NOTICE TO ANGLERS

DFO advises anglers that the following rivers will re-open to normal angling hours as of one hour before sunrise on July 22, 2026.

Salmon Fishing Area 6
71. *Bellevue River, Trinity Bay

Salmon Fishing Area 7
72. Salmon Cove River, Conception Bay

Salmon Fishing Area 9 
81. *Salmonier River, including Back River below falls
82. Colinet River, including north and east branches
83. Rocky River & tributary streams
84. North Harbour River, St. Mary’s Bay
85. Little Salmonier River, St. Mary’s Bay
86. Big Barachois Brook, St. Mary’s Bay

*Indicates river has closed sections (reference Anglers’ Guide 2026-2027)

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

The Regional Director General, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Newfoundland and Labrador Region gives notice that Variation Orders 2026-107, 2026-108, 2026-109, 2026-110 and 2026-111 have been revoked and Variation Orders 2026-113, 2026-114, 2026-115, 2026-116 and 2026-117 will come into effect at 1800 hours on July 21, 2026.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 anglers of the following full closures to all angling until further notice, effective one hour after sunset on July 14, 2026.

The rivers will reopen as conditions improve. Please refer to the Anglers' Guide 2026-2027 for further information on the environmental protocol.

Salmon Fishing Area 9
81. *Salmonier River, including Back River below falls

*Indicates river has closed sections (reference Anglers’ Guide 2026-2027)

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

The Regional Director General, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Newfoundland and Labrador Region gives notice that Variation Orders 2026-052, 2026-053, 2026-054, 2026-055 and 2026-070 have been revoked and Variation Orders 2026-107, 2026-108, 2026-109, 2026-110 and 2026-111 will come into effect at 1800 hours on July 14, 2026.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 advises anglers that due to extremely high water temperatures and/or low water levels, the following rivers in Salmon Fishing Areas 6, 7, and 9 will be restricted to morning angling only, effective one hour after sunset on July 14, 2026.

During this period, angling is permitted from one hour before sunrise to 10:00 am each day and will be closed to angling from 10:01 am to one hour before sunrise on the following day.

The rivers will reopen as conditions improve. Please refer to the Anglers' Guide 2026-2027 for further information on the environmental protocol.

Salmon Fishing Area 6
71. *Bellevue River, Trinity Bay

Salmon Fishing Area 7
72. Salmon Cove River, Conception Bay

Salmon Fishing Area 9 
82. Colinet River, including north and east branches
83. Rocky River & tributary streams
84. North Harbour River
85. Little Salmonier River
86. Big Barachois Brook

*Indicates river has closed sections (reference Anglers’ Guide 2026-2027)

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

The Regional Director General, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Newfoundland and Labrador Region gives notice that Variation Orders 2026-052, 2026-053, 2026-054, 2026-055 and 2026-070 have been revoked and Variation Orders 2026-107, 2026-108, 2026-109, 2026-110 and 2026-111 will come into effect at 1800 hours on July 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 reminds the public of the following season dates of the recreational groundfish fishery.

2GHJ3KL (north and east coasts):
•    Summer Season - Wednesday, July 01, 2026 to Monday, September 07, 2026
•    Fall Season - Saturday, September 19, 2026 to Sunday, September 27, 2026 

3Ps and 4R3Pn (south and west coasts):
Summer Season:
•    Saturday, July 04, 2026 to Monday, July 06, 2026
•    Saturday, July 11, 2026 to Monday, July 13, 2026
•    Saturday, July 18, 2026 to Monday, July 20, 2026
•    Saturday, July 25, 2026 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.

Further details on the management measures for the Newfoundland and Labrador recreational groundfish fishery can be found online at the following website: 

Newfoundland and Labrador Recreational Groundfish Fishery

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 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.