New Hampshire fishing reports
66 reports for New Hampshire — what's biting, water temps, and where to focus.
NH coast stripers pushing to summer haunts as new moon tides build
The striper migration has reached a full northeast spread, with On The Water's June 12 migration map confirming bass widespread from New Jersey to Maine and moving toward summer haunts ahead of this weekend's new moon tides. Just north of the NH border, the Maine DMR Commissioner issued a public letter on June 8 calling on Saco River striper anglers to improve catch-and-release practices, a strong signal that fish are stacking in river systems along the NH/ME line. Squid were recently spotted beaching themselves on Cape Cod while chasing baitfish, per On The Water, a forage surge that typically precedes strong topwater action at inlets. With the moon entering new phase this weekend, tidal exchanges at estuary mouths and rocky points should intensify along the coast. No buoy readings were available for this cycle; check local NOAA buoys for current water temperature before heading out.
Lake Winnipesaukee smallmouth hit post-spawn stride as June builds
The Fisherman — New England Freshwater's latest regional reports find smallmouth bass actively feeding at northeastern reservoirs, with anglers picking up fish to 3.5 pounds on Ned rigs, spinnerbaits, and finesse soft plastics — a pattern that translates directly to Lake Winnipesaukee as the post-spawn bass window peaks in mid-June. No buoy temperature data was available this cycle; the USGS gauge on the Pemigewasset River (01081000) logged 1,600 cfs this morning, reflecting stable watershed conditions throughout the Lakes Region with no significant runoff in play. Wired 2 Fish notes the classic early-summer bass rhythm is fully in effect: fish push into the shallows to chase surface bait at first light, then slide back to offshore ledges and structure as the sun climbs. A waning crescent moon suppresses overnight surface activity, making the dawn-to-mid-morning window the top daily priority for both topwater and shallow presentations.
Merrimack stripers running strong as NH freshwater season hits stride
Striped bass are running the Merrimack River in good numbers this week. The Fisherman's Dave Anderson reports 'very good' striper action alongside a fresh uptick in shad. USGS gauge 01073500 put the river at 66.2 cfs at dawn on June 12, a low, clear summer reading that pushes fish into deeper pools and current breaks. Surfland Bait and Tackle, also reporting through The Fisherman, notes the hot upriver bite in the Lawrence area has slowed down a bit, a signal that action is beginning to progress toward downstream NH reaches. Eel-like soft plastics and live eels have been the productive presentations per those same reports. We're seeing a textbook mid-June transition on the Merrimack: peak-push activity fading upriver, with fish redistributing through the NH corridor. On Lake Winnipesaukee, smallmouth and largemouth bass are entering their summer pattern, feeding on the surface in early morning before moving to deeper structure as the sun climbs, consistent with current Wired 2 Fish reporting.
Stripers Building From Boston to Maine as Bait Schools Stack Up
OTW Saltwater's June 9 striper migration report puts the news plainly for NH coast anglers: bunker, mackerel, sea herring, and sand eels are fueling improving striper action from Boston Harbor north into Maine, and the fish are responding. Shortfin squid arrived in southern New England at the same time, adding another forage layer to the mix. A separate June 5 update from OTW Saltwater notes water temperatures are running a few degrees cooler than normal for early June, which may be moderating the push slightly, but with bait schools stacking up and the new moon window approaching fast, conditions are primed to build. The waning crescent moon on June 10 sets up for a strengthening bite over the next few days. No NOAA buoy data was available for this update, so anglers should verify water temps locally before heading out.
Stripers Going Big Near NH Coast as June Migration Settles In
Water at NOAA Buoy 44007 is holding at 56°F as of June 9, a few degrees cooler than typical for this point in the season. That tracks with OTW Saltwater's June 5 striper migration map, which notes water temps are "still a few degrees cooler than normal" across the Northeast coast. Despite the chill, quality fish are showing: OTW Saltwater's June 2 migration report puts 40-pound bass on bunker just outside Boston, well within striking range of NH coast rips and structure. OTW Surfcasting confirms the 2026 Striper Cup is underway as the spring migration winds into summer patterns. Saltwater Edge Blog noted recently that bass pushing north are being replenished by fresh arrivals from the south, keeping the bite steady along the whole coastline. A waning crescent moon this week produces more moderate tidal swings, which can concentrate fish on well-defined rip lines rather than scatter them. Hit dawn and dusk transitions near rocky headlands for the best shot at a quality fish.
Post-spawn bass window opens on Lake Winnipesaukee
The USGS gauge on the Winnipesaukee River outlet (site 01081000) recorded 1,890 cfs on June 8, elevated outflow pointing to spring runoff still draining from the lake after a wet late-spring stretch. No in-lake water temperature reading is available this cycle, but early June typically places Winnipesaukee's surface in the low-to-mid 60s range, far enough past the post-ice-out chill to push smallmouth bass fully off beds and into recovery mode on rocky offshore humps. Tactical Bassin's current post-spawn bass coverage flags isolated offshore structure with chatterbaits and dropshot rigs as the leading June approach, a pattern that maps cleanly onto Winnipesaukee's boulder fields and mid-lake saddles. Fishing the Midwest notes that weedlines are worth targeting now as emergent vegetation fills in along shallower bays, a tactic that applies to the lake's more protected southern arms. No NH-specific shop or charter reports were available this cycle; conditions here are synthesized from gauge data, comparable regional coverage, and typical early-June patterns for this watershed.
