Winter Sportfishing Season Opens

NOTE: A list of waterways open and restrictions for winter sport fishing follows this release.

Anglers will have more locations to enjoy sportfishing throughout the province when the winter season opens on New Year's Day.

Fishing venues are expanding with more lakes open for brook trout, chain pickerel or perch.

In fresh water lakes open for winter, rainbow trout sportfishing anglers may also fish for brook trout. There are also a number of new lakes open for brook trout fishing. The bag limit remains at two fish per licence.

"Winter sportfishing is a great way for Nova Scotians of any age to enjoy the outdoors," said Keith Colwell, Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture. "I would like to encourage all anglers to use caution this season when winter fishing from shore, in boats, or through the ice."

A 2013 general fishing licence is required to winter fish and can be purchased at Department of Natural Resources offices. Licences are valid until March 31, 2014 and cost $26.73. Anglers may also purchase one-day licences at a reduced rate.

Anglers can take advantage of the annual winter sportfishing weekend, Feb. 15 and Feb. 16, when residents and non-residents can fish in open winter sport fishing areas without a general fishing licence.

For more information visit http://novascotia.ca/fish/programs-and-services/industry-support-services/inland-fisheries/.

The following is a list of waterways open and restrictions for winter sport fishing Jan. 1 to March 31, 2014 unless otherwise noted:

NOTE: Five areas of the Bras d'Or Lakes are closed to all angling Jan. 1 through March 31 to protect brook trout and Atlantic salmon. They include the areas above the Baddeck River Bridge on Highway 105 (including Cains Pond), inside the East Bay sandbar, above Crowdis Bridge in River Denys Basin, above Black River Bridge in Dundee and above MacKenzie Brook bridge near the south side of River Denys.

Brook trout: bag limit of 10 trout
-- Victoria County: Cape Breton Highlands Special Trout Management Area

Brown trout and Rainbow trout : bag limit of two fish per day
-- Cape Breton: Tidal waters of the Bras d'Or Lakes (see note)

Rainbow and Brook trout: bag limit two fish per day -- Antigonish County: Cameron Lake and Gillis Lake -- Colchester County: Deyarmont Lake -- Cumberland County: Angevine (Dewars) Lake and Isaac Lake -- Cape Breton, Levers Lake and No. 20 Dam (Beacon Street Pond) -- Digby County: Everitts Lake -- Guysborough County: Goose Harbour Lake and Pringle Lake -- Hants County: Meadow Pond and St. Croix Pond -- Halifax Regional Municipality: Albro Lake, Round Lake, Lewis Lake, Maynard Lake, First Lake, Cow Bay Pond and Penhorn Lake -- Inverness County: Petit Lac -- Kings County: Silver Lake and Sunken Lakes -- Lunenburg County: Sucker Lake -- Pictou County: Gairloch Lake -- Queens County: Hidden Hills Lake and Victoria Lake -- Richmond County: Eco Trail Pond on Isle Madame

Chain pickerel, White and Yellow Perch: bag limit of 25 fish per species

• Colchester County: Shortts Lake
• Digby County: Meteghan River, including all lakes and tributaries
• Halifax Regional Municipality: Morris Lake, Russell Lake, Grand Lake, Fish Lake, Bissett Lake, Grand Lake, Powder Mill Lake, Micmac Lake, Red Bridge Pond, Beaver Bank Lake, Beaver Pond(near Kinsac Lake),Lake Egmont and Kinsac Lake
• Hants County: Lily Lake (Cogamun Pond)
• Kings County: Lake George, Nicholas Lake, North River Pond and Lake Paul
• Pictou County: Black Lake and West Branch Lake
• Queens County: Louis Lake
• Shelburne County: Walls Lake, Lake George, The Ponds in Port LaTour and Bakers Flats on Cape Sable Island
• Yarmouth County: Annis River and Kiack Brook (near Belleville South), including all lakes and tributaries

White and Yellow Perch: bag limit of 25 fish per species
-- Annapolis County: Springfield Lake
-- Cumberland County: Long Lake and Smiths Lake
-- Hants County: Woodward Sanford Lake