by #5292, eff 12-20-91,
EXPIRED: 12-20-97
New. #6713, eff 3-11-98,
EXPIRED: 3-11-06
New. #8673, INTERIM, eff
7-6-06, EXPIRED: 1-2-07
New. #8997, eff 9-29-07;
ss by #10425, eff 1-1-14; ss by #11029, eff 1-26-16; ss by #11080, eff 4-22-16;
ss by #12768, eff 5-3-19; ss by #12933, eff 11-28-19; ss by 13798, eff 11-1-23
Fis 502.03 Taking of
Freshwater Smelt
by Licensed Bait Dealers.
(a) Licensed bait dealers may
take freshwater smelt for sale as bait.
(b) Licensed bait dealers
shall only take freshwater smelt in the waterbodies listed in Table 502.1 in paragraph
(c) below by means of a dip net held in hand, a drop net not over 48 inches in
diameter, or a square umbrella net not over 42 inches on a side, pursuant to
RSA 214:34-a.
(c) Licensed
bait dealers may take freshwater smelt for sale as bait by the methods
described in paragraph (b) above from ice-in through February 28, in the open
waterbodies in Table 502.1:
Table 502.1 WATERBODIES OPEN FOR TAKING
FRESHWATER SMELT FOR BAIT
WATERBODY |
TOWN(s) |
Beech Pond, Lower |
Tuftonboro |
Cedar Pond |
Milan |
Christine Lake |
Stark |
Crystal Lake |
Enfield, Gilmanton, and Eaton |
Deering Reservoir |
Deering |
Iona Lake |
Albany |
Loon Lake |
Freedom |
Loon Pond |
Gilmanton |
Manning Lake |
Gilmanton |
Pea Porridge Pond |
Madison |
Pleasant Lake |
Deerfield |
Post Pond |
Lyme |
Rust Pond |
Wolfeboro |
Sandy Pond |
Richmond |
South Pond |
Stark |
Suncook Lakes |
Barnstead |
Sunapee Lake, Little |
Springfield |
Sunset Lake |
Alton and Gilmanton |
Tewksbury Pond |
Grafton |
Webster Lake |
Franklin |
Wentworth Lake |
Wolfeboro |
White Lake |
Tamworth |
(d) The daily limit for freshwater smelt
taken by licensed bait dealers in the water bodies listed in Table 502.1 in
paragraph (c) above shall be 8 quarts liquid of whole, with head and tail
intact, freshwater smelt in the 24 hours between 12 o'clock noon one day and 12
o'clock noon the following day.
(e) The
daily limit for freshwater smelt taken by licensed bait dealers in locations
other than those set forth in Table 502.1 in paragraph (c) above shall be 2
quarts liquid of whole, with head and tail intact, freshwater smelt in the 24
hours between 12 o'clock noon one day and 12 o'clock noon the following day and
shall be taken by angling only.
(f) No
licensed bait dealer shall have in possession more than one daily limit of
freshwater smelt while taking freshwater smelt for sale as bait from streams,
ponds, or lakes, or when leaving such waters.
Source.
(See Revision Notes at chapter headings for Fis 400 and Fis 500) #5016, eff 1-1-91 (from Fis 406.03); ss by # 5292, eff 12-20-91; ss
by #5723, eff 12-1-93; amd by #6115, eff 11-22-95; ss by #6713, eff 3-11-98; ss
by #7180, eff
1-1-00; ss by #8997, eff 9-29-07 ss by #10425, eff 1-1-14; ss by #12768,
eff 5-3-19; ss by #13798, eff 11-1-23
Fis 502.04
Molesting Gear. No person shall molest, pull, tend, or
disturb any gear as specified in RSA 214:34-c.
Source.
(See Revision Notes at chapter headings for Fis 400 and Fis 500) #5016, eff 1-1-91(from Fis 406.04), EXPIRED: 1-1-97
New. #6432, eff 1-21-97;
ss by #8120, eff 7-16-04; ss by #10279, eff 2-28-13; ss by #13532, eff 2-1-23; ss by #13798,
eff 11-1-23
Fis 502.05 Equipment.
(a) In addition to the equipment requirements
specified in RSA 214:34-a, licensed bait dealers shall use a fish grader, with minimum
grader spacings of 14/64 inches, while taking freshwater smelt for sale as bait
from ice in through February 28.
(b) The
licensed bait dealer shall immediately liberate alive all undersized
smelt into the waters from which they were taken.