Post-spawn bass and striper push prime the Merrimack corridor
The Merrimack River is running at 98.5 cfs per USGS gauge 01073500 as of June 8, a low late-spring flow that concentrates fish in deeper holes and slower pockets. On The Water's June 5 Striper Migration Map reports fish beginning to settle into summer grounds along the Northeast coast, with water temperatures running a few degrees cooler than normal. Those cooler-than-average conditions should extend striper activity in the lower Merrimack corridor beyond a typical early-June window. For Lake Winnipesaukee, post-spawn bass are the headline story. Tactical Bassin's early-June reports highlight wobble-head jigs and shaky head worms as reliable producers for offshore fish, while a chatterbait worked through weed edges should account for largemouth through mid-June. Lake Winnipesaukee landlocked salmon and lake trout are transitioning toward deeper water as surface temps climb, but early-morning passes near thermocline breaks remain productive. Check current state regulations before targeting any species.
Big Stripers on the Move as June Push Reaches Gulf of Maine
OTW Saltwater's June 2 striper migration report puts 40-pound bass on bunker just outside Boston, a strong signal that quality fish have reached the southern approaches to NH coastal waters. On The Water's June 5 migration map confirms the push is progressing, with fish beginning to settle into their summer grounds while water temperatures remain a few degrees cooler than normal for this date. Stripers are tracking bait schools of bunker, squid, and river herring, per multiple OTW reports from late May and early June. No NOAA buoy data was available for this report, so precise inshore water temps for the NH coast cannot be confirmed. The Last Quarter moon creates favorable feeding windows at dawn and dusk, particularly on moving tides. Anglers working the rocky points, rip lines, and offshore ledges typical of the NH coast should find active fish through the coming week if bait schools hold position.
Lake Winnipesaukee Bass Moving Offshore as Early June Arrives
The Winnipesaukee River outlet at Franklin registered 1,930 cfs on USGS gauge 01081000 as of June 7, reflecting healthy lake levels heading into summer. Bass are the early-June story on Winnipesaukee. Tactical Bassin reports that post-spawn bass are transitioning off shallow spawning flats and setting up on offshore structure, with chatterbaits, neko rigs, and drop shots producing multiple quality fish in comparable early-summer conditions. Their go-to combination of a wobble head jig paired with a shaky head worm has been dialed in for June bass staged outside weed flats and on deeper transition areas. Fishing the Midwest recommends targeting weedline edges as a high-percentage June tactic for anglers willing to cover water and adapt. Lake trout and landlocked salmon receive limited coverage in current national feeds; both species typically begin their seasonal retreat toward cooler, deeper water as surface temps climb through June on a lake of Winnipesaukee's scale. The Last Quarter moon favors low-light feeding windows at dawn and dusk this weekend.
Big Stripers Push into Gulf of Maine as Summer Season Builds
Water temps at NOAA buoy 44007 sat at 55°F off the NH coast as of early Sunday morning, running a few degrees cooler than a normal early-June baseline. That reading aligns with On The Water's June 5 striper migration map, which notes temperatures are still below average across the region. The cool water has not stopped the fish, though. OTW Saltwater's June 2 migration report put 40-pound bass on bunker just outside Boston, placing large stripers within striking distance of the NH Gulf of Maine. On The Water confirms fish are beginning to settle into summer territories, though cooler conditions are slowing that process in some pockets. Light winds around 6 knots at buoy 44007 set up clean, fishable conditions this weekend. The striper action is the story: big bass are tracking bunker, squid, and river herring northward per the May 29 On The Water migration update, and the bait is moving with them. Rip lines, rocky points, and inlet mouths are the places to focus.
Post-Spawn Bass Come Alive on Winnipesaukee as Merrimack Clears
USGS gauge 01073500 on the Merrimack registered 115 cfs on June 7, a low, clear-water reading that is pushing the river into prime summer conditions ahead of most years. With the Merrimack running lean and transparent, fish are retreating to deeper pools and structure, making precise presentations critical. On Lake Winnipesaukee, bass have mostly cleared their spawning beds by early June, and the post-spawn feed-up period is underway. Tactical Bassin notes that June bass respond well to a one-two punch of wobble-head jigs and shaky head worms worked along offshore structure, tactics that translate directly to Winnipesaukee's rocky points and submerged ledges. On the Merrimack, low flows concentrate smallmouth in the deeper runs and eddies below dams; a chatterbait or drop shot along current seams can be productive this time of year. Water temperature data was unavailable from the gauge this cycle, but June typically puts surface temps in the mid-60s across the region.
Winnipesaukee bass enter post-spawn prime as June arrives
The Winnipesaukee River outflow is running at 1,940 cfs as of June 2 (USGS gauge 01081000), indicating stable lake levels heading into the early-summer window. No buoy water temperature reading is available this cycle, though surface temps on Winnipesaukee typically reach the low-to-mid 60s°F by early June, warm enough to push bass firmly out of spawn and into post-spawn recovery patterns. Tactical Bassin notes that post-spawn bass are targeting isolated offshore structure and outside flats right now, responding well to chatterbaits, neko rigs, and dropshot presentations. Lake trout (togue) and landlocked salmon typically retreat to deeper, cooler water as surface temps climb through this month. No NH-specific shop or charter reports were captured in this cycle; conditions on the lake should be confirmed locally before heading out. Check current NH Fish and Game regulations before harvesting any species.