Angling Updates
The intent of this page is to help anglers with questions or concerns, and bring awareness to certain issues regarding angling and conservation on the Miramichi . In many cases our conservation groups have become the only source of information regarding our rivers. I will try to keep things as current as I can and also encourage you to check with our local conservation group websites, as MSA and ASF are still continuing to make efforts to continue their conservation programs. While living in a time of covid19 we need to do our part in passing on information. This is my attempt in helping to do that.
Friday July 17th, 2020.
Sorry for not getting this notice out earlier but just finding out this morning. All cold water pools have been reopened on the Miramichi. Apparently it was posted by DFO yesterday. Enjoy the fishing.
Saturday April 25th, 2020.
Today the angling season was opened by the provincial government for local residents only. The municipal park here in Blackville was also opened and the loading ramp is now accessible for those wanting to put in or take out their boats. Most covid19 restrictions still apply so be careful of the protocols they still exist.
Friday April 10th, 2020.
Premier Blaine Higgs announced today that the New Brunswick angling season would be delayed for another couple of weeks. At that time they will re-evaluate the circumstances and possibly open the season. So we are looking at a possible angling season opening on May 1st.
Thursday April 9th, 2020
Will the angling season be open for the April 15th opening day? We have been hearing from quite a few anglers who are not sure what is happening in regards to opening day. New Brunswick has not made any announcements yet in regards to closing the season due to covid19. We assume it will be open. I did hear from a reliable source this morning though that there could possibly be a re- evaluation of this decision and the season may be closed due to further notice. As the 15th draws closer we should soon be hearing a definite response from the government regarding the angling season.
While covid19 is restricting people from working, in some situations we are finding this is a time for planning and organizing future conservation projects. This report from Nathan Wilbur in todays Atlantic Salmon Federation News caught my eye .With over 40 years of working on our rivers my experience tell me this particular topic is long overdue.This is a link to a very interesting topic on the Miramichi called - Thermal Refuge. For those of you who are interested in what our conservation groups are doing to make our rivers a healthier place for Atlantic Salmon you will find this very interesting. https://www.asf.ca/news-and-magazine/in-the-field/cold-water-enhancement
Wednesday August 1st, 2019
Fishing is restricted to mornings only starting tomorrow (6:00 AM - 11:00 AM) here on the Miramichi .Also keep in mind that DFO has put in place the warm water protocol for the Miramichi watershed. This covers the 27 cold water pools on various rivers throughout the Miramichi system. For further information check DFO's website.
Friday August 10th, 2018
Quite a few anglers were calling the tackle shop today wandering if the river was open to normal hours of fishing. Like the anglers we tried to contact DFO but could only get answering machines. To say this is frustrating is an understatement. After making contact with Miramichi Salmon Association we were finally able to find out more. Apparently the river could be open but no one was available from DFO to make the announcement. The Miramichi Salmon Association was able to let us know and they have been making notice to those on their mailing list.Thank you to MSA for getting this information out to us.
Monday July 23rd, 2018.
We just received word DFO has closed the rivers in the Miramichi watershed between the hours of 11:01 AM - 6:00 AM. Angling will only be permitted in early morning. After being outside working around the canoes today I would have to think this might be a good thing for both angler as well as the Salmon. It just feels to hot and humid to comfortably do anything. This weather is forcast for the next couple of days. I will post when the variation order is lifted.
Monday July 23rd, 2018.
I just want to bring notice of a local conservation groups (Miramichi Salmon association) efforts to encourage DFO to do something about the Striped Bass in the Miramichi. If you go on their website you will see a very well done video interviewing outfitters and guides along the river. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XbzMsLY0mlY Most of the people interviewed make up a core part of the Salmon angling industry along the river. Their concerns are real and the future of Salmon is certainly at stake when these people are expressing their concern for the future of our wild Atlantic Salmon on the Miramichi.
With a new Federal Fisheries Minister just appointed we can only expect this to play into DFO's hands as it will allow them to stall decision making even further on the Miramichi. I always encourage anglers to become more aware of the efforts of conservation groups and the frustrations they encounter when dealing with DFO. Their rope a dope tactics never ends and it never fails to amaze me at how our conservation groups have cooperated, expended resources and energy, only to be rewarded with minimal decision making. It certainly attests to how dedicated the people in these groups are to save this resource and industry. One can only wander though at the future of our precious Salmon resource when there is so little effort put forward in regards to an actual Salmon management plan. I guess now that we are in our 4th year of status quo which has been to DFO's advantage as they can continue to move forward without making any decisions in regards to a plan for our Miramichi rivers, I am starting to believe we should take another approach. Cooperation does not seem to get us what we are asking for with this department. Maybe it is time to place our demands and quit wasting our time with this departments stalling tactics. Cooperation just seems to drag on what most of us feel would be straight forward decisions. Isn't it time DFO starts making decisions to protect our Salmon, the angling industry and the local jobs that depend on our Salmon? I think we have waited long enough. Why is it we are trying to convince DFO to create Salmon management plans? Isn't that their job?
Consider supporting your conservation groups. By doing so you will be ensuring the future of one of the most precious resources this province has. You will also be sending a strong message to DFO. They need to start doing their job.
