New Hampshire fishing reports
176 reports for New Hampshire — what's biting, water temps, and where to focus.
Big Stripers Push Into the Gulf of Maine as an Early Fall Bite Builds
Fishing north of Cape Cod is showing an early taste of fall. The Fisherman (Northeast)'s New England Video Fishing Forecast reports striper action has 'caught fire' from Maine to Boston, with big fish mixed into ferocious mackerel-and-bonito feeds, a shift tied to a slipping average water temp and last week's new moon. Closer to the NH coast, Beauport Fishing Adventures out of Rockport reports landing big stripers off Dry Salvages feeding heavily on pogies (too big to keep, but great sport), with squid piling up east of Cape Ann and mackerel still thick, per The Fisherman — South Shore MA to ME. Groundfishing in the same stretch has pollock running solid with a spottier haddock bite. Bluefish remain scarce closer to the South Shore, per Belsan's Bait and Tackle, so don't count on blues yet this far north. We're calling this an early-arriving fall pattern worth chasing over the next week or two.
Merrimack smallmouth bite holds strong as late-summer flows go skinny
Smallmouth bass up to 13 inches are keying in on white spinnerbaits, Aziz-rigged Senkos, and Whopper Ploppers on the Merrimack River, per The Fisherman — New England Freshwater's report from angler Roger Aziz, who's working the stretch below the Lawrence dam down through Haverhill. Largemouth bass are mixing in on the same water. Aziz notes the water above the dam is drawing heavier angler pressure while his stretch below stays comparatively quiet, worth knowing if you want elbow room. The only local instrument read this cycle is USGS gauge 01073500, showing flow at just 13.9 cfs as of early morning August 23 — a skinny-water signal typical of a dry late summer, and a cue to fish early, go quiet, and work slower presentations tight to structure. No water-temperature reading came through this cycle, and no direct report from Lake Winnipesaukee arrived this week, so the Merrimack bass bite is the clearest signal in hand right now.
Smallmouth bite holds pattern as NH waters ease into late August
No dedicated Winnipesaukee report crossed the wire this week, but the closest regional signal is useful: per The Fisherman — New England Freshwater, smallmouth bass across nearby waters are keying on herring fry, with fish working mid-column early and sliding onto shallow flats in the evening to sip insects and gulp fry on top. Largemouth are showing too, with anglers reporting fish on shiners, spinnerbaits, and soft plastics in weedy, structure-rich water. Winnipesaukee's own bass and lake trout fisheries typically track this same late-summer rhythm, so we'd expect similar behavior on the lake itself, though we don't have a direct report to confirm it. The lone hard number available is a nearby USGS gauge reading a steady 314 cfs, consistent with typical stable late-August flow for the region. Treat species notes below as regional-pattern inference rather than lake-specific confirmation until a direct report comes in.
Big stripers push north into the Gulf of Maine ahead of fall run
Striper action has picked up noticeably from Cape Ann into Maine this week, with Beauport Fishing Adventures reporting big bass off Dry Salvages east of Rockport keyed in on pogies (fish too large to keep, but steady action) per The Fisherman — South Shore MA to ME. Mackerel remain plentiful along the same stretch and pollock fishing has stayed solid, though the haddock bite has gone spotty. Bluefish are a mixed bag south of NH waters — Belsan's Bait and Tackle described the bite from Scituate to Provincetown as largely quiet with only some smaller blues showing. Regionally, The Fisherman's New England Video Fishing Forecast notes striper action has "caught fire" north of the Cape with some seriously big fish mixed in from Maine to Boston. Farther south, Saltwater Edge Blog (RI) is already flagging early signs of the fall run, a signal worth watching as it moves up the coast toward NH.
Summer bass patterns hold as Winnipesaukee's coldwater fish slide deep
No buoy or gauge readings came through for the Merrimack River or Lake Winnipesaukee today, and this week's regional feeds carried nothing datelined specifically to New Hampshire, so this update leans on typical late-August patterns for the region rather than a fresh local report. Smallmouth and largemouth bass remain the most dependable target: Tactical Bassin's recent hot-weather reservoir coverage describes bass working shallow points on topwater and finesse jigs at first light, then sliding deeper and scattering onto baitfish schools as the day heats up, a pattern that tracks well for Winnipesaukee's rocky points and the Merrimack's slower pools and eddies. Coldwater species are the bigger question mark this time of year. Field & Stream's recent piece on summer trout fishing notes fish and wildlife agencies increasingly asking anglers to ease off cold-water species once rivers and lakes run warm, and lake trout and landlocked salmon anglers here should expect a similar retreat to deep, cool water through late August.
