New Hampshire fishing reports
289 reports for New Hampshire — what's biting, water temps, and where to focus.
Merrimack Smallmouth Stay Red-Hot Into Labor Day Weekend
Smallmouth bass action remains excellent along the Merrimack River's Lowell-to-Lawrence stretch and into the Hooksett, New Hampshire, section, according to Roger Aziz Jr.'s latest roundup via The Fisherman — New England Freshwater. That's a strong signal for the Merrimack corridor heading into the holiday weekend. Direct Lake Winnipesaukee reports weren't part of this cycle's intel, so anglers there should lean on typical late-August patterns: smallmouth still active around rocky points and ledges, largemouth bass tightening up to weed edges as the post-spawn pattern fully settles in, and lake trout and landlocked salmon beginning to push deeper toward the thermocline as afternoon surface temps hold warm. A regional USGS gauge (01073500) shows a stable, low late-summer base flow near 9 cfs; no water-temperature reading came through this cycle, and no buoy data applies to freshwater NH. Expect the Merrimack smallmouth bite to hold steady through the week, with the best windows around dawn and dusk.
NH smallmouth signal points up as Winnipesaukee eyes early-fall shift
Smallmouth bass are still firing across New Hampshire's rivers this week — per The Fisherman — New England Freshwater, action along the Merrimack River's Hooksett stretch remains excellent, a useful regional signal for how bronzebacks are likely behaving lake-wide as summer winds down. Direct reports out of Winnipesaukee itself weren't part of this week's intel pull, so we're leaning on that nearby read plus a USGS flow check (324 cfs, no temperature reading available this cycle) to round out the picture. Late August on Winnipesaukee typically has smallmouth and largemouth holding tight to rocky points and remaining weed growth as the lake begins its slow cool-down, with lake trout still deep near the thermocline and landlocked salmon anglers starting to watch for the early-fall temperature break. The waning gibbous moon favors low-light dawn and dusk bites this week.
Gulf of Maine cod reopens as big stripers ride the pogie push
Squid and pogies are stacked up along the Gloucester waterfront this week, and Capt. Tom Lukegord of Beauport Fishing Adventures reports the striper bite riding right along with the bait — big fish only right now, nothing small enough to keep, per The Fisherman — South Shore MA to ME. That's the closest on-the-water read available for the NH coast, since this outlet's reports cover South Shore Massachusetts through Maine as one Gulf of Maine region. Bluefish remain a no-show up this way, with the same report noting blues are "completely absent above Salem so far this year." The bigger regional headline for Granite State bottom fishermen: Gulf of Maine cod reopens September 1st with a 1-fish limit at a 23-inch minimum, the first access anglers have had all of 2026, per Dave Anderson writing for The Fisherman — South Shore MA to ME — though the Southern New England stock area stays closed through year-end. No live buoy or gauge readings came through for this cycle, so lean on tide tables and a local forecast check before you launch.
Merrimack Smallmouth Keep Firing as NH's Late-Summer Bite Shifts
Smallmouth bass action remains excellent through the Lowell-to-Lawrence and Hooksett, New Hampshire stretches of the Merrimack River, per this week's New England Freshwater report from The Fisherman, with anglers connecting on both numbers and better-quality fish. No fresh buoy or gauge readings came in for the Merrimack or Winnipesaukee system this cycle, so today's report leans on angler intel over hard numbers. Largemouth bass are following the typical late-summer script — On The Water's shore-fishing rundown this week points anglers toward dense cover and low-light windows, working topwater frogs, compact jigs, and stickbaits as the bite narrows toward dawn and dusk. Lake trout on Winnipesaukee are typically sliding deeper as surface water holds onto summer heat, a pattern that should continue into early September. With tonight's full moon overhead, expect a modest uptick in nighttime and dawn feeding activity across the region's bass water.
Smallmouth and largemouth dial in as Winnipesaukee weeds thin
No buoy or gauge readings came back for Winnipesaukee this week and direct on-lake reports were thin, so this update leans on regional New Hampshire freshwater intel plus the seasonal pattern. The Fisherman — New England Freshwater notes smallmouth bass action remains excellent along New Hampshire's Merrimack River stretch near Hooksett, a useful regional signal for smallmouth appetite as late August turns toward the Fall push. On The Water reports late-summer largemouth are holding tight to dense shoreline cover, feeding best in low light on frogs, compact jigs, and stickbaits — a pattern that should carry over to Winnipesaukee's weedlines, docks, and rocky points. Tactical Bassin (blog) flags a common late-summer mistake: anglers slowing down and sticking with spots that worked weeks ago instead of following baitfish into shifting weed edges. With a full moon overhead, look for the strongest bites at dawn, dusk, and overnight. Lake trout and landlocked salmon are likely still holding deep through the warm stretch.
Big stripers push toward the Gulf of Maine ahead of the cod reopener
Striper action has caught fire north of the Cape, with some seriously big fish in the mix from Maine to Boston and beyond, according to The Fisherman's New England Video Fishing Forecast. That pattern extends up the coast toward NH waters — Beauport Fishing Adventures, working out of Gloucester just south of the New Hampshire line, reports striper action is all big fish right now, with plenty of squid and pogies keeping bait thick around the harbor. Bluefish remain scarce north of Salem this season, per the same report, so blitz action stays striper-and-bait-school focused for now. The bigger story for NH bottom fishermen is regulatory: per The Fisherman's Dave Anderson, a Gulf of Maine cod season opens September 1st with a 1-fish limit at 23 inches minimum, the first legal cod opportunity of 2026 in this stock area. No live buoy or gauge readings were available for this update — check local marine forecasts before heading out.
