Recreational Fisheries FAQ

Sport fish refers to sea-run Atlantic salmon, landlocked salmon, brook (speckled) trout, brown trout, lake trout, rainbow trout, arctic char and smallmouth bass.

This is a legal definition under the federal Maritime Provinces Fishery Regulations.  

An angling line is a line that must be held in the hand or closely attended and may have up to 3 hooks with no more than 3 points per hook.

A set line is only used in the winter fishery. It means a line that is not attached to a rod or held in the hand and to which only one hook with a single point or barb is attached. Every person who fishes with set lines shall attend those lines and maintain an unobstructed view of those lines.

There are over 50 species of fish in New Brunswick. General Information can be found on the Go Fishing page or species specific information on the General Information on Fish & Wildlife page.

A more comprehensive list, as well as pictures of each species, can be found at the University of New Brunswick’s/Canadian Rivers Institute’s Inland Fish Species of New Brunswick.

For information on where to find them and where to fish, try contacting your local Fish & Game club, local fishing/tackle retailer and local fishing forums/social media groups.

Go Fishing

Outfitters and Guides  for guides and outfitters

Hunting and Fishing Guides Directory for a list of guides.

Tourism NB:
Fishing / #ExploreNB / Tourism New Brunswick
Hunting / #ExploreNB / Tourism New Brunswick

The federal Department of Fisheries and Oceans’ website: Count of Atlantic Salmon in Rivers.

Various lake depth maps are available on the Go Fishing page under:

• the General section: see Lake Depths for a list of lakes for which there are available depth maps (pdf format); and/or
• the Interactive Maps section: see Lake Depths for an interactive map (ESRI application).

Although there are some river plan maps that do indicate pool names and some ownership, there is no definitive series of maps that differentiates public and private water. 

Proving riparian rights requires searching the original land grants. Some of this information is available for viewing through Service New Brunswick or inquiries can be made at the department’s Crown Lands Branch. Disagreements with private landowners ultimately requires resolution through a civil process (trespass).

A tagged fish is usually part of a research project. If it is an Atlantic salmon or a striped bass with a Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) tag, please remove the tag and send it, along with the date and capture, to the address on the back of the tag:

Science Branch,
Department of Fisheries and Oceans
PO Box 5030,
Moncton, NB  E1C 9B6

You can also send the information and a photo of the tag by email to [email protected]

Be sure to include your name, address and phone number/email for contact purposes.

Anglers who return tags from Atlantic salmon will have their names entered in the North Atlantic Salmon Conservation Organization (NASCO) tag return incentive draw. Each year, a grand prize of US $2,500 is awarded as well as a US $1,500 prize for the North American area.

For other fish species, check the tag for instructions or for any contact information. If there is no information and it is a legally harvestable fish, it is at the angler’s discretion whether to harvest the fish or not. You may also provide the date, specifics and location of capture, as well as a picture if possible, to the Department of Natural Resources and Energy Development at [email protected]

Fishing seasons vary by location and species.

Consult the Fish Book – Summary of Regulations under the Recreational Fishery Area (RFA) of interest.

They are available in hard copy at:

• authorized vendors,
• Service New Brunswick (SNB) centres, and
• Department of Natural Resources and Energy Development offices

You can also check out the Fishing Regulations Web Map, Fishing Regulations Mobile Map, or Winter Fishing Regulations Map (found under Interactive Maps on the Go Fishing page).

Resident and non-resident angling licences are available for purchase:

• online through the Department of Natural Resources and Energy Development’s licensing system. 
  NOTE: first time users must register for an Outdoors Card number first, then set-up their account.
• at authorized vendors; or
• at Service New Brunswick (SNB) centres.

Fees for cost of various classes of angling licences.

An angling licence is not required to fish in tidal waters.

For all species of fish except Atlantic salmon:

Youth under the age of 16 do not require an angling licence and have their own daily bag limit and possession limit of allowable species.

Atlantic salmon:

Youth under the age of 16 may fish for Atlantic salmon if accompanied by an angler with a valid salmon licence; however, the licence holder must include the child’s Atlantic salmon catch in the adult’s daily live release limit.

Resident anglers aged 10 to 15 years must purchase an Atlantic salmon licence if they want their own daily live release limit of Atlantic salmon. NOTE: The minimum size limit for landlocked salmon is 35 cm. Fish greater than 63 cm must be released.

