Home/Fishing licenses/Canada/New Brunswick
Fishing license
New Brunswick Fishing License: Cost and Where to Buy
A New Brunswick fishing license costs C$64 a year for visitors from the US and C$23 for New Brunswick residents, according to New Brunswick Department of Natural Resources and Energy Development (Fish and Wildlife Branch). Prices are in Canadian dollars (tax may be added). Here is who needs one, every license type and where to buy it.
Prices
New Brunswick fishing license prices
| License | Who | Covers | Length | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Class 1 Non-Resident Salmon (Season) | Non-resident | Sea-run Atlantic salmon plus all other fish (ages 10+) | season | C$173 |
| Class 2 Non-Resident Salmon (7-day) | Non-resident | Sea-run Atlantic salmon plus all other fish, 7 consecutive days | 7-day | C$100 |
| Class 3 Non-Resident Salmon (3-day) | Non-resident | Sea-run Atlantic salmon plus all other fish, 3 consecutive days | 3-day | C$53 |
| Class 4 Non-Resident Angling (Season) | Non-resident | All fish except sea-run Atlantic salmon (ages 16+) | season | C$64 |
| Class 5 Non-Resident Angling (7-day) | Non-resident | All fish except sea-run Atlantic salmon, 7 consecutive days | 7-day | C$41 |
| Class 6 Non-Resident Angling (3-day) | Non-resident | All fish except sea-run Atlantic salmon, 3 consecutive days | 3-day | C$30 |
| Class 7 Resident Salmon | Resident | Sea-run Atlantic salmon plus other fish | season | C$36 |
| Class 8 Resident Salmon (ages 10-15 / 65 and over) | Resident | Sea-run Atlantic salmon plus other fish, youth 10-15 and seniors 65+ | season | C$20 |
| Class 9 Resident Angling (except salmon) | Resident | All fish except sea-run Atlantic salmon | season | C$23 |
| Class 10 Resident Angling (except salmon) (65 and over) | Resident | All fish except sea-run Atlantic salmon, seniors 65+ | season | C$15 |
Prices in Canadian dollars from New Brunswick Department of Natural Resources and Energy Development (Fish and Wildlife Branch), checked October 2026. Tax: tax may be added. “Non-resident” means anyone who does not live in New Brunswick; some provinces have a cheaper rate for residents of other provinces. Prices change – confirm on the official site before you buy.
Notes on these prices
Prices are from the official e-licensing page (column labeled 'Total + HST') and the non-resident license page, which says costs include a fish stocking fee and NB Wildlife Trust Fund conservation fees and that 'Tax is not included' – so HST (15%) may be added at purchase; vendor fees not stated. Licenses go on sale April 1 (7-day and 3-day non-resident licenses from January 1); seasonal license is valid April 15 to March 31 (includes winter season). New Brunswick has no separate category for residents of other provinces – all non-NB residents pay non-resident rates and follow non-resident guide rules. The non-resident license page labels Class 6 '(sea-run Atlantic salmon)' but the e-licensing page and the class structure show Class 6 is the 3-day angling (non-salmon) license. The 2026-27 Fish Book (regulations summary, gnb.ca) could not be read directly; trout, bass, landlocked salmon and musky seasons come from the 2022 edition and should be confirmed. The 2022 edition also mentioned a tag requirement to keep landlocked salmon 48-63 cm; current status not confirmed. 2026 Fish NB Days dates were not shown (page lists Feb 13-15 and June 5-6, 2027).
Rules
Who needs a New Brunswick fishing license
- 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.
- Kids: Under 16: no license needed for species other than sea-run Atlantic salmon (with their own daily bag limit); under-16s may fish salmon without a license only alongside a salmon-licensed angler whose limit covers their catch. Ages 10-15 who want their own salmon limit must buy a salmon license (resident Class 8 $20), and non-resident youth are then subject to the guide requirement.
- Seniors: Residents 65 and over pay reduced rates: Class 10 angling (except salmon) $15 and Class 8 salmon $20. No senior discount is listed for non-residents.
- Free fishing days: Fish NB Days: no license (residents or non-residents) and no guide needed, twice a year – Family Day long weekend in February (February 13-15, 2027) and the first full weekend of June (June 5-6, 2027); all limits, closures and Crown Reserve/private water restrictions still apply.
Where to fish
Fishing in New Brunswick
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). Regions and seasons in New Brunswick.
Questions
New Brunswick fishing license questions
How much is a fishing license in New Brunswick?
For a visitor from the US, C$64 for a year, or C$30 for 3 days. A New Brunswick resident pays C$23. All prices are in Canadian dollars.
Who needs a fishing license in New Brunswick?
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).
Do I need a license for 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.
Where do I buy a New Brunswick fishing license?
From New Brunswick Department of Natural Resources and Energy Development (Fish and Wildlife Branch) at pxw5.snb.ca, or from licensed vendors such as tackle shops and outfitters.
Sources:
For captains and guides
Your boat, listed free. No commission, ever.
Anglers call you or book on your own website, and you keep 100% of every trip. Want more detail or the one Featured spot in your town? Enhanced is $19/month and City Spotlight $49/month.