More Night Fishing This Season

NOTE: Time elements in paragraphs 4 and 5.

Anglers will soon be permitted to fish at night for smallmouth bass at Black River Lake and Little River Lake, Kings County.

The new opportunities follow the success of night fishing last year at Cornwallis River, Lake Micmac, Lake Banook, and sections of the Stewiacke and Mersey rivers.

"We made these recommendations after talking with anglers about expanding sport fishing opportunities," said Murray Hill, director of Inland Fisheries. "Of course, we're always balancing new fishing efforts versus care for our traditional stocks."

The smallmouth bass season opens April 15 across Nova Scotia.

The sport fishing season actually kicks off Wednesday, April 1, with the opening of trout season in areas west of Highway 102. It opens April 15 for the remainder of the province.

The bag limit remains at five trout, five bass, and two landlocked salmon per fishing trip.

Also unchanged this year are licence fees. A general fishing licence costs $17.25 for Nova Scotians and $46 for non-residents. A salmon licence for residents costs $28.75, while non-residents can choose a seven-day licence for $46 or a seasonal licence for $120. General licences can be bought at one of the 900 vendors throughout the province. Only anglers 16 and older require a fishing licence.

The licences are valid from date of issue until March 31, 1999. Anglers who plan to fish during the winter should keep their licence and return their licence stub at the end of March. All other anglers should return them after their final trip of the season.

Smallmouth bass night fishing will be permitted on Micmac and Banook lakes, Halifax County.

Brown trout night fishing will be permitted on Cornwallis River, Kings County, the Mersey River, Queens County, downstream from Lake Rossignol to the dam at Cowie Falls, and on the Stewiacke River, Colchester County, from the bridge in Middle Stewiacke upstream to Lansdowne Bridge.

More than 100,000 Nova Scotians enjoy angling. The sport fishery generates about $82 million a year.