As of January 1, 2011 all New England states will institute marine (saltwater) Fishing licenses. Here is a summary. Information is as accurate can be gathered to date. Please visit your States’ websites for specific information.
First off, licensees will be exempt from having to register with the National Saltwater Angler Registry to fish NE states. As of this writing, New Jersey still equires the NOAA registration or State license (see NOAA for details). You will need to carry your license with you at all times.
Connecticut
Connecticut Marine Waters Fishing licenses are vailable on-line, at some DEP offices, and participating Town Clerks and retail vendors. The fee is $10 for residents age 16-64, the license is free for residents age 65 and older, and $15 for non-residents age 16 and older.
Exemptions:
You will not need a CT Saltwater Recreational Fishing License if:
- You are fishing from a licensed charter or party boat.
- You are under 16 years of age.
- Anglers age 65 and older will be required to get the Marine Waters Fishing License. The license is free for resident anglers age 65 and older, but a new license must be obtained every year.
Reciprocity:
- Federal waters: Yes. CT MWFL holders will be exempt from the federal registry requirement.
- New York: Yes, but only in the waters of Long Island Sound lying between NY and CT (this line has not yet been precisely defined by NY).
- RI: Yes.
- NH: There is no reciprocity with CT.
- MA: Yes. Based on information provided on the MA DMF web site on October 19, 2010, CT licensed anglers will have full reciprocal fishing privileges in 2011.
- ME: There is no reciprocity with CT.
Massachusetts
In 2011 the Massachusetts permit will be available on-line, through some retail outlets like bait and tackle stores, by mail, and in person at Division of Marine Fisheries offices in Gloucester, Boston, and New Bedford. The proposed state permit fee is $10 for residents and non-residents alike.
Exemptions:
You will not need a MA Saltwater Recreational Fishing License if:
- You are fishing from a licensed charter or party boat.
- You are under 16 years of age or disabled.
- Anglers that are 60 years and older will need to obtain a state permit in 2011 but there will be no fee.
Reciprocity:
If the state you reside in recognizes the Massachusetts permit as a valid permit for recreational fishing in their waters, then Massachusetts would afford the same privileges to properly permitted individuals from that state. However, if your state of residence does not accept a valid Massachusetts permit for recreational fishing in their waters, than you would be required to purchase a Massachusetts permit to recreationally fish/land in Massachusetts.
New Hampshire
The license will cost $16 for individual anglers, N.H. residents and nonresidents. It will be available for purchase online, or through any of 250+ New Hampshire license agents statewide. The price includes a $1 agent fee.
Exemptions:
You will not need a NH Saltwater Recreational Fishing License if:
- You are fishing from a licensed charter or party boat.
- You are under 16 years of age.
- You purchased a Lifetime Fishing or Combination License prior to 2011, in which case you may obtain a free permit each year limited to fishing for saltwater smelt, American shad, trout and salmon in coastal and estuarine waters. This permit must be applied for each year at the Fish and Game office in Concord and is good only for the fish listed above.
Reciprocity:
Anglers possessing a valid N.H. Recreational Saltwater Fishing License can legally fish in all tidal and estuarine areas of Massachusetts and in Maine up to Cape Neddick. Reciprocity will be granted in NH for those nonresident anglers possessing a valid Maine or Massachusetts saltwater license.
Rhode Island
The cost of a yearly RI license is $7 for Rhode Island residents and $10 for non-residents. A temporary seven-day RI license is available, for both residents and non-residents, for $5. Those fees are set by state law, and are not subject to change. Licenses are available online. Licenses are also be available from participating vendors throughout the State, including several bait and tackle shops..
Exemptions:
You will not need a RI Saltwater Recreational Fishing License if:
- You are fishing from a licensed charter or party boat.
- You are under 16 years of age.
- Anglers who hold Highly Migratory Species Angling Permits
- Anglers who are on leave from active military duty
- Anglers who are blind or permanently disabled
Reciprocity:
RI waters: RI's recreational fishing license applies in all of RI's marine waters, which begin at the inland edge of all tidal water areas and extend seaward out to three miles. The defined boundaries separating RI's freshwater and saltwater can be found in section 2.6 of DEM's Freshwater and Anadromous Fishing Regulations.
Federal waters: The RI license also applies in all offshore federal waters, which extend seaward from the seaward edge of all state waters. Other state waters: The RI license also applies in the state waters of Massachusetts, Connecticut, and New York, as well as in the waters of all other states that honor RI's license (a list of all other states will be on the R.I. website as soon as information on those states is collected).
