Sportfishing Season To Open April 1

Nova Scotia anglers will have a variety of sportfishing opportunities available to them when the season officially opens on April 1, Gordon Balser Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries announced today, March 24.

Each year, more than 100,000 Nova Scotians enjoy sport fishing in rivers and lakes throughout the province. This year there are several new regulations in place regarding size limits, type of fishing gear, length of season and bait restrictions.

"We continue to monitor the health of our sport fishery." said Mr. Balser. "Through our assessment of the fishery, combined with input from anglers, we develop regulations which conserve, protect, and in some cases, provide increased sportfishing opportunities for Nova Scotia anglers."

Anglers are encouraged to read the Summary of Regulations that accompanies their licence since there are new regulations being implemented in each recreational fishing area. Changes in regulations have been developed through the department's recreational fisheries advisory councils, and in co-operation with the Department of Fisheries and Oceans.

The bag limit across the province remains at five trout, five bass, and two landlocked salmon per day, with the exception of special trout and bass management areas. All brook trout caught in September must be released. The only exception to this is in the Cape Breton Highlands trout management area where brook trout may be retained for the entire season.

Once again this year, anglers will have night fishing opportunities on several lakes and rivers in Nova Scotia.

For the ninth year, licence fees remain the same. A general licence costs $17.25 (including tax) for Nova Scotians and $46 for non-residents. A resident salmon licence costs $28.75, while non-residents can purchase a seven-day licence for $46 or a seasonal licence for $120. General licences can be purchased at more than 650 vendors across the province.

Licences are valid from the date of issue until March 31,2004. Anglers who plan to fish during the winter sportfishing seasons should keep their licence and return their stub at the end of the season. All other anglers should return them after their final fishing trip of the season.

Nova Scotians are also invited to participate in the Nova Scotia Sport Fishing Weekend to be held June 7 and 8. "During this weekend Nova Scotia residents can fish without a general fishing licence. It is a great reason to try angling, it can be a great family outing." said Mr. Balser.

Nova Scotia's sport fishery contributes millions of dollars each year to the provincial economy. Information on angling can also be found on the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries Web site, www.gov.ns.ca/nsaf/sportfishing .

Following is a list of special regulations by recreational fishing area:

Recreational Fishing Area 1:
In Area 1, Cape Breton, Richmond, Inverness and Victoria counties, the Cape Breton Highlands management area remains in effect. Anglers will be permitted to retain 10 speckled trout, of which only one can be over 23cm (9in.) in length. This management area is enclosed by the following boundaries: the highway 105 from St. Ann's to the Cabot Trail, the Cabot Trail Highway, the Victoria County Line and the Cape Breton Highlands National Park boundary. Size restrictions are again in place on the Margaree River for trout anglers. In the area upstream from the highway bridges at East Margaree to the bridges at Big Intervale on the Northeast Margaree and upstream to the bridge at Margaree Forks on the Southwest Margaree the bag limit is five trout, only one of which may be longer than 35cm (14in.) total length. Special trout management areas remain in place for Baddeck and Middle Rivers in Victoria County. These rivers will be closed from April 1 tol May 14. From May 15 to Sept. 30 they are open for single hook lure or artificial fly only, the use of natural bait is prohibited. Both the Baddeck and Middle rivers will be open for the retention of rainbow trout in October. Artificial fly only will be permitted. Anglers are reminded that several lakes, including Belfry, Gabarus, L'Archeveque, St. Esprit and Rory's Pond, along the Atlantic coast of Cape Breton County are tidal and do not open to angling until April 15.

Recreational Fishing Area 2:
In Area 2, Pictou, Antigonish and Guysborough counties, the trout season on West River and East River Pictou County is delayed one month until May 15 to protect sea run trout. New regulations are also in place on the Salmon River, Guysborough Co. On this river the bag limit has been reduced to three trout and the season opening is delayed until May 15. Anglers can fish from May 15 to June 30 with bait. From July 1 to the end of the fishing season angling in the area from a point 50m downstream from the Highway 16 Bridge at Cooks Cove is restricted to fly fishing only. The special trout management area developed in 2002 on West River, Antigonish Co. remains in place in 2003. This river will open on May 15 and anglers will be restricted to fly and single hook lure only. The combined bag limit for brook or brown trout is one fish a day, of either species, which must be a minimum of 35cm (14in.) in length. Anglers will also be able to retain rainbow trout in October from the West and South rivers, Antigonish Co., and St. Francis Harbour River, Guysborough Co., by fly fishing only. Anglers can fish rainbow trout year round in Cameron and Gillis Lake, Antigonish Co., Gairloch Lake Pictou Co. and Goose Harbour Lake, Guysborough Co. A new smallmouth bass season has been opened on Middle River Reservoir, Pictou Co. from April 1 to Oct. 31. The limit is five bass per day.