Source.
(See Revision Notes at chapter headings for Fis 400 and Fis 500) #5016, eff 1-1-91(from Fis 406.05); EXPIRED: 1-1-97
New. #6432, eff 1-21-97;
ss by #7180, eff 1-1-00; ss by #8997, eff 9-29-07; ss by #10279, eff 2-28-13;
ss by #10425, eff 1-1-14;
ss by #13798, eff 11-1-23
Fis 502.06 Dealing in
Live Fishing Bait. Any premises used by persons licensed to take
and hold live finfish or aquatic invertebrates for bait shall be open for
inspection by the executive director or designee at any time.
Source.
(See Revision Notes at chapter headings for Fis 400 and Fis 500) #5016, eff 1-1-91(from Fis 406.06); ss by #5292, eff 12-20-91,
EXPIRED: 12-20-97
New. #6713, eff 3-11-98,
EXPIRED: 3-11-06
New. #8997, eff 9-29-07;
ss by #10425, eff 1-1-14; ss by #11029, eff 1-26-16; ss by #13798,
eff 11-1-23
Fis 502.07 Importation of
Finfish for Bait.
(a) No person shall import
fin fish for bait, unless the person is a licensed retail or wholesale bait dealer in
accordance with Fis 1104.04, who is also in possession of a permit to import
bait fish, issued in accordance with Fis 1104.07.
(b) A
permit to import bait fish shall be issued to import only the following
species:
(1) White sucker (Catostomus commersonii);
(2) Eastern creek chubsucker (Erimyzon oblongus);
(3) Tomcod or killifish (Fundulus sp.);
(4) Golden shiner (Notemigonus crysoleucas);
(5) Common shiner (Luxilis cornutus);
(6) Spot-tail shiner (Notropis hudsonius);
(7) Eastern silvery minnow (Hybognathus regius);
(8) Emerald shiner (Notropis atherinoides);
(9) Lake chub (Couesius plumbeus);
(10) Creek chub (Semotilus atromaculatus);
(11) Fallfish (Semotilus corporalis); and
(12) Rainbow smelt (Osmerus mordax).
(c) All
permits to import bait fish shall be issued with the following additional
conditions and restrictions:
(1) Live fish imported for use as
freshwater fishing bait shall only be imported from states with an aquatic
invasive species monitoring program, approved in advance of the importation by
the executive director, and meeting the testing criteria contained in Fis
803.09 and the reporting requirements of Fis 803.10;
(2) The date of importation from an
approved hatchery source shall be within 6 months of the inspection;
(3) No species of aquatic
invertebrate shall be imported for use as bait or otherwise;
(4) Freshwater smelt shall not be
imported, except that all bait fish and freshwater smelt that are natal
to the state of Maine and free of pathogens, in accordance with Fis 803.09, may
be imported without a prior inspection of the source;
(5) No
dealer shall import a greater quantity of bait fish than the quantity specified
on that person’s import permit;
(6) Each
shipment of imported fish for bait received by a licensed bait dealer shall be
accompanied with a dated bill of sale, signed by the source of purchase,
indicating the quantity by species and the name and address of the source of
said fish; and
(7) The
bill of sale and all documents showing the results of any inspection or testing
of imported fish shall be open for inspection by the executive director or designee at any
time.
Source.
(See Revision Notes at chapter headings for Fis 400 and Fis 500) #5016, eff 1-1-91 (from Fis 406.07); amd by #5723, eff 12-1-93; amd
by #5723, eff 12-1-93; ss by 6177, eff 1-27-96, EXPIRED: 1-27-04
New. #8120, eff 7-16-04;
amd by #9249, eff 1-1-09; ss by #10279, eff 2-28-13; ss by #11029, eff 1-26-16;
ss by #12768, eff 5-3-19;
ss by #13798, eff 11-1-23
(a) All persons licensed to
deal in bait in accordance with RSA 214:34 shall file a monthly report on
combined brochure form 84 and 84-A “Freshwater Bait Dealers Monthly Report”, Rev.
12/2018, available on line at https://www.wildlife.nh.gov/sites/g/files/ehbemt746/files/documents/
bait-dealer-report.pdf, with the executive director as follows:
(1) Any licensed bait dealer who
takes freshwater smelt from New Hampshire waters for sale as bait shall complete
form 84 by the 15th of each month, for the previous calendar month, whether or not the taking of such fish occurred; and
(2) Any licensed bait dealer who
imports bait from outside the state in accordance with a permit issued pursuant
to Fis 1104.07 shall complete form 84-A by the 15th of each
month, for the previous calendar month, whether or not an
import occurred.
