FREDERICTON (GNB) – Anglers will be able to apply from Feb. 8 to March 4 to fish Regular Crown Reserve waters this summer. Draw results will be available March 29.
“Hundreds of New Brunswick families enjoy this great sport and they look forward to it every year,” said Natural Resources Minister Denis Landry. “We are fortunate to be able to offer Crown Reserve fishing opportunities for anglers and I wish all applicants good luck in the draw.”
Regular Crown Reserve consists of 20 high-quality salmon stretches on the Miramichi and Restigouche River systems. Angling parties who are successful in the draw have access to their stretch for two days. The use of a fishing camp is included with 16 of these stretches at no additional cost.
Last year there were 942 applications to the draw of which 555 were successful resulting in 3,116 anglers (in parties of two or four) fishing on Crown waters.
This year, the Regular Crown Reserve angling season begins June 10 and ends Sept. 15. The Daily and Live Release Crown Reserve angling season is from June 1 to Sept. 15. Some exceptions to these dates apply depending on the specific stretch of Crown Reserve water.
Anglers are reminded to obtain an Outdoors Card number to apply to a Crown Reserve draw or to purchase an angling licence. The card may be obtained through a no-fee registration process that may be completed online, at participating licence vendors or at Service New Brunswick Centres.
The booking period for unsuccessful applicants in the Regular Crown Reserve draw is from May 9 to May 22. The first-come-first-served open booking period will be from June 6 to Sept. 15.
The department will advise the public as soon as it learns from the Department of Fisheries and Oceans whether or not Atlantic salmon (grilse) may be retained in the 2016 season. More information on 2016 salmon conservation measures is available on the Department of Fisheries and Oceans website.
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