Merrimack Smallmouth Keep Biting Through the Late-Summer Lull
Smallmouth bass are the story on the Merrimack River right now. Per The Fisherman — New England Freshwater, Roger Aziz Jr. is still working the stretch below the Lawrence dam up through Haverhill and connecting on white spinnerbaits, Aziz-rigged Senkos, and Whopper Ploppers, with smallmouth running up to 13 inches and largemouth mixing in from the same water. He notes the pressure is lopsided — relatively few anglers fishing below the dam compared to a crowded scene above it — and expects bigger fish to show as the pattern holds. Flow at USGS gauge 01073500 is reading a modest 15.8 cfs, in line with typical late-August drawdown for the watershed. No direct reports have come in this week from Lake Winnipesaukee itself, so anglers there should lean on typical seasonal patterns: deep structure and low-light windows for warmwater species, with lake trout and landlocked salmon holding deeper as surface temps sit near their summer peak.
Winnipesaukee bass settle into late-summer structure as heat holds
No buoy or gauge readings came back for Winnipesaukee this cycle, and no shop, charter, or agency report named the lake directly, so this update leans on the seasonal pattern and on what nearby New England freshwater is doing right now. Per The Fisherman's New England Freshwater dispatch, Merrimack River smallmouth below the Lawrence dam are still eating spinnerbaits, Aziz-rigged Senkos, and Whopper Ploppers, with better numbers holding above the dam — a reasonable read on how regional smallmouth are behaving through mid-August heat. Congamond Lakes bass action was strong enough to carry a Thursday-night tournament, per the same report. On Winnipesaukee itself, expect smallmouth and largemouth to be keying on deeper structure and drop-offs by midday, with lake trout and landlocked salmon holding below the thermocline. Confirm current lake-specific conditions locally before planning a trip.
Merrimack River Smallmouth Bass Bite Holds Strong Into Late Summer
Smallmouth bass fishing on the Merrimack River is holding up well as summer winds down, with Roger Aziz Jr. reporting fish up to 13 inches taking white spinnerbaits, Aziz-rigged Senkos, and Whopper Ploppers in the stretch below the dam in Lawrence through Haverhill, per The Fisherman — New England Freshwater. The same water is also giving up largemouth bass, and Aziz notes the water above the dam — heavily fished — is holding more and bigger bass than the water he's been working. For NH anglers on the Merrimack and around Lake Winnipesaukee, this points to a solid late-summer bass pattern: search moving baits and soft plastics around current breaks and dam structure. Jerry's Bait and Tackle, working nearby New England ponds, also reports steady largemouth and pickerel action on shiners and plastics for anglers willing to work multiple spots. No direct reports came in from Winnipesaukee itself this cycle, so treat that lake's pattern as inferred from the broader regional trend rather than confirmed.
Winnipesaukee smallmouth hold the line as late-summer stratification sets in
No buoy or gauge telemetry came back for Lake Winnipesaukee this cycle, and this week's angler-intel feed carried no captain, shop, or state report specific to New Hampshire waters — worth saying plainly rather than papering over. What follows leans on typical late-August patterns for the lake. By mid-to-late August, Winnipesaukee is usually fully thermally stratified: smallmouth and largemouth bass stay the most reliably catchable species, holding on rocky points, ledges and weed edges, most active in the low-light windows around dawn and dusk. Lake trout and landlocked salmon typically retreat to deeper, cooler water once the thermocline sets up, making them a tougher, more technical target without electronics or downriggers this time of year. Yellow perch remain a steady, less weather-dependent bite over deeper structure. With a first-quarter moon this week, expect moderate tidal-style feeding windows rather than a strong night bite — early-morning and late-evening trips are the better bet.
Groundfish bite holds Gulf of Maine as fall striper run builds south
Pollock and mackerel are keeping Gulf of Maine boats busy this week while the fall striper run builds well to our south. Capt. Tom Lukegord of Beauport Fishing Adventures, working the Rockport/Cape Ann stretch just below the NH line, reports solid pollock fishing continuing along with plentiful squid and mackerel around, and big stripers found off Dry Salvages feeding on pogies (fun fish, but oversized to keep). The haddock bite has been spotty there, though cusk are starting to show. Further south, The Fisherman's New England Video Fishing Forecast notes striped bass blitzes pushing from Narragansett up to Plymouth and a bonito surge building around Cape Cod, both signs the fall run pregame is underway and should work its way toward NH waters in the coming weeks. No NH-specific buoy readings or angler reports came through this cycle, so treat conditions here as regional context until local intel firms up; check state regs before harvesting groundfish or bass this time of year.
