Smelt Fishing in Great Bay Ice fishing Access???

[oddfish]

I have lived in the Portsmouth area for 16 years now and have never been Smelt fishong on GB. I'm going this year, but it would be helpful if I knew were the acess points were. Any advice out there would be appreciated.

Thanks in Advance, Oddfish

[HarryG]

I'm not going to burn anyones spots but think outside of great bay and more along the lines of rivers feeding the bay. I use to deliver pizza to guys ice fishing for smelt along rt 108. There should be plenty of hints there for you OD. You know where I lived. Pull up a google map and see what you can find.

[Coalman]

OD, we will share a shack this winter. I know where they live.


You have to time it right. Night time on an incoming tide works best.

[HarryG]

mmmmmm Harry hungry

Nice shack

Shack Rule #1 No touching below the waist.

[multicast]

I live in Exeter. Does anybody here know about fishing smelt on exeter river? I saw quite a few shacks on the river every winter. but never talked to anyone that fished there.

[oddfish]

Originally Posted by multicast

I live in Exeter. Does anybody here know about fishing smelt on exeter river? I saw quite a few shacks on the river every winter. but never talked to anyone that fished there.

Welcome aboard Multicast,
I see our site was in heavy use friday afternoon. River Jim is out of town right now. He may have some insite on the Exeter river when he gets back.


Oddfish

[Coalman]

There are no smelts in the Exeter River. That is a fact.

But there is this river that the Exeter River feeds. I would start there.

[multicast]

Originally Posted by Coalman

There are no smelts in the Exeter River. That is a fact.

But there is this river that the Exeter River feeds. I would start there.

Hi Coalman,

You are right. It is squamscott river. I got confused. Anyway, I saw some shacks on the river near water street in Exeter in the last couple winter. This summer, I did a lot of kayaking on the squamscott river from 108 bridge to Exeter. Beautiful and quiet, also looks very fishy to me. Since I live nearby, I will give it a try this winter.

Thanks a lot!

[multicast]

Originally Posted by oddfish

Welcome aboard Multicast,
I see our site was in heavy use friday afternoon. River Jim is out of town right now. He may have some insite on the Exeter river when he gets back.


Oddfish

Hi Oddfish,

Thanks for letting me know this site and the great tips.

[multicast]

I was searching for NH fishing regulation and found that it requires fishing license to fish smelt in GB. Honestly,I didn't know that. I am glad I did a search.

However, I only found this information on 2007 New hampshire saltwater fishing digest. There is no 2008 version to be found. I would expect there is no change in 2008.

That would be $35 for some tiny fish?

"Saltwater Smelt – may be taken by angling with a fishing license. Daily
limit 10 liquid qts. of smelt with head and tail intact.Use of nets or weirs
prohibited from March 1-December 15 inland of Memorial Bridge in
Newington-Portsmouth. No license required to take by hook and line
from the Piscataqua River and its tributaries seaward of the Memorial
Bridge, from the Hampton River and its tributaries, and from Rye Harbor
and its tributaries. Bow nets and dip nets held in hand may be used in
these rivers: Oyster, Squamscott, Bellamy and Lamprey between
December 16-February 28. Harvest permit required for bow netting and
dip netting. Daily limit of 10 qts. applies."


"Question: Do I need a license to fish in saltwater?
Answer: A license is needed if fishing for smelt in Great Bay and
tributaries, if fishing for any finfish through the ice in Great Bay and
tributaries, or if fishing for any species of trout, shad or salmon in
any state waters. Federal permits may also be required."