Important notices

Mandatory retention

Mandatory retention — Black Crappie

Lower Saint John

Mandatory retention of Black Crappie is required under your fishing licence effective April 1, 2026. Black Crappie is...

Saint John River, Lower Saint John — Fishing restrictions

**Brook Trout**
Season / Restrictions	Bag Limit	Minimum Size	Maximum Size
April 15 – September 15 Rivers, brooks and streams	5	10cm	N/A
Exceptions
January 1 – December 31 Rivers, brooks and streams from the Mactaquac dam downstream to a line drawn across the river from the mouth of Springhill Brook (Hartt Island Campground) to the western Fredericton city limit on the north side of the river (near Clements Drive and Carlisle Road)	Closed to angling

**Brown Trout**
Season / Restrictions	Bag Limit	Minimum Size	Maximum Size
April 15 – September 15 Rivers, brooks and streams	2	15cm	N/A
Exceptions
January 1 – December 31 Rivers, brooks and streams from the Mactaquac dam downstream to a line drawn across the river from the mouth of Springhill Brook (Hartt Island Campground) to the western Fredericton city limit on the north side of the river (near Clements Drive and Carlisle Road)	Closed to angling

**Burbot**
Season / Restrictions	Bag Limit	Minimum Size	Maximum Size
January 1 – December 31 Non-tidal waters	10	10cm	100cm
January 1 – December 30 Tidal waters	10	10cm	100cm
Exceptions
January 1 – December 31 Rivers, brooks and streams from the Mactaquac dam downstream to a line drawn across the river from the mouth of Springhill Brook (Hartt Island Campground) to the western Fredericton city limit on the north side of the river (near Clements Drive and Carlisle Road)	Closed to angling

**Chain Pickerel**
Season / Restrictions	Bag Limit	Minimum Size	Maximum Size
January 1 – December 31 Non-tidal waters	10	10cm	100cm
January 1 – December 30 Tidal waters	10	10cm	100cm
Exceptions
January 1 – December 31 Rivers, brooks and streams from the Mactaquac dam downstream to a line drawn across the river from the mouth of Springhill Brook (Hartt Island Campground) to the western Fredericton city limit on the north side of the river (near Clements Drive and Carlisle Road)	Closed to angling

**Eel**
Season / Restrictions	Bag Limit	Minimum Size	Maximum Size
January 1 – December 31 Non-tidal waters	10	35cm	N/A
January 1 – December 31 Tidal waters	10	35cm	N/A
Exceptions
January 1 – December 31 Rivers, brooks and streams from the Mactaquac dam downstream to a line drawn across the river from the mouth of Springhill Brook (Hartt Island Campground) to the western Fredericton city limit on the north side of the river (near Clements Drive and Carlisle Road)	Closed to angling

**Gaspereau**
Season / Restrictions	Bag Limit	Minimum Size	Maximum Size
January 1 – December 31 Non-tidal waters	20	N/A	N/A
January 1 – December 31 Tidal waters	20	N/A	N/A
Exceptions
January 1 – December 31 Rivers, brooks and streams from the Mactaquac dam downstream to a line drawn across the river from the mouth of Springhill Brook (Hartt Island Campground) to the western Fredericton city limit on the north side of the river (near Clements Drive and Carlisle Road)	Closed to angling

**Lake Trout**
Season / Restrictions	Bag Limit	Minimum Size	Maximum Size
April 15 – September 15 Rivers, brooks and streams	2	45cm	N/A
Exceptions
January 1 – December 31 Rivers, brooks and streams from the Mactaquac dam downstream to a line drawn across the river from the mouth of Springhill Brook (Hartt Island Campground) to the western Fredericton city limit on the north side of the river (near Clements Drive and Carlisle Road)	Closed to angling

**Muskellunge**
Season / Restrictions	Bag Limit	Minimum Size	Maximum Size
January 1 – December 31 Non-tidal waters	5	10cm	170cm
January 1 – December 30 Tidal waters	5	10cm	170cm
Exceptions
January 1 – December 31 Rivers, brooks and streams from the Mactaquac dam downstream to a line drawn across the river from the mouth of Springhill Brook (Hartt Island Campground) to the western Fredericton city limit on the north side of the river (near Clements Drive and Carlisle Road)	Closed to angling

**Rainbow Smelt**
Season / Restrictions	Bag Limit	Minimum Size	Maximum Size
January 1 – May 31 Dip Net in non-tidal waters	60	N/A	N/A
January 1 – September 30 Non-tidal waters	60	N/A	N/A
August 1 – May 31 Tidal waters	60	N/A	N/A
April 1 – May 31 Dip Net in tidal waters	60	N/A	N/A
Exceptions
January 1 – December 31 Rivers, brooks and streams from the Mactaquac dam downstream to a line drawn across the river from the mouth of Springhill Brook (Hartt Island Campground) to the western Fredericton city limit on the north side of the river (near Clements Drive and Carlisle Road)	Closed to angling

