New England Fishing Seasons: 2013 Dates by State

When can you fish for trout in Massachusetts? When can you chase landlocked salmon in Maine? Striped bass in Rhode Island? Ice fishing? Here’s what you need to know: it’s different in every state. Confused yet? Don’t worry — you will be soon.

Keeping track of when you can fish for what and by which method across New England is incredibly difficult. Every state has a different rule, and a different timeline, for different fish. What’s more, state websites vary significantly in how much information they make readily available. It’s confusing, to say the least.

What I’ve attempted to do with the below is provide a compilation of all of the various dates, websites and resources to give you a complete guide to fishing dates in New England in 2013.

Connecticut (CT)

CT Fishing Licence Information

General information available here: CT Department of Energy & Environmental Protection

When is Opening Day in Connecticut?

The traditional Opening Day of the trout season is always the third Saturday in April beginning at 6 a.m..

 

Maine (ME)

Freshwater fishing in Maine:

April 1- August 15th — all fishing, brooks and rivers

August 16 – Sept 30th — artificial lures ro flies

Northern and western Maine fishing regulations

Southern and eastern Maine fishing regulations

For more information, visit:

 

New Hampshire (NH)

NH Fishing Licence Information

NH Saltwater Fishing Information

New Hampshire Fishing Seasons:

Brook Trout, Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout & their Hybrids

  • Rivers & Streams: January 1 – October 15
  • Wild Trout Streams: January 1 – Labor Day
  • Trout Ponds: 4th Saturday in April – October 15
  • Wild Trout Ponds: 4th Saturday in April – Labor Day
  • Lake Trout &/or Salmon Waters: January 1 – September 30
  • All Other Waters: No closed season

Lake Trout

  • All Waters: January 1 – September 30

Landlocked Salmon

  • 4th Saturday in April – September 30 (Pleasant Lake, New London)
  • All Other Waters: April 1 – September 30

Atlantic Salmon Brood Stock Fishery (along the Merrimack and lower Pemigewasset rivers)

  • Catch & Release October 1 – March 31
  • 1 Fish/Day, 5 Fish/Season April 1 – September 30

 

Vermont (VT)

Vermont Fishing Licence Information

Vermont Department of Fish and Wildlife Calendar

Apr 13 2013- Jun 7 2013Bass Catch & Release Season

Apr 13 2013- Oct 31 2013Trout and Landlocked Salmon Season(No Closed Season on Lake Champlain)

May 4 2013- Mar 15 2014Walleye SeasonFor all other waters except the Connecticut River and Chittendon ReservoirMore Details

Jun 8 2013- Nov 30 2013Largemouth & Smallmouth Bass Season

 

Massachusetts (MA) 

MA Fishing Licence Information

Saltwater Fishing Regulations: Permits, Licence, Dates

Freshwater Quick Reference Guide

TROUT

Lakes, ponds, major rivers Jan. 1 – Dec. 31 3 —

Housatonic River Jan. 1 – Dec. 31

All other rivers and brooks Apr. 1 – Sept. 10 & Sept. 11 – Mar. 31, 2013

LAKE TROUT

Wachusett & Quabbin Reservoir: See Note 6 Here

SALMON (landlocked) Jan. 1 – Dec. 31

SALMON (broodstock) 7 Jan. 1 – Dec. 31

AMERICAN SHAD Jan. 1 – Dec. 31

CHAIN PICKEREL Jan. 1 – Dec. 31

BLACK BASS (Largemouth and Smallmouth, singly or combined): Jan. 1 – Dec. 31

NORTHERN PIKE Jan. 1 – Dec. 31

TIGER MUSKIE (Muskellunge) Jan. 1 – Dec. 31

WALLEYE Jan. 1 – Dec. 31

SMELT: Jan. 1 – Feb. 28 & May 16 – Dec. 31

ALL OTHER FRESHWATER SPECIES Jan. 1 – Dec. 31