Local Waters
Great Bay (Hilton Park)
Dover, NH · about 15 min from Portsmouth (typical, off-peak)
The public Great Bay / Piscataqua park you can actually park at.
Salt River / stream Lake / pond Shop (desk) Guide only Parking Stay State access Private — ask first
Around now
Most likely in this drive this week. Not a guarantee — confirm the official rule.
-
Striped bass
-
Bluefish
- Season
- Same ASMFC slot as Mass (28" to under 31", one fish). NH residents need the NH salt license — a Mass permit does not cover Hampton. Confirm NHFG. Official rule
- License
- New Hampshire saltwater license
- Park
- Hilton Park state lot on Dover Point. Ramp is not usable at low tide. Shore fishing from the park.
- Walk in
- Minutes from the park lot to both bays.
- Wading
- Current. Mud at low tide. Watch boat wake.
- Usual window
- Moving water. Hard east wind is a no.
- Thursday conditions
-
NE 10 mph around dawn. Fine to go.
- Sky
- 🌧️ 56° rain
- Sun and moon
- Rise 7:04 · 🌔 Waxing gibbous · Set 5:51
- Wind at dawn
- NE 10 mph alongshore · Partly Sunny · 48°F
- Wind later
-
- dawn: NE 10 mph
- 10am: NE 13 mph
- 2pm: NE 12 mph
- dusk: NE 9 mph
- Tide
- Low 2:35 am (1.0 ft) · High 8:53 am (8.2 ft) · Low 2:55 pm (1.2 ft) · High 9:07 pm (8.6 ft) Best moving water is the three hours into 8:53 am high. · Fort Point, NH
- A setup that belongs here
- 8-wt, Clouser, crab.
- Notes
- NHFG coastal site 30. Salt license. Ramp fails at low tide; the park shore still fishes.
Log this trip
Private. On this phone, and in your test book if you signed in on Journal.
Shops
Guides
Shop desks, plus a few independents who fish public water. We do not take a cut. Call them.
Eldredge Bros. — seacoast
Cape Neddick, ME · shore / wade · Half or full day — ask the shop
Good for: York, Hampton, first Maine striper, seacoast trout
The southern Maine / NH seacoast desk. Call before you hire anyone off Instagram.