**Rainbow Trout**
Season / Restrictions	Bag Limit	Minimum Size	Maximum Size
April 15 – September 15 Rivers, brooks and streams	5	15cm	N/A
Exceptions
January 1 – December 31 Rivers, brooks and streams from the Mactaquac dam downstream to a line drawn across the river from the mouth of Springhill Brook (Hartt Island Campground) to the western Fredericton city limit on the north side of the river (near Clements Drive and Carlisle Road)	Closed to angling

**Shad**
Season / Restrictions	Bag Limit	Minimum Size	Maximum Size
January 1 – December 31 Non-tidal waters	5	N/A	N/A
January 1 – December 31 Tidal waters	5	N/A	N/A
Exceptions
January 1 – December 31 Rivers, brooks and streams from the Mactaquac dam downstream to a line drawn across the river from the mouth of Springhill Brook (Hartt Island Campground) to the western Fredericton city limit on the north side of the river (near Clements Drive and Carlisle Road)	Closed to angling

**Smallmouth Bass**
Season / Restrictions	Bag Limit	Minimum Size	Maximum Size
April 15 – June 30 ,	0	30cm	60cm
July 1 – September 15 ,	2	30cm	60cm
September 16 – November 30	0	30cm	60cm
Tidal portions of rivers, brooks and streams and all tributaries downstream of the Mactaquac Dam
April 15 – June 30 ,	0	30cm	60cm
July 1 – September 15 ,	2	30cm	60cm
September 16 – October 15	0	30cm	60cm
Non-tidal portions of rivers, brooks and streams from the covered bridge in Hartland to the power line crossing 360 m downstream
April 15 – June 30 ,	0	30cm	60cm
July 1 – September 15 ,	2	30cm	60cm
September 16 – November 30	0	30cm	60cm
Rivers, brooks and streams from the power lines crossing the river 360 m below the covered bridge in Hartland downstream to the Route 585 highway bridge in Grafton, excluding tributaries
Exceptions
January 1 – December 31 Rivers, brooks and streams from the Mactaquac dam downstream to a line drawn across the river from the mouth of Springhill Brook (Hartt Island Campground) to the western Fredericton city limit on the north side of the river (near Clements Drive and Carlisle Road)	Closed to angling
April 15 – September 15 Rivers, brooks and streams	5	10cm	60cm
Exceptions
January 1 – December 31 Rivers, brooks and streams from the Mactaquac dam downstream to a line drawn across the river from the mouth of Springhill Brook (Hartt Island Campground) to the western Fredericton city limit on the north side of the river (near Clements Drive and Carlisle Road)	Closed to angling

**Striped Bass**
Season / Restrictions	Bag Limit	Minimum Size	Maximum Size
January 1 – October 15 Non-tidal waters	1	68cm	150cm
January 1 – December 29 Tidal waters	1	68cm	150cm
Exceptions
January 1 – December 31 Rivers, brooks and streams from the Mactaquac dam downstream to a line drawn across the river from the mouth of Springhill Brook (Hartt Island Campground) to the western Fredericton city limit on the north side of the river (near Clements Drive and Carlisle Road)	Closed to angling

**Sturgeon**
Season / Restrictions	Bag Limit	Minimum Size	Maximum Size
January 1 – May 31 ,	∞	130cm	N/A
July 1 – December 31	∞	130cm	N/A
Fly Fishing in non-tidal waters ⚠
January 1 – May 31 ,	∞	130cm	N/A
July 1 – December 31	∞	130cm	N/A
Fly Fishing in tidal waters ⚠
Exceptions
January 1 – December 31 Rivers, brooks and streams from the Mactaquac dam downstream to a line drawn across the river from the mouth of Springhill Brook (Hartt Island Campground) to the western Fredericton city limit on the north side of the river (near Clements Drive and Carlisle Road)	Closed to angling

**White Perch**
Season / Restrictions	Bag Limit	Minimum Size	Maximum Size
January 1 – December 31 Non-tidal waters	25	10cm	50cm
January 1 – December 30 Tidal waters	25	10cm	50cm
Exceptions
January 1 – December 31 Rivers, brooks and streams from the Mactaquac dam downstream to a line drawn across the river from the mouth of Springhill Brook (Hartt Island Campground) to the western Fredericton city limit on the north side of the river (near Clements Drive and Carlisle Road)	Closed to angling

**Whitefish**
Season / Restrictions	Bag Limit	Minimum Size	Maximum Size
January 1 – September 15 Non-tidal waters	8	10cm	70cm
January 1 – September 15 Tidal waters	8	10cm	70cm
Exceptions
January 1 – December 31 Rivers, brooks and streams from the Mactaquac dam downstream to a line drawn across the river from the mouth of Springhill Brook (Hartt Island Campground) to the western Fredericton city limit on the north side of the river (near Clements Drive and Carlisle Road)	Closed to angling

**Yellow Perch**
Season / Restrictions	Bag Limit	Minimum Size	Maximum Size
January 1 – December 31 Non-tidal waters	100	10cm	50cm
January 1 – December 30 Tidal waters	100	10cm	50cm
Exceptions
January 1 – December 31 Rivers, brooks and streams from the Mactaquac dam downstream to a line drawn across the river from the mouth of Springhill Brook (Hartt Island Campground) to the western Fredericton city limit on the north side of the river (near Clements Drive and Carlisle Road)	Closed to angling