Salmon fishing information

Licence requirements
All salmon anglers require a licence to fish scheduled waters – the salmon rivers listed by the federal Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) in their annual Angler’s Guide. Your outfitter will supply the licence, usually as part of the package. In addition, salmon angling licences are available at seven Government Service Centres and many retailers, such as sporting goods and hardware stores, throughout the province.

To obtain your copy of the annual Anglers Guide, please contact:

Non-resident guide requirements
Island of Newfoundland and Labrador south of 52°N
To fish scheduled salmon waters, a nonresident must be accompanied by a licenced guide or by a direct relative who is a resident of the province. A non-resident may fish unaccompanied on non-scheduled waters within 800 metres of a provincial highway.

Labrador north of 52°N
A non-resident must engage the services of an outfitter. In Northern Labrador, your outfitter will be the primary contact and source of information before and during your outdoor adventure in Newfoundland and Labrador. Our outfitters are experienced and can answer your questions. The information below will give you an overview of important contacts and information on fishing regulations.

If you have any questions regarding your trip, or your fishing experience, please click here to get contact information for one of our many outfitters.

Exceptions to this are:

• When fishing without an outfitter or a licenced guide, but accompanied by a direct relative who is a resident.
• When visiting a co-operative camp and accompanied by a licenced guide or direct relative anywhere in the lake or pond that the camp is located on, or 800 metres above or below the camp, if the camp is on a river.
• When fishing non-scheduled waters within 800 metres of a provincial highway unaccompanied.
• When fishing scheduled salmon waters if accompanied by a licenced guide or direct relative, and if fishing 800 metres above or below a bridge on a provincial highway.
• When staying at a licenced Labrador hotel, motel, or hospitality home, and accompanied by a licenced guide who returns the angler back to their place of accommodation each night, and not fishing within two kilometers of an existing outfitter.

• Only single barbless hooks may be used.
• Season dates will remain the same for the duration of the plan.
• All river quotas have been dropped.
• Fall hook-and-release fisheries will be permitted on the Gander, Exploits, and Humber Rivers, with a daily catch-and-release limit of four fish.

Various other conservation measures, often applied to specific rivers, are outlined in the Angler’s Guide. As well, watershed management plans have been developed for some rivers, and these are outlined in the Angler’s Guide.

The basic elements of the plan that begun in 2002 remain in place. However, specific items, such as the classification of certain rivers, or the open or closed status of particular rivers, will be reviewed annually and changes made where appropriate. Broader changes could also be made if conservation concerns warrant them.

Salmon angling log
You can make a contribution to salmon management by filling out and returning to DFO your Salmon Angling Log. Make your log entry at the end of each fishing day.

Returning scientific tags
Scientists tag salmon to learn more about their migration patterns and population size. Tags are usually located at the base of the dorsal (back) fin. A reward of $10 is paid for a tag returned with the appropriate information. If you intend to keep the salmon, you should use the address on the tag to return the tag promptly to DFO – don’t wait until you return your angling log.

Trout fishing information

Licence requirements
Non-resident trout anglers must have a separate trout licence to retain Brook trout caught while fishing scheduled waters, and to fish for Arctic char, northern pike, and landlocked salmon on both scheduled and unscheduled waters. These trout licences are widely available.

Family licence bag limit
The bag limit for a family licence is the same as that for an individual licence. All fish caught shall be counted as the catch of the person to whom the licence was issued. Bag limits apply in coastal waters as well as inland waters.

Trout management
The key elements of the trout management plan are:

• Insular Newfoundland is now one Trout Angling Zone. There are four management zones in Labrador.
• Seasons have been lengthened to allow anglers in different areas to fish during the best angling times in their areas.
• Season dates will remain the same for the duration of the plan (See Angler’s Guide for exceptions in special trout management areas).

Fishing in national parks
Special licences are required to fish inland waters in National Parks. These may be obtained from park administrative offices. Anglers should check with park officials on regulations that may apply within National Parks.

• Terra Nova National Park: 709-533-2801
• Gros Morne National Park: 709-458-2417
• Torngat National Park: 709-458-2417