(b) All
reports shall be maintained, complete to the previous day, and shall be either
in the possession of or reasonably accessible to the licensee so that they
shall be open for inspection by the director or designee at any time.
(c) Any licensed
bait dealer who notifies the executive director in advance, in writing, that he
or she will
not be taking freshwater smelt from any in-state location or importing bait
fish from outside the state for a period in excess of 60 days shall not be
required to report for that period so long as no freshwater smelt
are taken and no bait fish are
imported. The notification shall be signed subject to the penalties
for making unsworn false statements under RSA 641:3.
Source.
(See Revision Notes at chapter headings for Fis 400 and Fis 500) #5016, eff 1-1-91(from Fis 406.08); ss by #5723, eff 12-1-93; ss by
#6713, eff 3-11-98, EXPIRED: 3-11-06
New. #8673, INTERIM, eff
7-6-06, EXPIRED: 1-2-07
New. #8997, eff 9-29-07;
amd by #10007, eff 1-1-12; ss by #10425, eff 1-1-14; ss by #12768, eff 5-3-19; ss by #13798, eff 11-1-23
Fis 502.081 Wholesale Bait
Sales Records.
(a) The wholesale bait dealer
licensee shall provide a dated bill of sale or record of transaction to the
purchaser whenever bait fish are sold to another licensed bait dealer.
(b) The dated bill of sale or
record of transaction shall include:
(1) The species;
(2) The
quantity by species;
(3) The
wholesale bait dealer’s license number;
(4) The
purchaser’s bait dealer’s license number; and
(5) Both
the seller’s and purchaser’s signatures or the signatures of their agents,
subject to the penalties for making unsworn false statements under
RSA 641:3.
(c) Such records shall be
kept January through December 31 and shall be made available to the executive
director or designee
upon request.
Source. #6713, eff 3-11-98,
EXPIRED: 3-11-06
New. #8673, INTERIM, eff
7-6-06, EXPIRED: 1-2-07
New. #8997, eff 9-29-07;
amd by #9773-A, eff 1-1-11; ss by #10425, eff 1-1-14; ss by #13798, eff 11-1-23
Fis 502.09 Suspension of
Bait Dealer License or Permit to Import Bait Fish.
(a) Any person may complain
in writing to the executive director of the department if that person has
reason to believe that a licensed bait dealer or holder of a permit to import
bait fish has failed to comply with any provision of RSA 214:34 and RSA 214:35 or
these rules.
(b) Any
action seeking the suspension or revocation of an annual bait dealer license or
permit to import bait fish shall be taken in accordance with RSA 541-A:30 and
Fis 200.
(c) The
period of suspension for the following offenses shall continue, and no license
or permit shall be restored, until all required information has been filed with
the department or notice is received from another jurisdiction that the license
holder has satisfied all obligations imposed by that jurisdiction:
(1) Failure to file a report
required by Fis 502.08 for more than 30 days;
(2) Failure to obtain a permit
to import;
(3) Failure to pay any
required fee; or
(4) Recognition of a suspension or
revocation action imposed by another jurisdiction.
(d) The
period of suspension for the following offenses shall be 1 year from the date
of conviction:
(1) Taking or possessing of
bait in excess of statutory limits or daily limits
imposed by these rules;
(2) Importing of bait fish into
this state without evidence of required testing, whether from hatchery stock
or wild sources;
(3) Knowingly, recklessly, or
negligently introducing into this state a fish-borne pathogen or invasive
species as a result of a failure to follow
procedures imposed by these rules; or
(4) Using an improper method(s) to
take bait fish for sale, in
violation of these rules.
Source. #6177, eff 1-27-96,
EXPIRED: 1-27-04
New. #8120, eff 7-16-04;
ss by #10279, eff 2-28-13; and by #10936, eff 1-1-16; rpld
by #12768, eff 5-3-19
New. #12768, eff 5-3-19; ss by #13798,
eff 11-1-23
Fis 502.10 RESERVED
Source. #6177, eff 1-27-96,
EXPIRED: 1-27-04
New. #8120, eff 7-16-04;
ss by #10279, eff 2-28-13; rpld by #12768, eff 5-3-19
PART
Fis 503 FISHING TOURNAMENTS
Statutory
Authority: RSA 206:10, I and RSA
211:16-b
Fis 503.01 Definitions.
