Important notices

Mandatory retention

Mandatory retention — Muskellunge

Mandatory retention of Muskellunge is required under your fishing licence effective April 1, 2026. Muskellunge is lis...

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Mandatory retention

Mandatory retention — Black Crappie

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

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Southwest — Fishing restrictions

Brook Trout
Season / Restrictions Bag Limit Minimum Size Maximum Size
April 15 – September 15 Non-boundary waters of rivers, brooks and streams 5 10cm N/A
April 15 – September 30 Boundary waters between New Brunswick and Maine of rivers, brooks and streams 5 15cm N/A
April 15 – September 30 Boundary waters between New Brunswick and Maine of lakes, ponds and reservoirs 5 15cm N/A
May 1 – September 15 Non-boundary waters of lakes, ponds and reservoirs 5 10cm N/A
Exceptions
April 15 – September 15 Grand Manan Island all waters Trout angling season is from Apr 15 - Sept 15
April 15 – December 31 Fly Fishing in St. Croix River from the old Union Mills Bridge remnants upstream to the power house dam at Milltown Fly fishing only beginning Apr 15
Brown Trout
Season / Restrictions Bag Limit Minimum Size Maximum Size
January 1 – December 31 East Musquash Reservoir ∞ 35cm N/A
April 15 – September 15 Non-boundary waters of rivers, brooks and streams 2 15cm N/A
April 15 – September 30 Boundary waters between New Brunswick and Maine of rivers, brooks and streams 2 15cm N/A
April 15 – September 30 Boundary waters between New Brunswick and Maine of lakes, ponds and reservoirs 2 15cm N/A
May 1 – September 15 Non-boundary waters of lakes, ponds and reservoirs 2 15cm N/A
Exceptions
April 15 – September 15 Grand Manan Island all waters Trout angling season is from Apr 15 - Sept 15
April 15 – December 31 Fly Fishing in St. Croix River from the old Union Mills Bridge remnants upstream to the power house dam at Milltown Fly fishing only beginning Apr 15
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
April 15 – December 31 Fly Fishing in St. Croix River from the old Union Mills Bridge remnants upstream to the power house dam at Milltown Fly fishing only beginning Apr 15
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
April 15 – December 31 Fly Fishing in St. Croix River from the old Union Mills Bridge remnants upstream to the power house dam at Milltown Fly fishing only beginning Apr 15
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
April 15 – December 31 Fly Fishing in St. Croix River from the old Union Mills Bridge remnants upstream to the power house dam at Milltown Fly fishing only beginning Apr 15
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
April 15 – December 31 Fly Fishing in St. Croix River from the old Union Mills Bridge remnants upstream to the power house dam at Milltown Fly fishing only beginning Apr 15
Lake Trout
Season / Restrictions Bag Limit Minimum Size Maximum Size
January 1 – December 31 East Grand Lake 1 N/A N/A
April 15 – September 15 Non-boundary waters of rivers, brooks and streams 2 45cm N/A
April 15 – September 30 Boundary waters between New Brunswick and Maine of rivers, brooks and streams 2 45cm N/A
April 15 – September 30 Boundary waters between New Brunswick and Maine of lakes, ponds and reservoirs 2 45cm N/A
May 1 – September 15 Non-boundary waters of lakes, ponds and reservoirs 2 45cm N/A
Exceptions
April 15 – September 15 Grand Manan Island all waters Trout angling season is from Apr 15 - Sept 15
April 15 – December 31 Fly Fishing in St. Croix River from the old Union Mills Bridge remnants upstream to the power house dam at Milltown Fly fishing only beginning Apr 15
Landlocked Salmon
Season / Restrictions Bag Limit Minimum Size Maximum Size
