Minister Announces Opening of Sportfishing Season

AGRICULTURE/FISHERIES--Minister Announces Opening of Sportfishing Season

NOTE: A list of special regulations by recreational fishing area follows this release.

Signs of spring are becoming more evident, particularly with the opening of the 2004 sportfishing season on April 1. More than 100,000 Nova Scotians will take to the province's many rivers and lakes to fish this season, said Chris d'Entremont, Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries today, March 25.

And this year those anglers will have to familiarize themselves with a few new or changed regulations.

"Through our department work, and the tireless efforts of anglers, we have been able to make changes to the fishing regulations to help conserve, enhance, protect and increase sportfishing opportunities in Nova Scotia," said Mr. D'Entremont.

Changes in regulations at the various recreation management areas have been developed through the department's six Recreational Fisheries Advisory Councils, and in co-operation with the Department of Fisheries and Oceans and the Department of Natural Resources.

The new regulations and changes to existing regulations are included in the 2004 Angler's Handbook and Summary of Regulations, which accompanies a fishing licence.

For the 10th year in a row, the price of a general licence costs $17.25 (tax included) for residents of Nova Scotia and $46 for non-residents. Non-residents also have the option to purchase a seven-day or a one-day licence which costs $23 and $5.75 respectively. Seniors' fishing licences will once again be $5.75 (tax included).

All anglers 16 years of age and older must purchase a general fishing licence. Licences are valid from the date of issue until March 31, 2005. Anglers who plan to fish during the winter portion of the angling season should keep their licence and return their stub at the end of the season. It is mandatory to return your licence stubs and everyone should return them after their last fishing trip of the season.

Anglers will once again have the opportunity to register their larger catches in the Nova Scotia Fish Registry. This database of large and record-sized fish caught in the province is an exciting way to generate interest in sportfishing. Anglers are invited to submit fish in the catch and release, catch and keep, and youth categories. Two Nova Scotia anglers hold Canadian records for a 54.06-lb striped bass and a 5.7-lb chain pickerel caught in provincial waters.

Nova Scotians are also encouraged to participate in the tenth annual Nova Scotia Sportfishing Weekend to be held June 5 and 6. "During this special weekend Nova Scotia residents can fish without a general fishing licence. It is a great opportunity to get the whole family involved and to introduce new anglers to sportfishing," said Mr. D'Entremont.

Nova Scotia's sport fishery contributes more than $85 million per year to the provincial economy. Information on angling can be found on the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries website at www.gov.ns.ca/nsaf/sportfishing .

NOTE: 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 for 2004. In this area anglers will be permitted to retain 10 speckled trout, of which only one can be over 24.1 cm (10 in) in length. This management area is enclosed by the following boundaries: 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. New regulations implemented on the Margaree River for trout anglers in 2003 will be maintained. 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 35 cm (14 in)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 until May 14. From May 15 until Sept. 30 they are open for single hook lure or artificial fly only, the use of natural bait is prohibited. The gear restriction and no bait requirement on Indian Brook, a tributary of Middle River, has been lifted for 2004. Additionally, both the Baddeck and Middle rivers will be open for the retention of rainbow trout in October. Artificial fly only will be permitted. Smallmouth bass angling will be permitted on Lake Ainslie, Inverness Co., with a bag limit of 10 bass. Night fishing for brown trout will be permitted on Salmon River, Cape Breton Co., from the highway bridge near Rock Elm to its confluence with the Mira River.

Recreational Fishing Area 2:
In Area 2, Pictou, Antigonish and Guysborough counties, the trout season on West River and East River, Pictou Co. 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 up until June 30 with bait. After 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 on West River, Antigonish Co., last year remains in place in 2004. 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 35 cm (14 in) in length. A special management area has been established on St. Francis Harbour River. The river will remain closed until May 15 from the outlet of Goose Harbour Lake downstream to its confluence with Chedabucto Bay. From May 15 to Sept. 30 angling is restricted to unbaited lures and artificial flies and the bag limit is reduced to one trout, either a brown or speckled trout which must be 35 cm(14 in) or longer. 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 County and Goose Harbour Lake, Guysborough Co.

Recreational Fishing Area 3:
In Area 3, Halifax and Lunenburg counties, the new season opening date of April 1 for the LaHave River, from Silver Hill Brook downstream from the CN Railway bridge upstream to the south end of Wentzells Lake will continue. In this area, anglers are restricted to unbaited lure to which no more than one hook is attached or artificial fly, the use of natural bait is prohibited. Similarly, a portion of Petite Riviere, Lunenburg Co., from the Highway 331 bridge upstream to Hebb Lake, but not including tributaries, which was formerly closed until June 15, will open April 1, however anglers will be restricted to unbaited lures and artificial flies only and the use of natural bait is prohibited. The bag limit is also reduced to two trout. 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 anglers are limited to two speckled trout. 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 40 cm (16 in), all fish 30-40 cm must be released and no bass may be retained from April 17 until June 6, 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 25 cm (10 in). Angling for chain pickerel in Fish Lake, Morris Lake and Russell Lake is open all year. Rainbow trout anglers can fish Albro Lake, Halifax Co. 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 40 cm (16 in), all fish 30-40 cm (12-16 in) must be released. No bass may be retained from April 17 to June 6 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 until 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 35 cm(14 in) 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 40 cm (16 in). All fish 30-40 cm (12-16 in) must be released. The use of natural bait is prohibited for this species and from April 17 to June 6 no bass may be retained. High harvest fisheries are in place in Gaspereau Lake and Lake George, Kings Co., and Elliot Lake, Annapolis Co. There the bag limit is increased to 10 bass a day, only two of which may be over 25 cm (10 in). Chain pickerel anglers will now be able to angle in Lily Lake (Cogamgun Pond) all year for this species. Woodward Sandford Lake, Hants Co., and Springfield Lake, Annapolis Lake are 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 35 cm (14 in) 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 until 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 35 cm (14 in) 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.