(a) “Black bass
tournament” means a type of fishing tournament where the only eligible species
for entry are black bass (Micropterus salmoides and M. dolomieui), and all of these fish
caught are released.
(b) “Club
level event” means a black bass tournament involving up to and including 15
boats.
(c) “Culling”
means the act of exchanging a newly caught fish for one of the same species
already in possession of the angler.
(d) “Fishing
tournament” means any organized fishing event conducted on the freshwaters of
the state in which participants, whether or not
pre-registered, compete for any awards or prize, including cash,
trophies, citations, ribbons, or points.
The term includes angling conducted from the shore, any structure, or any
watercraft, whether or not motorized or
registered in accordance with RSA 270.
(e) “Intra-scholastic
fishing tournament” means a fishing tournament held by a New Hampshire Interscholastic
Athletic Association (NHIAA) affiliated school where all the participants are
enrolled in the
same school.
(f) “Kids’
derby” means a fishing tournament where all the participants are under 16 years
of age.
(g) “Pre-registered”
means having signed up in advance as a requirement to participate in a fishing
tournament.
Source.
(See Revision Notes at chapter headings for Fis 400 and Fis 500) #5016, eff 1-1-91, EXPIRED: 1-1-97
New. #6478, INTERIM, eff
3-28-97, EXPIRED: 7-26-97
New. #6917, eff 12-22-98;
ss by #8119, eff 1-1-05; ss by #10007, eff 1-1-12; amd
by #10541, eff 4-1-14; ss by #12768, eff 5-3-19; ss by #13798,
eff 11-1-23
Fis 503.02 Permit Required.
(a) No person shall conduct a
fishing tournament without obtaining a fishing tournament permit pursuant to in
Fis 1104.05.
(b) A permit issued for a
fishing tournament shall be valid for no longer than 3 consecutive days.
(c) A person shall be deemed to have a fishing
tournament permit by rule for fishing tournaments that meet the following
conditions:
(1) The
fishing tournament is held entirely on private ponds and no state fish are
provided by the department;
(2) The
fishing tournament is an intra-scholastic fishing tournament; or
(3) The proposed tournament is to
take place entirely within the coastal and estuarine waters as defined
in Fis 601.01 and targets only species of fish that spend all or a portion
of their existence in the Atlantic Ocean.
Source.
(See Revision Notes at chapter headings for Fis 400 and Fis 500) #5016, eff 1-1-91, EXPIRED: 1-1-97
New. #6478, INTERIM, eff
3-28-97, EXPIRED: 7-26-97
New. #6917, eff 12-22-98;
ss by #8119, eff 1-1-05; ss by #10279, eff 2-28-13; ss by #10541, eff 4-1-14;
ss by #11193, eff 9-30-16;
ss by #13798, eff 11-1-23
Fis 503.03 Tagging. The
department shall not tag fish for the purpose of prize determination in a
fishing tournament.
Source.
(See Revision Notes at chapter headings for Fis 400 and Fis 500) #5016, eff 1-1-91, EXPIRED: 1-1-97
New. #6478, INTERIM, eff
3-28-97, EXPIRED: 7-26-97
New. #6917, eff 12-22-98;
ss by #8119, eff 1-1-05; ss by #10279, eff 2-28-13; ss by #13532, eff 2-1-23; ss by #13798,
eff 11-1-23
Fis 503.04 Reporting.
(a) Any person conducting a
fishing tournament, except kids derbies as described in Fis 503.05(k) and black bass
tournaments reported as specified in paragraph (b) below, shall submit form
“General Tournament/Derby Record Form”, Rev 10/24/22, available on line at https://www.wildlife.nh.gov/sites/g/files/ehbemt746/files/documents/tourn-general-record-form.pdf.
(b) Any
person conducting a black bass tournament, as specified in Fis 503.06, shall
submit form “Bass Tournament Record Form”, Rev 10/20/22, available on line at https://www.wildlife.nh.gov/sites/g/files/ehbemt746/files/documents/tourn-bass-record-form.pdf .
(c) In
addition to the requirements in Fis 503.04(a), fishing tournaments with a lake
trout or landlocked salmon category shall report individual lengths and weights
of fish entered.
(d) All record forms
shall be completed within 30 days after the end of the fishing
tournament.
Source.
