Recreational Saltwater Fishing Licenses and State Reciprocity

It's good to know the fishing licensing reciprocity before you take that weekend spearfishing trip into a neighboring state.

Individuals must have a recreational saltwater fishing license/registration for the state in which they reside. So you have a recreational saltwater fishing license for your home waters and you want to know if it is valid in surrounding New England states. The following is a little background information but if you're short on time just scroll down to the state by state breakdowns.

Unlike freshwater fishing licenses, saltwater fishing licenses are a relatively new addition to some states. Not all states required anglers to have a saltwater fishing license up until the creation of the National Saltwater Angler Registry.

The National Saltwater Angler Registry (NSAR) was created by the Federal government in 2010 in order to collect better data on recreational fishing. According to NOAA Fisheries Service, the data will be used for "ensuring the long-term sustainability of our nation's ocean resources." Basically the data will be used for stock assessments and fisheries management, both of which are good things.

When it was first introduced in 2010, the Registry was required but it was free for anglers to register. In 2011 the registration was required but a fee was charged. So, in 2011 most coastal states implemented Salt Water Fishing Licenses or a State Registry. This allowed the states to both, collect revenue that would have otherwise gone to the federal government and to meet the requirements of the National Saltwater Angler Registry.

Purchasing saltwater recreational fishing license in any state will automatically register you for the National Saltwater Angler Registry.
More Info on NSAR: https://www.countmyfish.noaa.gov/register/frequentlyQuestions.jsp

Now we can get to the real question:

What New England States Share Reciprocity for Recreational Saltwater Fishing Licenses?

Here is the breakdown as of 10/2017. The information below assumes that the individual holds a Resident saltwater fishing license or registration from their state of residence.

MAINE: Accepts All States
Reciprocity agreement with ALL other states.
ME registration Cost: 1$.
Registration Link: https://moses.informe.org/cgi-bin/online/moses_v3/index
More Information: http://www.maine.gov/dmr/recreational-fishing/licenses/registry.html

NEW HAMPSHIRE: Accepts MA, ME
Reciprocity agreement with Massachusetts and Maine.
NH License Cost: 12$.
Registration Link: https://www.nhfishandgame.com/
More Information: http://www.wildlife.state.nh.us/marine/faqs.html

MASSACHUSETTS: Accepts CT, RI, NH
Reciprocity agreement with Connecticut, Rhode Island and New Hampshire
MA License Cost 10$
Registration Link: https://www.mass.gov/how-to/buy-a-recreational-saltwater-fishing-permit
More Information: http://www.eregulations.com/massachusetts/fishing/saltwater/saltwater-fishing-permit/

RHODE ISLAND: Accepts CT, MA, ME, NY
Reciprocity agreement with Connecticut, Massachusetts, Maine and New York.
RI License Cost: 7$ Resident, 10$ Non-Resident, 5$ Temporary
Registration Link: https://www.ri.gov/DEM/saltwater/
More Information: http://www.dem.ri.gov/programs/managementservices/licenses/saltwater-fishing-licenses.php

CONNECTICUT: Accepts MA, ME, NY, RI
Reciprocity agreement with Massachusetts, Maine, New York and Rhode Island.
CT License Cost: 10$ Resident, 15$ Non-Resident
Registration Link: https://www.ct.wildlifelicense.com/internetsales
More Information: http://www.ct.gov/deep/cwp/view.asp?a=2696&q=443060

NEW YORK: Accepts CT, RI
Reciprocity agreement with Connecticut and Rhode Island.
NY Registration Cost: Free
Registration Link: https://decals.dec.ny.gov/DECALSCitizenWeb/citizenhome.htm
More Information: http://www.dec.ny.gov/permits/54950.html

I hope this helps take some confusion out of the licensing reciprocity system.

Disclaimer: This should only be used as a guide, individuals should verify with each state concerning recreational saltwater fishing license reciprocity.