2001-02 Sport Fishing Season Opens
The 2001 sportfishing season will open on April 1 in most areas of Nova Scotia, with expanded fishing opportunities and new conservation measures for anglers.
This year’s opening is two weeks to a month earlier than last year’s, depending on location. However, some areas will have delayed openings to protect Atlantic salmon and trout stocks. The tidal-water portions of Recreational Fishing Areas 1 and 2, and parts of Areas 3 and 6, with the exception of the Bras d’Or Lakes, will be closed to angling until April 15.
"We have worked with anglers and industry to come up with a way to have more time to fish and more places to fish, while still ensuring that there will be fish in the years to come in these lakes," said Agriculture and Fisheries Minister Ernest Fage.
A new regulation this year will protect smallmouth bass during spawning season by not allowing bass to be retained between April 21 and June 10. The exception is in high-harvest bass lakes.
Size limits and types of fishing gear have also been addressed in the new angling regulations. The no-bait restriction for all trout species during September will continue to be in place this year. New trophy regulations will be implemented for trout and smallmouth bass. These regulations cover size limits, gear restrictions and shorter seasons.
Sport fishing opportunities for rainbow trout will be expanded this year on South and West Rivers, Antigonish Co.; St. Francis Harbour River, Guysborough Co.; and Middle and Baddeck Rivers, Victoria Co. On these rivers, the season for rainbow trout will be extended until the end of October, fly fishing only.
The rainbow trout season will be open all year on the Bras d’Or Lakes in Cape Breton; Albro Lake, Halifax Co.; Sucker Lake, Lunenburg Co.; Hidden Hills Lake, Queens Co.; Levers Lake and No. 20 Dam, Cape Breton Co.; Gillis and Cameron lakes, Antigonish Co.; Goose Harbour Lake, Guysborough Co.; and Gairloch Lake, Pictou Co.
Once again anglers will have night-fishing opportunities for brown trout on several lakes and rivers in Nova Scotia.
For the seventh year, the general licence fees remain the same, $17.25, with the exception of a reduced licence fee, $5.75 for seniors 65 years of age and older.
The annual Nova Scotia Sport Fishing Weekend will be held on June 2 and 3. It is a fun-filled weekend when residents can fish without a general fishing licence. It is a great opportunity to discover the varied sport-fishing opportunities available in the province.
The minister encouraged anglers to read the Summary of Regulations that accompanies their licences and said he hopes anglers have a safe and enjoyable 2001-02 sport fishing season.
More than 100,000 Nova Scotians enjoy sport fishing, an industry that contributes $82 million a year to the provincial economy.
Fishing licences are on sale now and can be purchased at over 650 vendors across the province.