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Fishing in Canada
New Brunswick Fishing: Where to Go and When
New Brunswick's headline fish is the Atlantic salmon, fly-fished on famous rivers like the Miramichi and Restigouche, often from riverside lodges and with a licensed guide (required for non-residents). Below: the main fishing regions, when each fish is in season, and what a fishing license costs for visitors from the US (C$64 a year).
Overview
Fishing in New Brunswick
Inland the province also offers smallmouth bass, striped bass, brook trout, landlocked salmon, chain pickerel, perch and musky, with the Saint John River system known for stripers, musky and smallmouth. On the coast, Bay of Fundy charters (e.g. out of Saint Andrews) target striped bass, mackerel, cod, pollock and flounder, and mackerel jigging is popular on Chaleur Bay and the Northumberland Strait. Winter brings ice fishing in shack villages for lake trout, pickerel, perch and smelt from January 1 to March 31.
Where to fish
Fishing regions in New Brunswick
The main waters and what they hold, from the provincial tourism and fisheries sites.
Miramichi River
Atlantic salmon, striped bass, brook trout
World-famous salmon fly-fishing river with guided private pools and riverside lodges; spring brings kelts and stripers in the tidal section, bright salmon summer through fall.
Source: tourismnewbrunswick.ca
Restigouche River (with Kedgwick and Upsalquitch)
Atlantic salmon, trout
Classic salmon river in the Appalachian north; historic lodges such as Larry's Gulch fish reserved water.
Source: tourismnewbrunswick.ca
Saint John River system (Fredericton area)
Striped bass, musky, smallmouth bass, rainbow trout, chain pickerel
Big multi-species river; musky and stripers around Fredericton from June to November.
Source: tourismnewbrunswick.ca
Bay of Fundy (Saint Andrews)
Striped bass, mackerel, cod, pollock, flounder
Saltwater charters with gear provided; no provincial license needed in tidal waters. Shark catch-tag-release trips are also offered.
Source: tourismnewbrunswick.ca
Chaleur Bay and Northumberland Strait
Mackerel
Mackerel jigging from the north and east coasts.
Source: tourismnewbrunswick.ca
Kennebecasis River
Brook trout, shad (spring); ice fishing in winter
Spring brook trout and shad; ice fishing shack villages near Rothesay in winter.
Source: tourismnewbrunswick.ca
Seasons
When to fish in New Brunswick
| Species | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Atlantic salmon (sea-run, catch-and-release) | ||||||||||||
| Striped bass | ||||||||||||
| Brook trout | ||||||||||||
| Smallmouth bass | ||||||||||||
| Landlocked salmon | ||||||||||||
| Muskellunge | ||||||||||||
| Winter fishing (brook trout, landlocked salmon, lake trout, pickerel, perch, smelt) |
Shaded months are when each fish is open or in season, from glf.dfo-mpo.gc.ca, www2.gnb.ca, gnb.ca. Seasons change by zone and by year, so check the current regulations for the water you fish.
Season details by species
- Atlantic salmon (sea-run, catch-and-release): Spring (kelt) fishery April 15-May 15; bright salmon from mid-May or June to mid-October on most waters (dates vary by river, see Fish Book). Release only, barbless fly.
- Striped bass: 2026: tidal waters April 15-Oct 31; inland May 1-Sept 15; Miramichi system April 15-Oct 15. 4/day, 50-65 cm slot; Northwest Miramichi spawning-ground closure in spring.
- Brook trout: Rivers open April 15 (southern areas) or May 1 (north) to Sept 15; lakes May 1 or May 15 to Sept 15 (2022 Fish Book; confirm in 2026-27 edition).
- Smallmouth bass: General waters April 15 (rivers) / May 1 (lakes) to Sept 15; managed bass waters open July 1-Sept 15 only (2022 Fish Book; confirm current).
- Landlocked salmon: Generally April 15 or May 1 (some waters May 15) to Sept 30 (2022 Fish Book; confirm current). No salmon license needed.
- Muskellunge: Open year-round in the Lower and Upper Saint John areas, 5/day (2022 Fish Book; confirm current).
- Winter fishing (brook trout, landlocked salmon, lake trout, pickerel, perch, smelt): January 1 to March 31 on 150+ designated inland, tidal and international waters; covered by the seasonal license.
Fishing license
Fishing license in New Brunswick
Prices in Canadian dollars, from New Brunswick Department of Natural Resources and Energy Development (Fish and Wildlife Branch).
| Province | Visitor annual | Visitor short-term | Other Canadians, annual | Resident annual | Tax |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Brunswick | C$64 | C$30 (3-day) | same as visitor | C$23 | tax may be added |
- Who needs one: Anyone 16 or older needs a New Brunswick angling license to fish inland (non-tidal) waters; anglers under 16 need no license except to have their own Atlantic salmon limit, and a 'non-resident' is anyone who does not live in New Brunswick (other Canadians included).