Wednesday June 28th, 2018
We just received notice that 26 cold water pools will be closed due to warm water protocol. Please note: This does not mean the whole river system is closed. This only applies to 26 pools on 5 rivers - the Cains, Southwest Miramichi, Renous, Little Southwest, and Northwest Miramichi rivers.These pools have salmon holding in them. Generally pools will be reopened once they reach 20C for 48 hours or more. This heat wave is forcast to break on Friday so things could possibly change later in week or early next week. Will post when we hear more. You can check out the pools on the Fisheries and Oceans website at http://www.inter.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/Gulf/FAM/Recreational-Fisheries
Monday May 28th,2018.
We had great news today in regards to our Atlantic Salmon. Finally one can feel optimistic about the future of this species. The Atlantic Salmon Federation along with NASF were able to broker a deal to stop commercial fishing in Greenland and the Faroe Islands for the next 12 years. This will give the salmon a chance to make their migrations to and from their rivers. It should be noted that this deal was done with no funding from any governments. It was completely done by conservation groups in an effort to save the salmon.
This is a major step in ensuring the future of Atlantic Salmon here on the East coast. I for one am thankful for the great work ASF has done in making this possible. Now if we could only get a plan from the Department of Fisheries and Oceans for our salmon rivers. (It really isn't acceptable that our provincial and federal governments seem to play such a low key part in managing our salmon rivers). An announcement from them as to their plans to save the salmon would be the next step. Lets be hopeful.
Wednesday May 16th, 2018.
Salmon regulations have been posted by DFO for this angling season. This will be four years now since NO RETENTION was put in place and again this year we have status quo. (No retention again for 2018). Some of our customers are asking, is it still barbless and can we use double hooks? Apparently the regulations on this were never really put in place and in the first year of no retention we were led to believe it was law. Since then we have discovered that we can use barbed and double hooks during the bright salmon season.
We are going into the fourth year of no retention and quite a few customers are talking about what is being done, and is there a management plan for the Miramichi? It seems as though the general public are starting to feel like something should be starting to happen by now. Should we be concerned? Well, if you are to ask what the status is on the Bass in Miramichi Lake? What is the management plan to bring the salmon population back to sustainable numbers? Will there be more enforcement on our rivers this season? If it is hook and release why are regulations not in place for barbless hooks? Are the striper bass numbers out of control? And of course the question asked the most, when will we be able to keep a salmon? These are concerns people have and one has to really wander is there a management plan? When our conservation groups ask these questions of DFO they cain't seem to get answers. As one of our customers said" these are our fish and DFO is paid by us. Why are we not seeing results and getting answers to our questions?". Most of us are feeling we have waited long enough. Lets hope good news is coming in the near future.
Saturday April 14th, 2018.
Later yesterday afternoon DFO posted regulations for the Bass recreational fishery. This years bag limit will be 3/day within the 50cm - 65cm range. Remember, a limit of 3 only can be in your possession at any given time.
No real news on the recreational salmon fishery other than the spring salmon fishery will open on April 15th and the usual regulations will apply. No retention, all hook and release. At this time it looks as though they have not made any decisions on the summer salmon fishery. Will post more information as it becomes available.
Friday April 13th, 2018
.At this time we are still waiting on Department of Fishery and Oceans to give us the 2018 angling regulations for Salmon and Bass. Though the Provincial Summary is printed we still do not know what the actual regulations will be on bag limits, etc. Typically we will find this out from DFO within hours of the actual opening day. It often amazes me as to how a department can operate in this way while so many people are dependent on their decisions for a livelihood. Even after all the meetings and pressure from conservation and concerned groups they still choose to manage our resource with a knee jerk reaction to the industry. We see a growing number of people in the last few years becoming more frustrated with this style of management. Already the general discussion among anglers is, and will be, over the next few weeks about how nothing has really changed again this year with DFO.
Is it to much to ask that DFO have their seasonal plan in place so any changes to regulations can be coordinated to be ready in time for the province of N.B to print the annual angling summaries. I keep hearing this year after year from anglers and it is little wander they are concerned about the future of our rivers when something as important as angling regulations cain't be decided and made public until hours prior to opening day.
Once again, today is Friday, the season opens Sunday and we are still waiting on DFO's changes to regulations for the upcoming season.
Wednesday November 22,2017
- N.B Recreational Salmon Fishery Transformation Project-I have only become aware of this news in the past two weeks. It seems that after 3 years we are finally getting a salmon management plan. This might be good news. DFO seems to be laying out a plan of action with time frames. Will post more as information comes available. In the mean time watch for any announcements that might be made.
- Friday, April 12th, 2019.
- The 2019 angling season is almost upon us and anglers need to be aware that, once again this year we will be following a hook and release management plan on the Miramichi. Hard to believe how fast time goes by. This will be 5 years since we have gone hook and release. Although various conservation groups have been asking for a salmon management plan we still do not have anything in place to protect this precious resource. The best DFO is able to give us is hook and release.I often think how lucky provinces like Quebec and NFLD are to have river by river salmon management plans. One has to wander though, if they can have better river management plans why cain't New Brunswick?