(See Revision Notes at chapter headings for Fis 400 and Fis 500) #5016, eff 1-1-91, EXPIRED: 1-1-97
New. #6478, INTERIM, eff
3-28-97, EXPIRED: 7-26-97
New. #6917, eff 12-22-98;
ss by #8119, eff 1-1-05; ss by #10279, eff 2-28-13; ss by #10425, eff 1-1-14; ss by #13798,
eff 11-1-23
Fis 503.05 General Restrictions
for Fishing Tournaments.
(a) No
fishing tournaments, except as specified in paragraph (k) below, shall be held on waterbodies
stocked for trout by the department.
(b) No
fishing tournaments shall be held on waterbodies stocked for lake trout and
salmon by the department, except:
(1) Black bass tournaments
permitted under Fis 503.06;
(2) Tournaments that have been conducted with
valid permits prior to January 1, 1999, provided the permit is renewed
annually; and
(3) Open
water tournaments that target rock bass (Ambloplites rupestris) that have been conducted with valid permits prior to January 1, 2008,
provided the permit is renewed annually.
(c) No
fishing tournaments that target black bass shall be held from ice-in to March
31.
(d) A
fishing tournament permit application shall be denied by the executive director
if:
(1) It
would be biologically detrimental to the fish populations in the
water body;
(2) A fisheries
research or management
program on the waterbody would be affected;
(3) It would cause a conflict with
another permitted tournament; or
(4) The sponsoring organization has
not submitted a report in accordance with Fis 503.04 for a previously held
fishing tournament.
(e) Fishing
tournaments shall be no longer than 3 consecutive days.
(f) The
minimum length for lake trout and salmon in fishing tournaments, permitted
under paragraph (b) above, shall be 22 inches for lake trout and 18 inches for
salmon.
(g) Culling
shall be prohibited, except as specified in Fis 503.06(a).
(h) No
tournament weigh-ins shall occur at department-controlled access facilities.
(i) When a permitted fishing tournament uses a
department-controlled boat access facility, no more than 50 percent of the
facility’s designated parking spaces shall be used by participants in the
tournament.
(j) The
department shall provide trout only to kids’ derbies.
(k) Kids’
derbies shall be subject to the following restrictions:
(1) The department shall provide
trout on a 50-50 matching basis, not to exceed 250 state fish for any one derby, and matching
state fish shall only be available for stocking between April 1 and June 30;
(2) Fish
imported into the state shall be in compliance with
Fis 803;
(3) These
derbies shall be held on public fishing waters or on private waters that shall
remain open to the public for fishing for the remainder of the open season
for trout;
(4) When
derbies are held on private waters, the land owner shall
provide written assurance of public use to the department;
(5) The derby sponsor shall complete
the form “Application to Conduct a Kids Fishing Derby, Rev 07/23, available on
line at https://www.wildlife.nh.gov/sites/g/files/ehbemt746/files/documents/kids-fishing-derby-app.pdf at least 30 days prior to the date of the
derby;
(6) A
permit fee shall not be required for kids’ derbies; and
(7) If the
derby sponsor charges an entry fee, the department shall not provide matching
fish.
Source.
(See Revision Notes at chapter headings for Fis 400 and Fis 500) #5016, eff 1-1-91, EXPIRED: 1-1-97
New. #6478, INTERIM, eff
3-28-97, EXPIRED: 7-26-97
New. #6917, eff 12-22-98;
ss by #8119, eff 1-1-05; ss by #10007, eff 1-1-12; ss by #10674, eff 1-1-15; ss
by #10855, eff 6-22-15; ss by #12933, eff 11-28-19; ss by #13798, eff 11-1-23
Fis 503.06 Black Bass Tournaments.
(a) In
addition to the general restrictions specified in Fis 503.01 through Fis
503.05, black bass tournaments shall also be subject to the following:
(1) Black bass shall only be held
in a functional live well;
(2) No participant shall hold more
than the daily limit of black bass;
(3) Culling of black bass shall be
permitted only during permitted bass tournaments;
(4) Culled black bass shall be
released immediately into the same body of water from which it was caught and
in a physical state as to reasonably insure its survival;
(5) Black bass entered for the
weigh–in at black bass tournaments shall be released unharmed into the same
waterbody where caught, as follows:
a. In lakes and ponds, not less
than 300 feet away from shoreline; and
b. In rivers, at mid-channel not
less than 300 feet away from the weigh-in site;
(6) Boats designated by the black bass
tournament sponsor may hold more than the daily limit of black bass solely for
the purpose of releasing black bass after weigh-in;
(7) There shall be no more than one
weigh-in per calendar day in a black bass tournament; and
(8) Black bass tournaments held May
15 to June 15 shall be subject to the following:
a. Black bass shall be immediately
released at location of capture;
b. Prior to release, black bass may
be quickly measured, or weighed, or both;
c. Black bass shall not be held in
a live-well or otherwise retained longer than the time required for the fish to
be measured and weighed prior to immediate release; and
d. Weigh-ins shall not be allowed
during these tournaments.
