Moncton, New Brunswick (NB) – August 10, 2026 – Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) will open the competitive, personal-use Atlantic mackerel bait fishery on August 17, 2026 at 4:00 a.m. ADT. An additional opening is tentatively scheduled for early October, and will be communicated separately.
Eligible fish harvesters who wish to participate in this fishery must refer to their conditions of licence that will be available on the National Online Licensing System.
NEW in 2026
Changes to Reporting of Lost / Retrieved Fishing Gear
DFO is advising fish harvesters of changes in the conditions of licences related to lost and retrieved fishing gear. Please consult the document 2026 - Conditions of Licence : Changes to Reporting of Lost / Retrieved Fishing Gear for additional information.
Other Management Measures
Allocation: The second allocation is set at 466.67 tonnes (t) for the Atlantic Canada and Quebec Regions.
Authorized species: These conditions of licence are only valid for mackerel.
Mandatory hail out: Mandatory hail out is required for all licence holders before departing on a fishing trip.
Mandatory hail in: Mandatory hail in is required for all licence holders returning to port after a fishing trip. An accurate catch estimate must be provided before entering port.
Mandatory logbook: Gulf Region harvesters must obtain either a paper logbook or an electronic logbook (ELOG) from a prequalified supplier listed on the following websites:
- Herring and Mackerel logbook - Fixed gear (paper format): Prequalified Logbook Suppliers.
- ELOG: Qualified electronic logbooks (ELOG) client applications.
Maximum daily limit: The maximum daily quantity of mackerel authorized to catch and retain is 454 kg in total.
Gear authorized: A maximum of 3 gillnets for a maximum total length of 50 fathoms with a minimum mesh size of 66.7 mm or a maximum of 36 hooks and a maximum of 6 lines.
Fishing restrictions: It is strictly forbidden to sell any species of fish caught under the authority of a bait licence.
Reporting Requirements
Harvesters must refer to the conditions of licence for the following reporting requirements:
- Species at Risk
- Marine mammal interaction
- Lost gear reporting
- Retrieved gear reporting