Recreational Fishing Area 3:
In Area 3, Halifax and Lunenburg counties, the early season opening date of April 1 is once again in place for the LaHave River, from Silver Hill Brook, located 825 m downstream from the CN Railway bridge, upstream to the south end of Wentzells Lake. In this area anglers are restricted, until May 25, to unbaited lure to which no more than one hook is attached or artificial fly, the use of natural bait is prohibited. From May 26 anglers are restricted to artificial fly only from Silver Hill Brook upstream to New Germany Lake; upstream to Sherbrooke Lake on the North Branch; and upstream to Rhyno Lake on the West LaHave, not including the lakes on those rivers, the lakes and tributaries flowing into them or the waters commonly know as the Shad Hole between Bruhm's Bridge and Shingle Mill Brook. From June 16 the waters of the Shad Hole also become fly fishing only. Special trout management regulations remain in place on Blueberry Lake, Jacket Lake, Woodens River, Birch Hill Lake, East Duck Lake, Five Island Lake, Five Island Run, Frederick Lake, Holland Marsh Lake, Hubley Big Lake, Lizard Lake and Sheldrake Lake. On these systems, angling is catch and release only for trout and gear must be fly or single hook lure, no bait. On East Taylor Bay Lake angling is restricted to fly or single hook lure, no bait and anglers are limited to two speckled trout which must be at least 25cm (10in.) in length. Trophy fisheries for smallmouth bass have been developed for Grand Lake where the bag limit has been reduced to three fish, only one of which may be over 40cm (16in.), all fish 30-40cm (12-16in.) must be released and no bass may be retained from April 19 until June 8 and the use of natural bait is prohibited for this species. High harvest bass lakes have been designated in Area 3. On Banook, Loon, Micmac and Rocky lakes the bag limit has been increased to 10 fish a day, only two of which may be over 25cm (10in.). Angling for chain pickerel in Fish Lake is open all year. Rainbow trout anglers can fish Albro Lake, Halifax County and Sucker Lake, Lunenburg Co. all year.

Recreational Fishing Area 4:
In Area 4, Digby, Queens, Shelburne and Yarmouth counties, special bass management areas have been created in Salmon River Lake, Digby Co. and Ten Mile Lake, Queens Co. On these lakes anglers are restricted to three bass a day, only one of which may be over 40cm (16in.), all fish 30-40cm (12-16in.) must be released. No bass may be retained from April 19 to June 8 and the use of natural bait is prohibited. Rainbow trout anglers can fish Hidden Hills Lake, Queens Co. all year for this species.

Recreational Fishing Area 5:
In Area 5, Annapolis, Hants and Kings counties, special regulations are in place on the Cornwallis River for trout fishing. From April 1 to Sept. 30 the area from South Bishop Road downstream to the Highway 101 bridge is restricted to angling with fly or single hook lure. The bag limit in this section is also reduced to one fish, either brown or speckled, which must be 35cm (14in.) or longer. Special bass management areas continue for Black, Methals and Little River Lakes, Kings Co. and Panuke Lake, Hants Co. On these lakes the season runs from April 1 until Dec. 31 and anglers are limited to three bass a day, only one of which may be greater than 40cm (16in.). All fish 30-40cm (12- 16in.) must be released. The use of natural bait is prohibited for this species and from April 19 to June 8 no bass may be retained. High harvest fisheries are in place in Gaspereau Lake and Lake George, Kings County and Elliot Lake, Annapolis Co. There the bag limit is increased to 10 bass a day, only two of which may be over 25cm (10in.). Chain pickerel anglers will now be able to angle in Lily Lake (Cogamgun Pond) all year for this species. Woodward Sandford, Hants Co. is also open all year for white and yellow perch.

Recreational Fishing Area 6:
In Area 6, Colchester and Cumberland counties special trout management areas are in place for Harrison Lake, Cumberland Co. and the Stewiacke River, Colchester Co. In Harrison Lake, angling is restricted to fly or single hook lure and the combined bag limit for brown or speckled trout is reduced to one fish of either species, which must be 35cm (14in.) in length and the use of natural bait is prohibited. During the month of September no speckled trout may be retained. On the Stewiacke River, Colchester Co., downstream from the highway bridge farthest upstream in Upper Stewiacke to the CN Railway bridge near McKay Siding is closed from April 1 to May 10. From May 11 to July 15 anglers are restricted to single hook lure or artificial fly and the bag limit is reduced to one fish, brown or speckled, which must be 35cm (14in.) total length or longer, and the use of natural bait is prohibited. No speckled trout may be retained in September. From July 16 until the end of all fishing seasons anglers must fly fish. New smallmouth bass seasons have been established on Angevine and Big lakes, Cumberland Co. and Round Lake, Colchester Co., from April 1 to Oct. 31. The limit is five bass per day.