(b) Applications
for black bass fishing tournament permits by lottery, using the form
“Application for Permit to Conduct a Fishing Tournament”, Rev 10/19, available on
line at https://www.wildlife.nh.gov/sites/g/files/ehbemt746/files/documents/fishing-tournament-app-4.pdf, shall be processed as follows:
(1) Applications for award of a
black bass tournament permit by lottery shall be accepted only between
October 1 and December 1 by 4:00 pm for permits
requested for the following year;
(2) No
person or sponsoring entity shall file more than a total of 15 applications for
the lottery, which may include a mix of club level events and non-club level
events. Once this filing limit has been reached, any subsequent application received
from that applicant shall be deemed ineligible for the lottery and shall not be
processed;
(3) No application shall be
processed if the person or sponsoring entity has failed to file all of the reports required by Fis 503.04 for previous
tournaments. Any such application received shall be denied
without processing;
(4) Each application for a black bass
tournament permit by lottery received between October 1 and December 1 shall be
assigned a computer-generated, random number, which shall be placed into a
database and ranked by a computer-generated drawing of those
random numbers;
(5) Available dates for each
waterbody shall be offered to the lottery applicants in the order determined by
the lottery. If payment of the fee as set in Fis 1110.05 is not received within
30 days of the date of the notice of selection, the application(s) shall be
denied for non-payment. The available date shall not be thereafter awarded as
part of the lottery process, but shall be available for award under paragraph (c)
below; and
(6) The decision of the executive director as
to the results of the random number lottery drawing, the assignment of random
numbering to applications, and the award of permits by lottery shall be final
and not subject to further review.
(c) Beginning
March 1 of each year, applications for the award of black bass fishing
tournament permits for any date and waterbody remaining available after the
award of tournament permits by lottery shall be accepted, using the form
specified in paragraph (b) above, and processed as follows:
(1) Each application received March
1 or after shall be issued a sequential number in the order the applications
are received;
(2) No application shall be
processed if the person or sponsoring entity has failed to file all of the reports required by Fis 503.04 for a
previous tournament. Any such application received shall be denied without processing;
(3) Each applicant shall be offered
an opportunity to pay the fee, as set in Fis 1110.05 for the permit, in the
order of the sequential number assignment. If payment is not received
within 30 days of the date of the notice, or within 10 days prior to the date
of the tournament if the date is less than 30 days from the date of the notice,
the permit shall not be awarded;
(4) Once the period to pay the fee
has expired, applications shall be denied for nonpayment, and the permit shall
be offered to the next applicant in the order of the sequential number
assignment, upon the same condition to pay the fee on a timely basis; and
(5) The decision of the executive director as
to the assignment of sequential numbering to applications and the award of
permits shall be final and not subject to further review.
(d) Black
bass tournaments held on Umbagog Lake, Province Lake,
Balch Pond, Horn Pond, Great East Lake, Milton Watershed, Lower Kimball Pond,
and Spaulding Pond shall be subject to the following:
(1) Black bass shall be taken only
by artificial lures and flies;
(2) From April 1 through May 14,
permittees may hold up to 2 black bass in a live well and submitted for the black
bass tournament. July 1 through November
30, permittees may hold up to 5 black bass in a live well and submitted for the
black bass tournament;
(3) From May 15 through June 30, all black bass
shall be immediately released unharmed at the site of catch; and
(4) No
weigh-in black bass tournaments will be permitted on a body of water less than
or equal to 500 acres, and there shall be no more than 10 weigh-in tournaments
on any water body greater than 500 acres annually, only 4 of which may be open
tournaments. These waters shall include Umbagog
Lake, Province Lake, Balch Pond, Horn Pond, Great East Lake, and Milton
Watershed.
(e) The
number of boats participating in a permitted black bass tournament shall not
exceed the maximum number listed on the fishing tournament permit application.