May 1 – September 30 Non-boundary waters in Big Indian Lake 2 35cm 63cm
May 1 – September 30 Non-boundary waters in Chamcook Lake 2 35cm 63cm
May 1 – September 30 Non-boundary waters in Clear Lake 2 35cm 63cm
May 1 – September 30 Non-boundary waters in Cranberry Lake 2 35cm 63cm
May 1 – September 30 Non-boundary waters in Crystal Lake 2 35cm 63cm
May 1 – September 30 Non-boundary waters in Deer Lake 2 35cm 63cm
May 1 – September 30 Non-boundary waters in Digdeguash Lake 2 35cm 63cm
May 1 – September 30 Non-boundary waters in Eagle Lake 2 35cm 63cm
May 1 – September 30 Non-boundary waters in East Branch Reservoir 2 35cm 63cm
April 15 – September 30 Boundary waters between New Brunswick and Maine in East Grand Lake 2 35cm 63cm
May 1 – September 30 Non-boundary waters in East Long Lake 2 35cm 63cm
May 1 – September 30 Non-boundary waters in Gibson Lake 2 35cm 63cm
April 15 – September 30 Boundary waters between New Brunswick and Maine in Grand Falls Flowage 2 35cm 63cm
May 1 – September 30 Non-boundary waters in Harvey Lake 2 35cm 63cm
May 1 – September 30 Non-boundary waters in La Coote Lake 2 35cm 63cm
May 1 – September 30 Non-boundary waters in Lake Anthony 2 35cm 63cm
April 15 – September 30 Non-boundary waters in Lake Anthony Brook 2 35cm 63cm
May 1 – September 30 Non-boundary waters in Lake Utopia 2 35cm 63cm
May 1 – September 30 Non-boundary waters in Little Chamcook Lake 2 35cm 63cm
May 1 – September 30 Non-boundary waters in Little John Lake 2 35cm 63cm
May 1 – September 30 Non-boundary waters in Little Magaguadavic Lake 2 35cm 63cm
May 1 – September 30 Non-boundary waters in Loch Alva Reservoir 2 35cm 63cm
May 1 – September 30 Non-boundary waters in Magaguadavic Lake 2 35cm 63cm
May 1 – September 30 Non-boundary waters in Moose Lake Musquash drainage 2 35cm 63cm
April 15 – September 30 Boundary waters between New Brunswick and Maine in North Lake 2 35cm 63cm
May 1 – September 30 Non-boundary waters in Ogden Lake 2 35cm 63cm
April 15 – September 30 Boundary waters between New Brunswick and Maine in Palfrey Lake 2 35cm 63cm
April 15 – September 30 Non-boundary waters in Palfrey Stream 2 35cm 63cm
May 1 – September 30 Non-boundary waters in Queens Lake 2 35cm 63cm
May 1 – September 30 Non-boundary waters in Robin Hood Lake 2 35cm 63cm
May 1 – September 30 Non-boundary waters in Rocky Lake Lepreau drainage 2 35cm 63cm
May 1 – September 30 Non-boundary waters in Round Lake 2 35cm 63cm
May 1 – September 30 Non-boundary waters in Shadow Lake 2 35cm 63cm
May 1 – September 30 Non-boundary waters in Sherwood Lake 2 35cm 63cm
May 1 – September 30 Non-boundary waters in Skiff Lake 2 35cm 63cm
May 1 – September 30 Non-boundary waters in Sparks Lake 2 35cm 63cm
May 1 – September 30 Non-boundary waters in Spectacle Lake 2 35cm 63cm
April 15 – September 30 Boundary waters between New Brunswick and Maine in Spednic Lake 2 35cm 63cm
April 15 – September 30 Boundary waters between New Brunswick and Maine in St. Croix River 2 35cm 63cm
Exceptions
April 15 – December 31 Fly Fishing in St. Croix River from the old Union Mills Bridge remnants upstream to the power house dam at Milltown Fly fishing only beginning Apr 15
May 1 – September 30 Non-boundary waters in St. Patricks Lake 2 35cm 63cm
May 1 – September 30 Non-boundary waters in Trout Lake 2 35cm 63cm
May 1 – September 30 Non-boundary waters in West Long Lake 2 35cm 63cm
May 1 – September 30 Non-boundary waters in Wheaton Lake 2 35cm 63cm
April 15 – September 30 Boundary waters between New Brunswick and Maine in Woodland Flowage 2 35cm 63cm
Rainbow Smelt
Season / Restrictions Bag Limit Minimum Size Maximum Size
January 1 – May 31 Dip Net in non-tidal portions of non-boundary waters 60 N/A N/A
