ANGLING

DFO advises anglers that the season dates for the 2026 Atlantic Salmon recreational fishery are:

Insular Newfoundland - June 1 to September 7, 2026

Labrador - June 15 to September 15, 2026

Management Measures:

Anglers will be permitted to retain a total of two salmon, with a maximum of one salmon on Class 2 rivers.

A catch and release limit of three fish per day for all scheduled rivers in Newfoundland and Labrador with the exception of Class 0 rivers. On Class 0 rivers, anglers are permitted to catch and release a maximum of two fish per day.

The retention of salmon on non-scheduled waters is not permitted.

The continuation of a multi-faceted Environmental Protocol. Details are outlined in the 2026-2027 Anglers' Guide.

For additional information, refer to the Fisheries Management Decision online at: Decisions for Atlantic Canada, Quebec and the Arctic - 2026.

Details on the regulations pertaining to retention limits, river classification, closed areas and special management areas are contained in the 2026-2027 Anglers' Guide, which is available in booklet form or on-line at:  Anglers' Guide 2026-2027.

Check out our short video on best practices for catch and release angling: Best practices for catch and release of Atlantic salmon.

The Regional Director General, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Newfoundland and Labrador Region gives notice that Variation Order 2026-009 has been revoked and Variation Order 2026-070, will come into force on May 22, 2026.

Notices to Anglers are available online in the Fishery Notices section of the DFO Newfoundland and Labrador Region webpage at Newfoundland and Labrador Region.

If you would like all Notices to Anglers sent to you directly by email, please contact: NLPRI@dfo-mpo.gc.ca.

DFO advises that the recreational groundfish fishery will be open in all NAFO areas/subareas of Newfoundland and Labrador and follow an area-based management approach. There is no requirement for a licence or tags for the general public.

Recognizing differences in the health of the three Atlantic cod stocks in adjacent waters and informed by survey results, in 2GHJ3KL (north and east coasts) the fishery will be open seven days a week from Memorial Day/Canada Day to Labour Day with a nine day period in the fall. In 3Ps and 3Pn4R (south and west coasts) the fishery will be open weekends (Saturday, Sunday, and Monday) throughout the summer with a nine day period in the fall. Season dates by area are specified below.

Three exceptions are the Eastport, Gilbert Bay and Laurentian Channel Marine Protected Areas (MPA) where recreational groundfish fishing will not be permitted.

Season Dates by Area:

2GHJ3KL (north and east coasts):

•    Summer Season - Wednesday, July 01 to Monday, September 07, 2026
•    Fall Season - Saturday, September 19 to Sunday, September 27, 2026 

3Ps and 4R3Pn (south and west coasts):

Summer Season:

•    Saturday, July 04 to Monday, July 06, 2026
•    Saturday, July 11 to Monday, July 13, 2026
•    Saturday, July 18 to Monday, July 20, 2026
•    Saturday, July 25 to Monday, July 27, 2026
•    Saturday, August 01 2026 to Monday, August 03, 2026
•    Saturday, August 08, 2026 to Monday, August 10, 2026
•    Saturday, August 15, 2026 to Monday, August 17, 2026
•    Saturday, August 22, 2026 to Monday, August 24, 2026
•    Saturday, August 29, 2026 to Monday, August 31, 2026
•    Saturday, September 05, 2026 to Monday, September 07, 2026

Fall Season:

•    Saturday, September 19, 2026 to Sunday, September 27, 2026

Recreational fishers are limited to five (5) groundfish per day (including cod). There is no boat limit.  

The Department reminds recreational fishery participants to practice safe boating and check the weather before heading out on the water. For more information on boating safety please refer to the Safe Boating Guide. For specific information regarding Transport Canada rules and regulations or to request a pleasure craft courtesy check please contact the Office of Boating Safety at 1-800-230-3693 or obs-atl-bsn@tc.gc.ca.

Provisions will continue that allow a person with a disability to designate a person to catch their daily limit of groundfish. The disability designation form and further details on the management measures for the Newfoundland and Labrador recreational groundfish fishery can be found online at the following website: Decisions for Atlantic Canada, Quebec and the Arctic - 2026.

The tour boat voluntary pilot program will continue for Transport Canada certified tour boat operators. This includes a tagging system and retention of two fish per passenger per day, seven days a week with mandatory harvest reporting requirements. To apply for this licence, please contact DFO.ExperimentalLicensing-Experimental.MPO@dfo-mpo.gc.ca.

DFO Science conducts ongoing tagging programs for various groundfish species to support research on fish movement, growth, and natural mortality. If you capture a tagged groundfish, please return the tag to claim your monetary reward by mailing it to DFO’s Science Branch.