Crown Reserve:

For licence requirements for youth on Crown Reserve waters see the Crown Reserve section.

You can fish at night in tidal waters; however, you cannot fish for sport fish or certain non-sport fish in some areas i.e., striped bass. For more information contact the Department of Fisheries and Oceans: Gulf Region Recreational Fisheries or  Maritimes Region Recreational Fisheries.

In inland waters during the open water season, you can fish beginning 2 hours before sunrise and ending 2 hours after sunset.

Winter Fishing:

Bait rules vary depending on the waterbody you are fishing:

In inland waters of NB live fish cannot be used as bait. Dead bait may be used but cannot include bass, bullhead, sunfish, perch, other spiny fin-rayed fish, chain pickerel, goldfish or other carp.

In tidal waters of NB live fish may be used as bait provided they are found in NB waters. Neither live nor dead bait may include bass, bullhead, sunfish, perch, other spiny fin-rayed fish, chain pickerel, goldfish or other carp.

In boundary waters with Maine live fish may be used as bait if they were captured from the water being fished. Neither live nor dead bait may include bass, bullhead, sunfish, perch, other spiny fin-rayed fish, chain pickerel, goldfish or other carp.

Crayfish 
Crayfish are prohibited for use as live bait in inland waters; however in international boundary waters they may be used as live bait as long as they came from that water being fished, and in tidal waters they need to be from New Brunswick. In the cases were it is allowed as live bait, only the native species should be used.

In season regulation changes can be searched at the federal Department of Fisheries and Oceans’ (DFO) Orders registry for each the Gulf or Maritimes region. Other useful webpages include: Gulf Region Recreational Fisheries and Maritimes Region Recreational Fisheries.

You can also check out the Fishing Regulations Web Map, Fishing Regulations Mobile Map, or Winter Fishing Regulations Map (found under Interactive Maps on the Go Fishing page).

NOTE: that there could be a lag time between DFO notification and web map update depending on the day.

In New Brunswick, a Section 52 Licence (Scientific Fish Collection Permit) is required from Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) to collect fish for scientific, educational, public display and other purposes. Applications and Licences are specific to DFO Regions (Gulf or Maritimes).   

A permit is required from the Minister of Natural Resources to conduct research in a Protected Natural Area. A permit is also required in some Wildlife Management Areas and Wildlife Refuges. Please contact the department for further information.  

Specific enforcement related questions should be directed to Conservation Officers at the provincial Department of Public Safety or Conservation & Protection officers with the federal Department of Fisheries and Oceans:

Contact the Department of Natural Resources and Energy Development at 506-453-3826 or at your nearest district office.

List of tidal waters. For those not listed, the boundary is the low-water mark at the time of low water as set by the federal Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) and defined in the Canadian Tide and Current Tables. 

For more information, contact your local Conservation & Protection officers at the federal Department of Fisheries and Oceans: Gulf and/ or Maritimes regions.

An angling licence is not required to fish in tidal waters.

Angling for marine species and recreational harvesting of shellfish are regulated by the federal Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO). For information on seasons, zones, bag limits, closures and other regulations, contact DFO at 1-800-782-3058.

• Maritimes Region (Recreational Fishing Area (RFA) Inner Bay of Fundy, Lower Saint John, Southwest and Upper Saint John)
• Gulf Region (RFA Restigouche, Chaleur, Miramichi, Southeast)

Harvesting map

When angling for sport fish in tidal waters during the regular open water season, only 1 angling line (ex. rod) that has a maximum of 3 hooks and 3 points per hook is permitted. If angling for any species of fish other than sport fish, up to 5 angling lines with a maximum of 6 hooks and 3 points per hook is permitted.

The same rule applies for winter fishing, however, a set line may also be used.

The season and bag limits for sport fish in tidal waters are the same as that in inland waters. For species of fish other than sport fish, the seasons and bag limits vary. See Fish Book – Summary of Regulations or Winter Fishing Summary depending on the time of year that you are fishing.

You can also check out the Fishing Regulations Web Map, Fishing Regulations Mobile Map, or Winter Fishing Regulations Map (found under Interactive Maps on the Go Fishing page).

For a list of waters stocked by the department, look under the Stocked Waters section on the Go Fishing page:

• the Stocked Waters (by County) page has a list of waters stocked by species, and/or
• the Stocked Waters Interactive Map has a visual display of waterbodies stocked in the Province.
  

