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LeBlanc announces increased bag limit for 2018 striped bass season

The bag limit for the 2018 striped bass recreational fishery will be increased to three fish per day.

Dominic LeBlanc, minister of fisheries, oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard, announced management measures for the striped bass recreational fishery throughout the Southern Gulf of St. Lawrence Friday.

This area includes the Maritime provinces adjacent to the Gulf of St. Lawrence.

This year, the retention period started Sunday and will end Oct. 31. The bag limit will be three fish per day, every day of the season.

Fishing will not be permitted in a 6.5-km portion of the northwest Miramichi River for five days during the spawning period, which takes place from mid-May to mid-June — a reduction from 9.8 km over a nine-day closure period last year. This is the only confirmed successful spawning ground for this population of striped bass.

DFO employees on site will monitor spawning activity to determine when the closure will take place. A notice to anglers will be posted on the Canadian government website to inform the public.

This season’s management measures take into consideration input from consultations held in the fall 2017 and winter 2018. During that period, DFO met with First Nations, indigenous organizations, fishing organizations, provincial departments as well as online consultations for the public.