January 1 – September 30 Non-tidal portions of non-boundary waters 60 N/A N/A
January 1 – December 31 Non-tidal portions of boundary waters between New Brunswick and Maine 60 N/A N/A
January 1 – December 31 Tidal portions of boundary waters between New Brunswick and Maine 60 N/A N/A
August 1 – May 31 Tidal portions of non-boundary waters 60 N/A N/A
April 1 – May 31 Dip Net in tidal portions of non-boundary waters 60 N/A N/A
Exceptions
January 1 – December 31 East Grand Lake Tributaries tributaries to East Grand lake Closed to smelt fishing
January 1 – December 31 Skiff Lake including tributaries Closed to smelt fishing
January 1 – December 31 Lake Utopia including tributaries Closed to smelt fishing
April 15 – December 31 Fly Fishing in St. Croix River from the old Union Mills Bridge remnants upstream to the power house dam at Milltown Fly fishing only beginning Apr 15
Rainbow Trout
Season / Restrictions Bag Limit Minimum Size Maximum Size
April 15 – September 15 Non-boundary waters of rivers, brooks and streams 5 15cm N/A
April 15 – September 30 Boundary waters between New Brunswick and Maine of rivers, brooks and streams 5 15cm N/A
April 15 – September 30 Boundary waters between New Brunswick and Maine of lakes, ponds and reservoirs 5 15cm N/A
May 1 – September 15 Non-boundary waters of lakes, ponds and reservoirs 5 15cm N/A
Exceptions
April 15 – September 15 Grand Manan Island all waters Trout angling season is from Apr 15 - Sept 15
April 15 – December 31 Fly Fishing in St. Croix River from the old Union Mills Bridge remnants upstream to the power house dam at Milltown Fly fishing only beginning Apr 15
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
April 15 – December 31 Fly Fishing in St. Croix River from the old Union Mills Bridge remnants upstream to the power house dam at Milltown Fly fishing only beginning Apr 15
Smallmouth Bass
Season / Restrictions Bag Limit Minimum Size Maximum Size
May 1 – June 30 , 0 30cm N/A
July 1 – September 15 , 2 30cm N/A
September 16 – October 15 0 30cm N/A
Bolton Lake
May 1 – June 30 , 0 30cm N/A
July 1 – September 15 , 2 30cm N/A
September 16 – October 15 0 30cm N/A
Craig Lake
May 1 – June 30 , 0 30cm N/A
July 1 – September 15 , 2 30cm N/A
September 16 – October 15 0 30cm N/A
Digdeguash Lake
April 15 – October 15 Diggity Stream 0 N/A N/A
May 1 – June 30 , 0 30cm N/A
July 1 – September 15 , 2 30cm N/A
September 16 – October 15 0 30cm N/A
East Branch Reservoir
May 1 – June 30 , 0 30cm N/A
July 1 – September 15 , 2 30cm N/A
September 16 – October 15 0 30cm N/A
East Brook Lake
May 1 – June 30 , 0 30cm N/A
July 1 – September 15 , 2 30cm N/A
September 16 – October 15 0 30cm N/A
First Lake
May 1 – June 30 , 0 30cm N/A
July 1 – September 15 , 2 30cm N/A
September 16 – October 15 0 30cm N/A
Foster Lake
April 15 – September 30 Grand Falls Flowage 0 N/A N/A
May 1 – June 30 , 0 30cm N/A
July 1 – September 15 , 2 30cm N/A
September 16 – October 15 0 30cm N/A
Harvey Lake
May 1 – June 30 , 0 30cm N/A
July 1 – September 15 , 2 30cm N/A
September 16 – October 15 0 30cm N/A
Lake Utopia
May 1 – June 30 , 0 30cm N/A
July 1 – September 15 , 2 30cm N/A
September 16 – October 15 0 30cm N/A
Little Magaguadavic Lake
May 1 – June 30 , 0 30cm N/A
July 1 – September 15 , 2 30cm N/A
September 16 – October 15 0 30cm N/A
Magaguadavic Lake
April 15 – June 30 , 0 30cm N/A
July 1 – September 15 , 2 30cm N/A
September 16 – October 15 0 30cm N/A
Magaguadavic River Downstream Of Second Falls, Including The Canal
May 1 – June 30 , 0 30cm N/A
July 1 – September 15 , 2 30cm N/A
September 16 – October 15 0 30cm N/A
Mcdougall Lake
May 1 – June 30 , 0 30cm N/A
July 1 – September 15 , 2 30cm N/A
September 16 – October 15 0 30cm N/A
Mill Lake
May 1 – June 30 , 0 30cm N/A
July 1 – September 15 , 2 30cm N/A
September 16 – October 15 0 30cm N/A