The Regional Director General, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Newfoundland and Labrador Region gives notice that Variation Orders 2025-279 and 2025-280 have been revoked, and Variation Orders 2026-063 and 2026-064 come into effect on May 16, 2026.

Public Notices are available online in the Fishery Notices section of the DFO Newfoundland and Labrador Region webpage at Newfoundland and Labrador Region.

If you would like all Public Notices sent to you directly by email, please contact: NLPRI@dfo-mpo.gc.ca.

DFO advises that the 2026 summer Trout season for Zone 1 (insular Newfoundland) opens on May 15, 2026, and will remain open until September 7, 2026.

Bag limits and possession limits for insular Newfoundland remain the same: daily bag limit for Trout (includes Speckled trout, Brown trout, Rainbow trout and Ouananiche) is 12 Trout or 2.25 kg + 1 Trout, round weight (which can be a combination of any of the species - Speckled, Brown, Rainbow, Ouananiche); possession limit is twice the daily bag limit.

Details on the regulations pertaining to bag limits, river classification, closed areas, and special management areas are contained in the 2026 - 2027 Angler’s Guide which is available online at Newfoundland and Labrador Anglers' Guide 2026-2027.

The Regional Director General, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Newfoundland and Labrador Region gives notice that Variation Orders 2026-006, 2026-007, 2026-008, and 2026-010 have been revoked, and Variation Orders 2026-052, 2026-053, 2026-054, and 2026-055 come into effect on May 14, 2026.

Notices to Anglers are available online in the Fishery Notices section of the DFO Newfoundland and Labrador Region webpage at Newfoundland and Labrador Region.

If you would like all Notices to Anglers sent to you directly by email, please contact: NLPRI@dfo-mpo.gc.ca.

DFO wishes to advise anglers that an error was identified in the Management Measures section on page 1 of the Newfoundland and Labrador Anglers' Guide 2026-2027.

The following bullet was included in error: “Catch and release angling is not permitted on nonscheduled waters.” 

The online text and PDF versions of the guide have been updated to remove this statement. Printed guides will not be updated as they have already been distributed.

Notices to Anglers are available online in the Fishery Notices section of the DFO Newfoundland and Labrador Region webpage at Newfoundland and Labrador Region.

If you would like all Notices to Anglers sent to you directly by email, please contact: NLPRI@dfo-mpo.gc.ca.

DFO reminds anglers that the winter trout angling season for Zone 1 (Insular Newfoundland) closes on April 15, 2026. Angling for trout in tidal waters is still permitted outside DFO caution signs. However, the daily bag limit applies.

Notices to Anglers are available online in the Fishery Notices section of the DFO Newfoundland and Labrador Region webpage at Newfoundland and Labrador Region.

If you would like all Notices to Anglers sent to you directly by email, please contact: NLPRI@dfo-mpo.gc.ca.

DFO wishes to advise anglers of the management approach for the 2026 Atlantic Salmon recreational fishery.

Season Dates:

Insular Newfoundland: June 1 to September 7

Labrador: June 15 to September 15

Management Measures:

Anglers will be permitted to retain a total of two salmon, with a maximum of one salmon on Class 2 rivers. The retention of salmon is not permitted on Class 0 rivers or non-scheduled waters. 

A catch and release limit of three fish per day for all scheduled rivers in Newfoundland and Labrador with the exception of Class 0 rivers. On Class 0 rivers, anglers are permitted to catch and release a maximum of two fish per day.

The continuation of a multi-faceted Environmental Protocol. Details will be outlined in the 2026-2027 Anglers’ Guide.

For additional information, refer to the Fisheries Management Decision online at: http://www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/fisheries-peches/decisions/fm-2026-gp/index-atl-eng.html.

Details on the regulations pertaining to retention limits, river classification, closed areas and special management areas are contained in the 2026-2027 Anglers’ Guide which will be available in booklet form or on-line at http://www.nfl.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/NL/AG/anglersguide in 2026.

Notices to Anglers are available online in the Fisheries Notices section of the DFO Newfoundland and Labrador Region webpage at Newfoundland and Labrador Region.

If you would like all Notices to Anglers sent to you directly by email, please contact: NLPRI@dfo-mpo.gc.ca.

DFO wishes to advise anglers that a portion of Northwest Brook, Alexander Bay, noted below, will continue to be closed to all angling.

This precautionary approach is a measure to aid in the conservation of Brook Trout and Atlantic Salmon.

The closed area is that portion of Northwest Brook and Boatswains Brook from the Trans-Canada Highway (TCH) downstream to the Bait & Spinner/Fly Fishing signs at the mouth of the main stem of Northwest Brook, Northwest Arm, Alexander Bay.

The Regional Director General, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Newfoundland and Labrador Region gives notice that Variation Orders 2025-235, 2025-236, 2025-237, 2025-238, and 2025-239 have been revoked and Variation Orders 2026-006, 2026-007, 2026-008, 2026-009, and 2026-010 come into effect on January 30, 2026.

