Commercial Fish Hatcheries in NH
New Hampshire has commercial fish hatcheries that provide fish for private pond stocking and fishing tournaments (derbies). They are licensed by the state for the current year, but they are not part of the state’s hatchery or fish stocking program. If you want to purchase fish for a private pond or a fishing tournament, please contact a commercial hatchery (listed below) directly.
All fish released into any body of water must have a Permit to Release (Fis 805.02(a) - see bottom of page) with the exception of brook, brown and rainbow trout that are being released into “closed systems” (Fis 807.04(e)).
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Where can I buy fish for my private pond?
A: Any private licensed commercial aquaculture facility.
Q: Can I purchase fish from a hatchery source outside of NH?
A: Yes, but it will require an Importation of Fish/Wildlife permit (Fis 803.13) and must be accompanied by a Fish Health Certification (Fis 805.03) prior to approval for importation or release.
Q. Do I need a permit to release for a kids fishing tournament?
A. Not if the fish are purchased from within NH and the species released are brook, brown or rainbow trout. You will need to apply for a permit to conduct a kids fishing tournament application.
Q. Can I capture fish from the wild to stocking into a private pond?
A. No.
Updated August 3, 2012
| Instate Hatcheries | Species | Telephone Number |
| Sumner Brook Fish Farm Route 16 Ossipee, NH 03864 |
Brook, brown, and rainbow trout; fee fishing | (603)673-0233 C Dick Prunier |
| HY-ON-A HILL TROUT FARM INC 31 Reed’s Mill Road Plainfield, NH 03781 |
Brook trout, rainbow trout; fee fishing | Mark Fisk 675-6267 |
| Poling Aquaculture PO Box 983 Hillsboro, NH 03244 |
Brown bullhead, sunfish, bluegill, crayfish, largemouth bass | 602-464-3799 Melvin Merrill |
| Richard Fisher Depot Rd & Holt Road Epping, NH 03042 |
Koi, bass, trout, tilapia | 603- 289-1129 |
Important rules related to fish culture and stocking
Fis 805.02 Permits To Release Wildlife.
(a) No live wildlife designated as controlled, the eggs or progeny thereof, shall be released without a permit to release wildlife or except as otherwise permitted under RSA 207:1-a, 214:34-d, and 209-A:3, IV or unless the release of wildlife is specifically permitted under another permit such as birds for regulated shooting areas or individual training and shooting permits or fish for kid’s tournaments under this chapter.
Fis 807.04 Conditions of the Inland Aquaculture License.
e) Aquaculture licensees shall be subject to the requirements for importing and releasing fish under Fis 803 and 805 except that aquaculture licensees may stock brook trout, rainbow trout, or brown trout from their facility into non-public bodies of water that are closed systems without a permit to release fish.