- Also required: A New Brunswick Outdoors Card number (free, one-time registration) is needed to buy any license. Sea-run Atlantic salmon need a separate salmon license (non-resident Class 1/2/3, from $53 for 3 days), and non-residents fishing salmon must be accompanied by a licensed guide.
- Guides and outfitters: Non-residents (anyone not living in New Brunswick) must be accompanied by a licensed guide when fishing sea-run Atlantic salmon, and for other species on designated 'Guide Required Waters' after the designated date (listed in the Fish Book and the interactive regulations map). No guide is needed on other inland waters, on tidal waters, on Fish NB Days, or with a non-resident guide exemption (for owners of NB property with buildings assessed at $25,000 or more, for a specific river stretch). A professional Guide I may take up to 3 anglers wading/from shore or 1 angler in a boat; a NB resident with a Guide II license may accompany one non-resident friend or relative, unpaid.
- Salt water: No provincial fishing license is needed on tidal (saltwater) waters in New Brunswick, and non-residents do not need a guide there. Federal (DFO) rules still apply: e.g. 2026 striped bass in tidal waters of the southern Gulf open April 15 to October 31, 4 fish per day, 50-65 cm total length, single barbless hooks.
- Salmon: Sea-run Atlantic salmon are catch-and-release only in New Brunswick in 2026 (DFO): barbless artificial fly only; release limit 5 salmon per day in the spring (kelt) fishery April 15 to May 15, then 2 per day on the Miramichi and Restigouche and 4 per day on other open NB rivers. A salmon license is required (non-resident: $173 season, $100 7-day, $53 3-day; resident: $36, $20 for ages 10-15 and 65+), and non-residents must fish salmon with a licensed guide. Warm-water closures can apply on the Miramichi, Restigouche and Nepisiguit. No salmon license is needed to fish for or keep landlocked salmon.
Every New Brunswick license type and price · Compare all provinces
Charters and lodges
Fishing charters and lodges in New Brunswick
We are adding charter captains, fishing guides and lodges in New Brunswick next, listed A to Z the same way as our US towns, with direct phone numbers and no commission. Until then, the regions above are a good place to start your search.
Run a charter, guide service or lodge in New Brunswick? Get listed free.
Crossing the border
Before you drive or fly up
The basics from the Canadian and US border agencies. All border notes.
Entering Canada: documents
Canada's border agency recommends US citizens travel with a valid passport; otherwise you need documents that together show your full name, date of birth and citizenship (such as a birth certificate or a US enhanced driver's license). A NEXUS card can also be used to enter Canada.
Source: cbsa-asfc.gc.ca
Returning to the US by land or water
US citizens 16 and older driving or boating back into the US need a valid passport, passport card, trusted traveler card (NEXUS, SENTRI or FAST) or an enhanced driver's license. Children under 16 can use a birth certificate or other proof of citizenship.
Source: cbp.gov
Flying home from Canada
For flights into the US from Canada, US citizens need a passport book or another approved document; the passport card is not valid for flights.
Source: travel.state.gov
Bait and Asian carps
Bait brought into Canada must be declared, and if the needed import permit isn't shown it will be seized and you may get a warning or penalty; provinces can also ban imported bait. Live Asian carps, or dead ones that have not been gutted, are banned for any use, bait included.
Source: cbsa-asfc.gc.ca
Questions
New Brunswick fishing questions
How much is a fishing license in New Brunswick for Americans?
A non-resident annual license is C$64, and a 3-day license is C$30. Every option and the rules are on the New Brunswick fishing license page.
Do I need a guide to fish in New Brunswick?
Non-residents (anyone not living in New Brunswick) must be accompanied by a licensed guide when fishing sea-run Atlantic salmon, and for other species on designated 'Guide Required Waters' after the designated date (listed in the Fish Book and the interactive regulations map). No guide is needed on other inland waters, on tidal waters, on Fish NB Days, or with a non-resident guide exemption (for owners of NB property with buildings assessed at $25,000 or more, for a specific river stretch). A professional Guide I may take up to 3 anglers wading/from shore or 1 angler in a boat; a NB resident with a Guide II license may accompany one non-resident friend or relative, unpaid.
When is the fishing season in New Brunswick?
It depends on the fish and the zone. The season table above shows the main months for atlantic salmon (sea-run, catch-and-release), striped bass, brook trout, smallmouth bass.
Do I need a license to fish in salt water in New Brunswick?
No provincial fishing license is needed on tidal (saltwater) waters in New Brunswick, and non-residents do not need a guide there. Federal (DFO) rules still apply: e.g. 2026 striped bass in tidal waters of the southern Gulf open April 15 to October 31, 4 fish per day, 50-65 cm total length, single barbless hooks.
Sources, checked October 2026:
From the blog: Fishing in Canada as an American
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