Merrimack River smallmouth locked in through Hooksett stretch
Smallmouth bass are locked into a strong bite on the Merrimack River this week, with action described as excellent through both the Lowell-to-Lawrence stretch and the Hooksett, New Hampshire section, per Roger Aziz, Jr. writing for The Fisherman — New England Freshwater. No fresh buoy or gauge readings came through for the Merrimack or Lake Winnipesaukee this cycle, so treat water temp and flow as unconfirmed until checked on the water. Late August under a Full Moon typically pushes smallmouth and largemouth toward deeper structure and drop-offs during peak daylight, with the sharpest bite windows compressing around dawn, dusk, and low-light stretches. Lake trout and landlocked salmon on Winnipesaukee are likely holding deep as surface water stays warm, though no direct lake reports came in this week. For now, moving-current sections of the Merrimack are the clearest target if smallmouth is the goal.
Late-Summer Transition Bite Building on Winnipesaukee
Direct reports out of Lake Winnipesaukee itself were thin this week, but the closest concrete data point comes from just south on the Merrimack River, where The Fisherman — New England Freshwater notes smallmouth bass action remains excellent through the Lowell-to-Lawrence stretch and into the Hooksett, NH section — a useful read on how New Hampshire's warmwater bite is trending as August winds down. On Winnipesaukee, expect the broader late-summer pattern anglers elsewhere are already describing: Tactical Bassin (blog) flags this window as the time to work shallow points early and late with topwater and moving baits before sliding deeper as the sun climbs, with bass keying on baitfish schools rather than sitting tight to structure. Smallmouth should stay the lake's most consistent player, largemouth still catchable around weed edges, and lake trout and landlocked salmon settling into their typical slow, deep, late-August holding pattern. Tonight's full moon may stretch the low-light feeding window for early risers and evening casters alike.
Big stripers push toward NH waters as Gulf of Maine cod reopens
Striped bass are the headline story from Boston to Maine right now: The Fisherman's New England Video Fishing Forecast reports "seriously big fish" showing north of the Cape as fall signals build. Closer to home, Beauport Fishing Adventures out of Gloucester (via The Fisherman — South Shore MA to ME) describes striper action as all big fish at the moment — "none small enough to keep" — with heavy squid and pogy schools holding those bass tight to bait. Bluefish, by contrast, remain completely absent above Salem per the same report. The bigger news for Gulf of Maine anglers heading into fall: Dave Anderson's report notes a 1-fish codfish limit at a 23-inch minimum opens September 1, the first Gulf of Maine cod access all year, though the Southern New England stock stays closed through year-end. No buoy or gauge readings came back for this stretch today, so check tide tables and dress for shifting conditions before heading out.
Merrimack Smallmouth Keep Biting Through Late Summer Heat
Smallmouth bass fishing along the Merrimack River remains excellent through late August, with anglers finding good numbers from the Lowell-to-Lawrence stretch up into the Hooksett, New Hampshire section, per this week's New England Freshwater roundup from The Fisherman. That's the strongest direct read we have on the Merrimack corridor right now — bronzebacks are holding to a typical late-summer pattern, feeding hardest during low light on baitfish-imitating presentations before easing off as the day warms. Up at Lake Winnipesaukee, no fresh buoy or gauge data came through this cycle, so we're leaning on typical late-August patterns: largemouth working weed edges and morning topwater, while lake trout and landlocked salmon slide deeper as surface temps hold in the mid-70s. With a waxing gibbous moon building toward full, expect stronger low-light bites at dawn and dusk through the weekend. Check current state regulations before harvesting.
Late-Summer Smallmouth Push Signals Prime Time on Winnipesaukee
No direct reports came in from Lake Winnipesaukee itself today, but the closest regional signal is a strong one: per The Fisherman — New England Freshwater, angler Roger Aziz Jr. described smallmouth bass action as 'excellent' on the Merrimack River's Lowell-to-Lawrence stretch running into Hooksett, New Hampshire this week. That's the same rocky, current-swept structure smallmouth key on across the state, including Winnipesaukee's points and mid-lake humps, so it's a fair proxy for how the state's smallmouth are behaving right now. With no buoy or gauge feed available for the lake today, we can't confirm surface temp or flow — treat those as unknowns until you check a local source. Typical for late August, expect largemouth easing toward weed edges and lake trout and landlocked salmon holding deep on the thermocline, both better targets for downrigger or leadcore trollers than casters right now. The waxing gibbous moon should keep low-light feeding windows active.
Gulf of Maine cod reopens as big stripers push toward Maine
Atlantic cod reopens in the Gulf of Maine on September 1 with a one-fish limit at a 23-inch minimum, per The Fisherman — South Shore MA to ME — a meaningful reset after cod fishing sat closed all of 2026 (the Southern New England Stock Area stays shut through year-end). That's the news anglers on the NH coast should plan around this week. Striper action has, in the words of The Fisherman (Northeast)'s New England Video Fishing Forecast, 'caught fire' north of Cape Cod with some seriously big fish mixed in from Maine to Boston, and Beauport Fishing Adventures in Gloucester (The Fisherman — South Shore MA to ME) reports bass running all big fish right now — nothing small enough to keep — with squid and pogies thick in the water and whales pushing back inshore toward Jeffreys Ledge. Bluefish, by contrast, are described as completely absent above Salem so far this season. No buoy or gauge readings came in for the NH coast this cycle, so treat the above as regional signal bleeding north toward the Gulf of Maine.