Merrimack River

4 Fishing Charters

Merrimack River Fishing Charters

Search top fishing charters in Merrimack River
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Merrimack River: 4 fishing charters available

F/V Emme Fisheries

Excellent
4.9 / 5
(14 reviews)
Newburyport
trips from $650

Polaris Charters

Excellent
4.9 / 5
(8 reviews)
Newburyport
trips from $550

On The Side Charters

Excellent
5.0 / 5
(9 reviews)
Newburyport
trips from $525

Hogg Tide Charters

Excellent
4.6 / 5
(24 reviews)
Newburyport
trips from $650
Whether you’re an angler from New Hampshire, Massachusetts, or any other place on the East Coast, chances are that fishing the Merrimack River is on your to-do list. And how can it not be, when it boasts everything a fisherman wants? We’re talking about an excellent fish population and waters that only get clearer every year.
 
If you’re coming to this watershed, you’ve probably set your sights on lunker Striped Bass, the most popular catch on the river. Carp, Atlantic Salmon, and Smallmouth and Largemouth Bass follow close behind, as well as a variety of Trout that call these waters home. Fishing is usually open from January to mid-October, though some areas and species have special seasonality.
 
The best fishing spots are usually accessible by boat, so hiring a local guide to lead the way is always a good idea. Trips on offer vary from 4–9 hours, so it all depends on how much time you’d like to spend on the water.
 
The river is over 115 miles long, so there’s a wide array of fishing spots to choose from. If you’re fishing with a charter, you’ll probably start in Newburyport, Salisbury, Nashua, or Manchester.
 
Wherever you cast your line, from central New Hampshire to coastal Massachusetts, rest assured that fishing the Merrimack River will be a blast!
 

Rules & Regulations

Local fishing charters cover all the necessary gear and licenses. Because Merrimack River flows through two states, some regulations and catch limits vary, but your guide will inform you about everything you need to know.

Merrimack River
Excellent
4.5 / 5
Based on 24785 reviews by FishingBooker anglers
January

It’s cold in both New Hampshire and Massachusetts, so if you’re brave enough to hit the water, you’ll be rewarded with some Trout and Bass. Just remember to dress for the weather!

February

It’s still chilly out there, but that shouldn’t discourage you, because it doesn’t discourage Largemouth and Smallmouth Bass from biting. In some parts of the river, you can also target Trout.

March

You can almost smell spring in the air, and with spring comes top-notch fishing. These days, you can target Carp, Bass, and Trout, as well as Atlantic Salmon in the Massachusetts section of the Merrimack.

April

If you live in Massachusetts and you’re in the mood for excellent Trout fishing, we’ve got good news!  The Merrimack’s Trout season opens in April. Meanwhile, the season for Atlantic Salmon is open in New Hampshire. Carp and Bass are available all over the river.

May

Take your pick of what you’d like to target this month – Salmon, Trout, Carp, and Bass are all in the cards. Mid-May marks the return of mighty Striped Bass that are officially entering the river, hungry and ready to fight.

June

This is one of the best months for fishing the Merrimack River! Stripers are strictly catch-and-release until mid-month, and if you’d like a mixed bag, Carp, Salmon, and other Bass species are active all over the river.

July

Come July, the whole river is your playground. Whether you’re on the water to catch some dinner or you’re looking for your biggest catch yet, you won’t be disappointed.

August
Fishing is still going strong in the middle of the summer, so if you’re in need of some reprieve from the heat, grab your rod and go. Atlantic Salmon, Trout, Carp, Striped Bass, and many others are on the menu.
September
In New Hampshire, Salmon fishing is open until the end of September, so if you’re on that section of the river, make the most of this month. Bass, Carp, and Trout are still very active all over the river.
October

Fall is officially upon us, which means that you should pay extra attention to the closing of the fishing seasons in your parts of the river. Fishing for Carp is open year-round, and Bass are available in Massachusetts.

November

As the days are becoming colder, there aren’t that many anglers on the river. Because the fishing pressure isn’t as strong, you can find some nice Carp and Bass swimming around.

December

The Merrimack River is usually quiet in December, as anglers are putting their rods away for the holidays. If you still find the time to get out, you can expect some Largemouth and Smallmouth Bass, as well as Carp.