• Prior to constructing or renovating a fish pond, the Department of Environment and Local Government (DELG’s) should be contacted to determine if a Watercourse and Wetland Alteration (WAWA) permit is required (also see WAWA within 30m for more information).  
• An aquaculture license may be required from the Department of Agriculture and Aquaculture (DAAF) depending on the type of pond in question (natural or man-made) and the intention (private or commercial use). DAAF has the lead role in licensing and enforcement of the acts and regulations governing aquaculture and should be able to provide advice to those interested in stocking, purchasing or selling fish.
• To stock the pond with fish, a federal Introductions and Transfers license is required from the federal Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO). Email [email protected] for information and applications.

If the fish can be legally harvested, feel free to retain it, preferably on ice, and contact the nearest Department of Natural Resources and Energy Development office as soon as possible Otherwise, send pictures of all identifying features of the fish and its anomaly to [email protected].

Some common diseases and issues could be furunculosis, fungus, and/or small parasites commonly known as "Black spot” (also see NS’s pamphlet on Black spot) and “Yellow grub”.

Yes, it is generally safe to eat these fish provided they are fully cooked. These are small parasites (trematodes) commonly known as "Black spot” and “Yellow grub.” They are common in many fish species in New Brunswick waters and elsewhere. The presence of these parasites does not pose a human health problem.

The only current health advisory for freshwater fish in New Brunswick relates to mercury contamination. Guidelines that have been developed applies to choosing and eating fish caught in New Brunswick’s lakes and rivers. This includes consumption of brook (speckled) trout, lake trout, landlocked salmon, smallmouth bass, striped bass, brown bullhead, cusk (burbot), muskellunge, perch and pickerel.

Questions and concerns related to water quality should be addressed to the provincial Department of Environment and Local Government and/or the federal Environment and Climate Change Canada.

To report an algal bloom, contact the provincial Department of Environment and Local Government (Regional offices)

To inquire about an algal bloom, or other public health advisories, check out the N.B. Department of Health’s webpages on Blue-Green Algae and/or Public Health Advisories.

To inquire about vegetation in a waterbody, contact the provincial Department of Environment and Local Government (Regional offices).

Check out the following webpages for some information on water levels: Environment and Local Government and/or the federal Water and the Environment page.

Activities within 30 meters of a watercourse or wetland generally require a permit. For more information, contact the Department of Environment and Local Government to determine if a Watercourse and Wetland Alteration (WAWA) permit is required.

To report a fish kill, call Canadian Coast Guard’s 24-hour reporting system at 1-800-565-1633 ext. 2 which will be for ‘pollution incident on land, in the air, or in to lakes and rivers’.  Fish kill response in the Atlantic Provinces is a shared responsibility among the four provincial Environment departments (PEI, NL, NB, and NS), Environment Canada (Atlantic Region), and the Department of Fisheries and Oceans. 

There is currently no provincial Adopt-A-Stream program; however, you could check with your local watershed organization.

For information on aquatic invasive species check out the following websites:

• Department of Natural Resources and Energy Development  
• Department of Fisheries and Oceans
• NB Invasive Species Council

To report an aquatic invasive species, please contact at least one of the departments or organizations listed below, making sure to include the following information: 

• The exact location of the sighting (GPS coordinates) and date,
• Photos of all identifying features (e.g., head, fins, body, length, markings, etc.) from multiple angles. 

Department of Natural Resources and Energy Development
E-mail: [email protected]
Phone: (506) 453-3826 

Department of Fisheries and Oceans
E-mail: [email protected]
Phone:1-866-759-6600 

For non-urgent reporting (i.e., species are previously known from that area), occurrences can be recorded to iMapInvasives and/ or iNaturalist projects.

New Brunswick now has at least 4 different species of crayfish, but only one species, the Common or Appalachian Brook Crayfish, Cambarus bartonii, is native. This species can be found across the province in cool, clean brooks or streams.

The three non-native populations include: Virile Crayfish, Faxonius virilis, which occurs in the upper half of the Saint John (Wolastoq) River watershed and in a few locations in the Miramichi watershed; Spinycheek Crayfish, Faxonius limosus, which occurs in the St. Croix area; and Southern White River Crayfish, Procambarus zonangulus, which resides in a small private lake in the Saint John (Wolastoq) River system.

For more information on the location and species of crayfish in New Brunswick contact the NB Museum.

Please note that it is illegal to release crayfish from aquariums into any natural waterbody.