Recreational Fisheries Notice

Fisheries and Oceans Canada
Gulf Region

 

Atlantic Salmon Recreational Fishing for the Gulf Region in 2024

Moncton, New Brunswick – April 10, 2024 – Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) today announces conservation measures for the Atlantic salmon recreational fishery in the Gulf Region for the 2024 fishing season.

Catch and release for the recreational Atlantic salmon fishery will continue. As such, anglers are required to release all Atlantic salmon during the angling season. In addition, a barbless artificial fly must be used to fish for Atlantic salmon.

The conservation measures for the Atlantic salmon recreational fishery in the Gulf Region are as follows:

New Brunswick (Salmon Fishing Areas 15 and 16)

There is a catch and release limit of 5 salmon per day during the spring fishery (April 15 to May 15). A catch and release limit of 2 salmon per day on the Miramichi and Restigouche Rivers and 4 on other open rivers in New Brunswick for the remaining of the fishing season.

Barbless artificial fly only.

For information on the seasons by rivers for these New Brunswick Salmon Fishing Areas, please consult the Government of New Brunswick 2024 Angling Regulations Guidebook.

Prince Edward Island (Salmon Fishing Area 17)

There is a catch and release limit of 2 salmon per day during the open salmon fishing season.

Barbless artificial fly only.

For information on the seasons by rivers for the Prince Edward Island Salmon Fishing Area, please consult the Government of Prince Edward Island 2024 Angling Summary.

Nova Scotia (Salmon Fishing Area 18)

There is a catch and release limit of four 4 salmon per day during the open salmon fishing season.

Barbless artificial fly only.

For information on the seasons by rivers for the Nova Scotia Salmon Fishing Area, please consult the Government of Nova Scotia Salmon fishing regulations overview.

Warm water protocols

A Warm Water Protocol is in effect in four rivers of the Gulf Region: the Miramichi, Restigouche and Nepisiguit rivers in New Brunswick and Margaree River in Cape Breton, Nova Scotia. A Warm Water Protocol is a tool developed by the Department, in collaboration with provincial governments and local partners, such as fishing associations, conservation groups and watershed management committees, to implement angling restrictions when the water warms up.

Before going fishing in one of the above-mentioned rivers, whether for salmon, striped bass, trout, etc., it is important to check if there are any restrictions. Closure and re-opening notices are found on the DFO Gulf Region recreational fisheries page, in the salmon section.

To report any suspicious fishing activity, please contact the nearest Fisheries and Oceans Canada office or call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.

 

For more information on this fishery, please contact:

Eric LeBlanc

Regional Senior Fisheries Resource Management Officer

Fisheries and Oceans Canada

Moncton, New Brunswick

506-871-6852