Source.
(See Revision Notes at chapter headings for Fis 400 and Fis 500) #5016, eff 1-1-91; amd #5321, eff 1-31-92; ss by #6478, INTERIM,
eff 3-28-97, EXPIRED: 7-26-97
New.
#6917, eff 12-22-98; amd by #7858, eff 4-1-03;
ss by #8119, eff 1-1-05; amd by #9250, eff 8-30-08; amd by #9249, eff 1-1-09;
ss by #9773-A, eff 1-1-11; ss by #10854, eff
6-22-15; ss by #10936, eff 1-1-16; amd by #10981, eff
1-1-16, para (d); ss by #12758, eff 5-3-19; ss by #12933, eff 11-28-19; ss by
#13798, eff 11-1-23
Fis 503.07 Intra-scholastic
Fishing Tournaments.
(a) Schools
holding intra-scholastic fishing tournaments shall provide the New Hampshire fish
and game department, fisheries division, with the following information at
least 3 days prior to the beginning of their intra-scholastic tournament:
(1) School name;
(2) Contact name;
(3) Contact
phone number and email address;
(4) Tournament date;
(5) Water body;
(6) Maximum
number of boats;
(7) Species
targeted; and
(8) If
tournament operates under a format of catch, measure, and
immediate release.
(b) Intra-scholastic
fishing tournaments shall be conducted as specified in Fis 503.02(d), Fis
503.05, and Fis 503.06(a), (d) and (e).
(c) Schools
shall report as specified in Fis 503.04.
Source. #10541, eff 4-1-14;
ss by #13798, eff 11-1-23
PART Fis
504.01 TROPHY FISH PROGRAM
Fis 504.01 Trophy Fish Program. The species listed in Table 500.1 below,
shall be eligible for the trophy fish program if they meet the minimum
qualifying weights for fish kept or minimum lengths for fish caught and
released:
Table 500.1
Species Name |
Scientific Name |
Weight |
Inches |
|||||
FRESHWATER FISH |
|
|
|
|||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Atlantic salmon,
Lake |
Salmo salar |
5 lbs. |
24" |
|||||
Black crappie |
Pomoxis nigromaculatus |
2 lbs. |
14" |
|||||
Bluegill |
Lepomis macrochirus |
l lb. |
10" |
|||||
Brook trout |
Salvelinus fontinalis |
2 lbs. |
16" |
|||||
Brown bullhead |
Ameiurus nebulosus |
2 lbs. |
14" |
|||||
Brown trout |
Salmo trutta |
5 lbs. |
25" |
|||||
Carp, Common |
Cyprinus carpio |
20 lbs. |
30” |
|||||
Chain pickerel |
Esox niger |
4 lbs. |
24" |
|||||
Channel catfish |
Ictalurus punctatus |
6 lbs. |
24” |
|||||
Cusk (Burbot) |
Lota lota |
6 lbs. |
28” |
|||||
Fallfish |
Semotilus corporalis |
2 lbs. |
15” |
|||||
Lake trout |
Salvelinus namaycush |
10 lbs. |
30" |
|||||
Lake whitefish |
Coregonus clupeaformis |
4 lbs. |
20" |
|||||
Largemouth bass |
Micropterus salmoides |
5 lbs. |
20" |
|||||
Northern pike |
Esox lucius |
15 lbs. |
38" |
|||||
Pumpkinseed |
Lepomis gibbosus |
10 oz. |
8” |
|||||
Rainbow trout |
Oncorhynchus mykiss |
4 lbs. |
20" |
|||||
Rock bass |
Ambloplites rupestris |
1 lb. |
10” |
|||||
Smallmouth bass |
Micropterus dolomieui |
4 lbs. |
19" |
|||||
Walleye |
Sander vitreus |
6 lbs. |
26" |
|||||
White catfish |
Ameiurus catus |
4 lbs. |
18” |
|||||
White perch |
Morone americana |
2.5 lbs. |
15” |
|||||
Yellow perch |
Perca flavescens |
1.5 lbs. |
14" |
|||||
SALTWATER FISH |
|
|
|
|
||||
|
|
|
|
|
||||
Atlantic
mackerel |
Scomber scombrus |
3 lbs. |
17" |
|
||||
Bluefish |
Pomatomus saltatrix |
15 lbs. |
34" |
|
||||
Cod |
Gadus morhua |
40 lbs. |
44" |
|
||||
Haddock |
Melanogrammus aeglefinus |
10 lbs. |
30" |
|
||||
Pollock |
Pollachius virens |
30 lbs. |
40" |
|
||||
Striped bass |
Morone saxatilis |
40 lbs. |
45” |
|
||||
Winter flounder |
Pseudopleuronectes americanus |
2 lbs. |
17" |
|
||||
Source.