Winnipesaukee bass settle into classic late-summer pattern
Flow held near 324 cfs on the regional USGS gauge (site 01081000) early Monday morning, with no water temperature logging in this cycle, so a handheld thermometer check before committing to a depth is worthwhile. No direct reports came in from Winnipesaukee itself this week, so this update leans on the broader New England freshwater picture. Per The Fisherman — New England Freshwater, regional smallmouth bass have been keying on herring fry and striking spinnerbaits, Senko-rigged plastics, and Whopper Ploppers, with better numbers coming from stretches carrying less angling pressure; largemouth reports lean toward shiners and soft plastics fished shallow to mid-depth. Mid-August on a large, clear New Hampshire lake like Winnipesaukee typically pushes smallmouth and largemouth bass to deeper structure and the thermocline through peak sun, then back shallow at dawn and dusk, matching the pattern regional shops are describing this week.
Merrimack smallmouth stay active as pressure pushes fish upriver
Smallmouth bass are still biting well on the Merrimack River, with anglers below the Lawrence dam landing fish up to 13 inches on white spinnerbaits, Aziz-rigged Senkos, and Whopper Ploppers, per a report from The Fisherman — New England Freshwater. Largemouth bass are mixed in on the same stretch, and the report notes far fewer boats working the water below the dam than above it — useful intel for anyone looking to beat the crowds. That pattern likely extends upstream into New Hampshire's stretch of the same river system, since water conditions and forage are shared across the corridor. We have no direct reports out of Lake Winnipesaukee this cycle, so treat that lake's outlook as general seasonal expectation rather than confirmed intel: lake trout and landlocked salmon typically hold deeper and feed best during the cooler low-light windows this time of year, while smallmouth and largemouth stay catchable on structure and weed edges through the warmer afternoon hours.
Fishing in New Hampshire
New Hampshire runs from salt to summit. A short but real coastline puts stripers and bluefish in Great Bay and along the beaches all summer. Lake Winnipesaukee anchors the lakes region with smallmouth, lake trout, and landlocked salmon, and the White Mountains feed cold, clean trout streams that fish beautifully all season. When winter comes, this is one of New England's best ice fishing states.
When to fish New Hampshire
Landlocked salmon and lake trout feed near the surface right after ice-out on the big lakes, the best window of the year for them. Stocked and wild trout turn on across the streams as the water warms.
Winnipesaukee and the lakes region produce steady smallmouth all summer, with salmon and lakers holding deep. On the coast, stripers and blues push into Great Bay and along the beaches.
Trout and salmon feed hard before winter, smallmouth school up on rocky structure, and the rivers fish as well as they look. The last stripers slide south along the coast.
Hard water opens up lake trout, cusk, perch, pickerel, and rainbow trout across the lakes region, with bob-house villages appearing on the big lakes every year.
Waters to know
Wayfinder builds a plan for your exact water and day from live buoys, gauges, tides, and recent reports. Free, about 30 seconds.
Common questions
Do I need a license to fish in New Hampshire?
Yes, New Hampshire requires a fishing license for most anglers, sold online through NH Fish and Game. Saltwater fishing has its own requirements, so check the current rules for the water you plan to fish.
What fish can I catch in New Hampshire?
Smallmouth and largemouth bass, lake trout, landlocked salmon, brook, brown, and rainbow trout, walleye, pickerel, cusk, and panfish inland. The seacoast adds striped bass, bluefish, and mackerel.
When is the best time to fish New Hampshire?
Ice-out in spring is the famous window for salmon and lake trout, summer is prime for smallmouth and stripers, fall fishes beautifully everywhere, and winter is one of New England's best ice seasons.
Where can I check current New Hampshire fishing conditions?
This page carries our current New Hampshire fishing reports, built daily from NOAA buoys, USGS river gauges, tides, and local sources. For a plan built around your exact water and day, try the free Wayfinder trip planner.
Seasons and limits change: verify current regulations with NH Fish and Game before keeping fish.
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