Modsley Lake
May 1 – June 30 , 0 30cm N/A
July 1 – September 15 , 2 30cm N/A
September 16 – October 15 0 30cm N/A
Moores Mills Lake
May 1 – October 15 Palfrey Lake 0 N/A N/A
May 1 – June 30 , 0 30cm N/A
July 1 – September 15 , 2 30cm N/A
September 16 – October 15 0 30cm N/A
Potters Lake
May 1 – June 30 , 0 30cm N/A
July 1 – September 15 , 2 30cm N/A
September 16 – October 15 0 30cm N/A
Second Harvey Lake
May 1 – June 30 , 0 30cm N/A
July 1 – September 15 , 2 30cm N/A
September 16 – October 15 0 30cm N/A
Skiff Lake
April 15 – September 30 Spednic Lake 0 N/A N/A
April 15 – September 30 , 2 25cm N/A
October 1 – October 31 0 25cm N/A
St. Croix River from Grand Falls to the Milltown Bridge
Exceptions
April 15 – December 31 Fly Fishing in St. Croix River from the old Union Mills Bridge remnants upstream to the power house dam at Milltown Fly fishing only beginning Apr 15
May 1 – June 30 , 0 30cm N/A
July 1 – September 15 , 2 30cm N/A
September 16 – October 15 0 30cm N/A
Trout Lake
May 1 – June 30 , 0 30cm N/A
July 1 – September 15 , 2 30cm N/A
September 16 – October 15 0 30cm N/A
Wauklahegan Lake
May 1 – June 30 , 0 30cm N/A
July 1 – September 15 , 2 30cm N/A
September 16 – October 15 0 30cm N/A
Wheaton Lake
April 15 – September 15 Non-boundary waters of rivers, brooks and streams 5 10cm N/A
April 15 – September 30 Boundary waters between New Brunswick and Maine of rivers, brooks and streams 2 25cm N/A
April 15 – September 30 Boundary waters between New Brunswick and Maine of lakes, ponds and reservoirs 2 25cm N/A
Exceptions
April 15 – December 31 Fly Fishing in St. Croix River from the old Union Mills Bridge remnants upstream to the power house dam at Milltown Fly fishing only beginning Apr 15
Striped Bass
Season / Restrictions Bag Limit Minimum Size Maximum Size
January 1 – December 31 Non-tidal waters 1 68cm 150cm
January 1 – December 29 Tidal waters 1 68cm 150cm
Exceptions
April 15 – December 31 Fly Fishing in St. Croix River from the old Union Mills Bridge remnants upstream to the power house dam at Milltown Fly fishing only beginning Apr 15
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
April 15 – December 31 Fly Fishing in St. Croix River from the old Union Mills Bridge remnants upstream to the power house dam at Milltown Fly fishing only beginning Apr 15
White Perch
Season / Restrictions Bag Limit Minimum Size Maximum Size
January 1 – December 31 Non-tidal portions of non-boundary waters 25 10cm 50cm
January 1 – December 30 Tidal portions of non-boundary waters 25 10cm 50cm
January 1 – December 31 Non-tidal portions of boundary waters between New Brunswick and Maine 25 10cm N/A
January 1 – December 31 Tidal portions of boundary waters between New Brunswick and Maine 25 10cm N/A
Exceptions
April 15 – December 31 Fly Fishing in St. Croix River from the old Union Mills Bridge remnants upstream to the power house dam at Milltown Fly fishing only beginning Apr 15
Whitefish
Season / Restrictions Bag Limit Minimum Size Maximum Size
January 1 – September 15 Non-tidal portions of non-boundary waters 8 10cm 70cm
January 1 – September 15 Tidal portions of non-boundary waters 8 10cm 70cm
January 1 – December 31 Non-tidal portions of boundary waters between New Brunswick and Maine 3 N/A N/A
January 1 – December 31 Tidal portions of boundary waters between New Brunswick and Maine 3 N/A N/A
Exceptions
April 15 – December 31 Fly Fishing in St. Croix River from the old Union Mills Bridge remnants upstream to the power house dam at Milltown Fly fishing only beginning Apr 15
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
April 15 – December 31 Fly Fishing in St. Croix River from the old Union Mills Bridge remnants upstream to the power house dam at Milltown Fly fishing only beginning Apr 15