Fishing

Fly-fishers from around the world (past visitors have included Marilyn Monroe and HRH Prince Charles) come here to challenge the legendary – almost mythical - waters of the Miramichi River for the king of the game fish, the Atlantic salmon. Come, too, for the most plentiful smallmouth bass waters on the continent - the St. John River is famous for its bass! The Restigouche River is another of our world-class Atlantic salmon fishing destinations, and trout and smallmouth bass are abundant in the Tobique River.

Get your rod ready for the action: New Brunswick boasts over 32,000km of clear, winding rivers and streams, not to mention over 3,000 uncrowded – and largely undeveloped - lakes.

You’ll find far more than world-renowned Atlantic salmon and smallmouth bass: over 50 fish species live in these waters including chain pickerel, white perch, yellow perch, striped bass, sturgeon, shad, lake trout, brook (or speckled) trout, brown trout, rainbow trout, speckled trout, arctic char, smelt, sunfish, brown bullhead, burbot and muskellunge (muskies).

Keen anglers will want to stay at a fishing lodge or fishing camp (some have their own private wilderness lakes). They'll arrange all of the necessary permits, as well as guides, boats or canoes, leaving you to unwind as you reel in something tasty.

Our numerous fishing outfitters know where the fish are and they can help make your time here nothing short of extraordinary.

And we haven’t even mentioned the deep sea fishing on the Bay of Fundy, Bay of Chaleur, or off the Acadian coast ! Try, for instance, for cod, flounder or mackerel.

Deep-sea fishing and regular fishing tours can be arranged from many local fishing wharfs.

Or for a different experience, head along the Acadian Coastal drive to Shediac, the “Lobster Capital of the World”, where you can go out on a boat cruise with a long-established lobster-fishing family, learn the old fishing techniques, and how to crack and eat a delicious, freshly cooked lobster. 

One thing is for sure – there are plenty of fish in our waters.

Fishing in New Brunswick is regulated by the Department of Natural Resources: a copy of their fishing handbook with details of licences, guide requirements, seasons and fishing rules can be downloaded here.