Notices to Anglers are now available online in the Fisheries Notices section of the DFO Newfoundland and Labrador Region webpage at Newfoundland and Labrador Region.

If you would like all Notices to Anglers sent to you directly by email, please contact: NLPRI@dfo-mpo.gc.ca

DFO reminds anglers that the 2026 Trout and Smelt winter angling seasons in non-scheduled waters throughout Newfoundland and Labrador will open as follows:

Trout season dates:
Zone 1 (Insular Newfoundland) - February 1
Zone 2 (Labrador Straits) - March 1
Zone 3 (Southeastern Labrador) - February 1
Zone 4 (Western Labrador) - February 1
Zone 5 (Central Labrador) - February 1
Zone 6 (Northern Labrador) - February 1

There are exceptions to these dates for Special Trout Management Areas.

Consult the 2025-26 Anglers' Guide for specific information on these Special Trout Management Areas.

Daily bag limits:
The daily bag limit for inland and tidal waters of insular Newfoundland for all trout species combined, and for Brook Trout in Labrador, is 12 trout or 2.25 kg plus one fish, whichever is reached first.

In Labrador, the daily bag limit and possession limit for Lake Trout is three fish in Zones 3-6. The daily bag limit for Lake Trout in Zone 2 is two fish, with a four-fish possession limit. The daily bag limit for Arctic Char and Northern Pike is two fish, with a four-fish possession limit. In the Special Trout Management Area of the Eagle Plateau Management Zone, Chateau Pond and Gilbert's Lake the daily bag limit is six Speckled (Brook) Trout or 1.13 kg plus one fish, whichever is reached first, and the possession limit is equal to the daily bag limit.

Refer to the Anglers' Guide for Special Trout Management Area daily bag limits.

Possession limit:
The possession limit is twice the daily bag limit with the exception of the Special Trout Management Areas, where the possession limit is the daily bag limit.

Angling gear:
While fishing through the ice, anglers are permitted to use three separate lines which must be closely and constantly attended by the angler.

Smelt:
Smelt angling in non-scheduled inland waters of insular Newfoundland and in Labrador are subject to the same season dates as trout angling, with the exception of those ponds that opened January 15, 2026 (refer to the 2025-26 Anglers' Guide). There is no bag or possession limit for Smelt, and no bag or possession limit for Whitefish in Labrador.

For a complete list of trout angling information, please consult the 2025-26 Anglers' Guide.
 
DFO reminds anglers to take precautions before venturing out on the ice or water this season.

Notices to Anglers are now available online in the Fisheries Notices section of the DFO Newfoundland and Labrador Region webpage at Newfoundland and Labrador Region.

If you would like all Notices to Anglers sent to you directly by email, please contact: NLPRI@dfo-mpo.gc.ca.

DFO reminds the Public that the Newfoundland and Labrador Recreational Groundfish fishery is closed for the 2025 season. 

The Regional Director General, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Newfoundland and Labrador Region gives notice that Variation Orders 2025-086 and 2025-210 have been revoked and Variation Orders 2025-279 and 2025-280 come into effect at 2359 hours on December 31, 2025.

Notices to Anglers are now available online in the Fisheries Notices section of the DFO Newfoundland and Labrador Region webpage at Newfoundland and Labrador Region.

If you would like all Notices to Anglers sent to you directly by email, please contact: miranda.pryor@dfo-mpo.gc.ca.

DFO advises anglers that the following rivers will re-open to normal angling hours as of one hour before sunrise on September 5, 2025.

Salmon Fishing Area 6
66. Salmon Cove River, Trinity Bay    
67. Trouty River, Trinity Bay    
68. Pope’s Harbour River, Trinity Bay    
69. *Shoal Harbour River, Trinity Bay & tributaries    
70. Deer Harbour River & tributary streams, Trinity Bay

Salmon Fishing Area 9
86. Big Barachois Brook, St. Mary’s Bay

*indicates river has closed sections (reference Anglers’ Guide 2025-26)

For more information please visit the In Season River Status website at In-Season River Status

The Regional Director General, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Newfoundland and Labrador Region gives notice that 2025-230, 2025-231, 2025-232, 2025-233 and 2025-234 have been revoked and Variation Orders 2025-235, 2025-236, 2025-237, 2025-238 and 2025-239 come into effect at 1800 hours on September 4, 2025.

Notices to Anglers are now available online in the Fisheries Notices section of the DFO Newfoundland and Labrador Region webpage at Newfoundland and Labrador Region.

If you would like all Notices to Anglers sent to you directly by email, please contact: miranda.pryor@dfo-mpo.gc.ca.