(See Revision Notes at chapter headings for Fis 400 and Fis 500) #5016, eff 1-1-91; ss by #5613, eff 4-16-93, EXPIRED: 4-16-99
New. #7383, eff 10-25-00;
ss by #8997, eff 9-29-07; ss by #10936, eff 1-1-16; ss by #12768, eff 5-3-19
Fis 504.02 State Record Fish
Program.
(a) Any species of fish shall
be eligible for the state record fish program.
(b) Fish shall have been hooked
and landed or hooked, boated and landed in the state
of
(c) Fish shall be taken by
angling in compliance with fish and game rules and shall be hooked and landed
by the entrant.
(d) Fish to be entered into the
state record program shall be presented to a conservation officer or a
fisheries biologist for examination.
(e) Current records shall be
made available by the department.
(f) The angler shall provide
the following information on an application form:
(1) The following angler
information:
a. Name;
b. Age;
c. Sex;
d. Complete address; and
e. Telephone number;
(2) The following fish
information:
a. Species of fish;
b. Total length in inches
c. Weight in pounds; and
d. Girth in inches.
(3) The date when fish was
caught;
(4) The method of taking and
technical information on fishing equipment;
(5) The signature and address
of a witness to verify the fish described above was hooked and landed or
hooked, boated and landed in the state of
(6) The signatures and
addresses of 2 witnesses of the weighing and measuring of the fish described
above and verifying the weight and measurements given;
(7) The signature of a notary
public, justice of the peace, town clerk, postmaster, state or local law
enforcement officer or fish and game employee and their title and telephone
number; and
(8) The anglers
signature, subject to the penalties for making unsworn false statements under
RSA 641:3.
(g) Department personnel shall
question witnesses listed on the application if necessary to verify application
information.
(h) Department personnel shall
examine scales if necessary to verify scale certification and accuracy.
(i)
Any incomplete application shall be returned to the applicant.
(j) Entrants shall hold a
current
(k) Where no current records
exist, the entered species shall, upon meeting the requirements specified in
Fis 504.02 (a) through (d) and (f), be declared a state record fish.
(l) Weight scales shall be
certified by the
Source.
(See Revision Notes at chapter headings for Fis 400 and Fis 500) #5016, eff 1-1-91; EXPIRED: 1-1-97
New. #6432, eff 1-21-97;
ss by #7383, eff 10-25-00; ss by #8997, eff 9-29-07;
ss by #10936, eff 1-1-16
Appendix
|
|
Fis 501.01, 501.02 |
RSA 206:10, I |
Fis 502.01 |
RSA 206:10, I; RSA 211:9 |
Fis 502.02 |
RSA 206:10, I; RSA 214:34-a; RSA 214:35 |
Fis 502.03 |
RSA 206:10, I; RSA 214:35 |
Fis 502.04 |
RSA 206:10, I; RSA 214:34-c |
Fis 502.05 |
RSA 206:10, I; RSA 214:34-a; RSA 214:35 |
Fis 502.06 |
RSA 206:10, I; RSA
214:35 |
Fis 502.07 |
RSA 206:10, I; RSA 214:35 |
Fis 502.08 |
RSA 206:10, I; RSA 214:35 |
Fis 502.081 |
RSA 206:10, I; RSA 214:35 |
Fis 502.09 |
RSA 206:10, I; RSA 207:14, IV; RSA 214:35 |
Fis 502.10 |
RSA 206:10; 207:14; 214:35 |
Fis 503.01 |
RSA 206:10, I |
Fis 503.02 |
RSA 206:10, I; RSA 211:16-b |
Fis 503.03 |
RSA 206:10, I; RSA 211:16-b |
Fis 503.04 |
RSA 206:10, I; RSA 211:16-b |
Fis 503.05 |
RSA 206:10, I; RSA 211:16-b |
Fis 503.06 |
RSA 206:10, I; RSA 211:16-b |
Fis 503.07 |
RSA 206:10, I; RSA 211:16-b |
|
|
Fis 504.01, Fis 504.02 |
RSA
206:10, I |