Merrimack River Fishing Calendar

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F/V Emme Fisheries
F/V Emme Fisheries
Fishing charter in Newburyport
Excellent
5.0 / 5
(14 reviews)
Awesome experience! Captain Rick and First-Mate Mark were fabulous! Definitely recommend F/V Emme!!!
Stacy K.
Stacy K. Shelbyville, MI
Hogg Tide Charters
Hogg Tide Charters
Fishing charter in Newburyport
Excellent
4.7 / 5
(24 reviews)
Very knowledgeable captain and his first mate would recommend to anybody to use their charters
Terry H.
Terry H. Pelham, New Hampshire
F/V Emme Fisheries
F/V Emme Fisheries
Fishing charter in Newburyport
Excellent
5.0 / 5
(14 reviews)
Rick and Ben were awesome We had a great boat ride caught some fish was very very very happy with both of them I would definitely recommend recommend to anyone and also Iโ€™m going to book another trip in October canโ€™t wait
Linda D.
Linda D. Malden, Massachusetts
F/V Emme Fisheries
F/V Emme Fisheries
Fishing charter in Newburyport
Excellent
5.0 / 5
(14 reviews)
We had an excellent family day on the water with Captain Rick. After spending some time catching live bait he was able to immediately put us on the stripers. Overall a great day of fishing and I would highly recommend the Emme for your charter.
Brian B.
Brian B. North Reading, MA
F/V Emme Fisheries
F/V Emme Fisheries
Fishing charter in Newburyport
Excellent
5.0 / 5
(14 reviews)
Had a great day fishing with the family with Captain and his side kick Rick. They were both great with our son and very knowledgeable.
Erika H.
Erika H. Newport, NH
F/V Emme Fisheries
F/V Emme Fisheries
Fishing charter in Newburyport
Excellent
5.0 / 5
(14 reviews)
We had a great experience, both Ricks were extremely helpful and friendly. They really made the trip.
Megan C.
Megan C. DORCHESTR CTR, MA
F/V Emme Fisheries
F/V Emme Fisheries
Fishing charter in Newburyport
Excellent
5.0 / 5
(14 reviews)
We had a great time with Rick & Rick on the water! Both were so knowledgeable, fun and helpful. We all caught a few sea bass (what a thrill!) and were able to grill some up for dinner that night. I highly recommend fishing with them on the Emme - I know we will be back for more!
Dominique A.
Dominique A. Cambridge, MA
Hogg Tide Charters
Hogg Tide Charters
Fishing charter in Newburyport
Very good
4.0 / 5
(24 reviews)
If you want to catch strippers then Christian knows how to put you on them.
James G.
James G. Portsmouth, New Hampshire
Hogg Tide Charters
Hogg Tide Charters
Fishing charter in Newburyport
Excellent
5.0 / 5
(24 reviews)
Great 6 hour trip-lots of stripers. Great for both the kids and adults. Highly recommend
Luke R.
Luke R. Henniker, NH
Hogg Tide Charters
Hogg Tide Charters
Fishing charter in Newburyport
Excellent
5.0 / 5
(24 reviews)
Despite rough seas being off-season for stripers, Captain/Harbormaster Paul made our trip awesome. We kept our eye on the weather, remained flexible, and ended up with a great day on the river. Didnโ€™t catch any keepers, but had a blast nonetheless.
Taylor N.
Taylor N. Washington, DC
Hogg Tide Charters
Hogg Tide Charters
Fishing charter in Newburyport
Excellent
5.0 / 5
(24 reviews)
Great day fishing! Caught some nice stripers. Also, saw a seal and a couple of sturgeon jumping out of water. Excellent day! Highly recommended.
Scott S.
Scott S. Leominster, Massachusetts
Hogg Tide Charters
Hogg Tide Charters
Fishing charter in Newburyport
Excellent
5.0 / 5
(24 reviews)
Capt Paul did a great job at helping the boys land some Stripers. They had a good time and I would definitely recommend capt paul for a fun day of fishing. Thanks capt!!
Eric C.
Eric C. New York, NY
Hogg Tide Charters
Hogg Tide Charters
Fishing charter in Newburyport
Excellent
5.0 / 5
(24 reviews)
Great experience..great help from the crew so much fun ..highly recommended
Joshua G.
Joshua G. Central Falls, RI
Hogg Tide Charters
Hogg Tide Charters
Fishing charter in Newburyport
Excellent
5.0 / 5
(24 reviews)
Great location, easy access, no bs. We were told what was expected and we conformed. First cast landed us a big boy and as the morning went on they only got bigger. It was truly a remarkable fishing experience.
James A.
James A. Danvers, MA
Hogg Tide Charters
Hogg Tide Charters
Fishing charter in Newburyport
Excellent
4.7 / 5
(24 reviews)
Paul Thanks for a great day. It made my trip out from Michigan. I was so happy to see a smile on my dads face.
Joshua M.
Joshua M. Muskegon, Michigan
Hogg Tide Charters
Hogg Tide Charters
Fishing charter in Newburyport
Excellent
5.0 / 5
(24 reviews)
Paul and Harrison were super friendly, very knowledgeable, full of great information. They made it worth the trip.
Edward R.
Edward R. Beverly, MA
Hogg Tide Charters
Hogg Tide Charters
Fishing charter in Newburyport
Excellent
5.0 / 5
(24 reviews)
Amazing day with Captain Paul thanks so much for having us. Great day, great fish, 32โ€ striper for keeps. Beautiful boat. Bring your friends, colleagues and prepare to have a good time.
Kevin F.
Kevin F. Peabody, MA
Hogg Tide Charters
Hogg Tide Charters
Fishing charter in Newburyport
Excellent
5.0 / 5
(24 reviews)
We caught a lot of haddock, pollock, cusk. Had a great fish fry that evening.
Bonnie M.
Bonnie M. Tewksbury, MA

FAQs about Fishing Charters in Merrimack River

To give you an idea of how much a fishing trip in Merrimack River costs, the average price for a 4 hour private trip is $566, while an 8 hour private trip will cost you $1,058. These prices are based on trips booked on our site recently.

Prices will vary depending on trip length, fishing technique, as well as the type and size of the boat you booked. However, to give you an indication, the average boat size in Merrimack River is 30 ft and the most common vessel type is a Downeast.
According to customer reviews, F/V Emme Fisheries, Polaris Charters, and On The Side Charters are some of the most popular fishing charters in Merrimack River. Full list of top fishing charters in Merrimack River.
F/V Emme Fisheries, Polaris Charters, and On The Side Charters all received great reviews from families who booked fishing trips in Merrimack River.
The best way to experience fishing in Merrimack River is to book a private charter with a licensed fishing guide. See the full list of charters available for online booking here: List of fishing charters in Merrimack River.
The most popular fish species you can target are Bass (Striped), Tuna (Bluefin), and Bluefish. Top fishing techniques include deep sea fishing, light tackle, and trolling. River fishing, nearshore fishing, and offshore fishing are commonly offered by local guides.
Take your pick of what you’d like to target this month – Salmon, Trout, Carp, and Bass are all in the cards. Mid-May marks the return of mighty Striped Bass that are officially entering the river, hungry and ready to fight. Check availability for local fishing charters in Merrimack River.