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Going Fishing in New Brunswick (First time in the Atlantic)

Posted: Wed Mar 25, 2015 3:50 pm
by MichaelGA
So I'm going to be spending about 4 weeks or so in New Brunswick on the South West Coast (Bay of Fundy) it will be the last two weeks of June and first two weeks of July. I want to do some (actually a LOT of) fishing in the sea as I haven't even seen the Pacific Ocean in over 13 years!

I'll have lots of time and will be in the St. Andrews, Blacks Harbour and Grand Manan area.

I don't have a boat (not counting my canoe) but will have room for almost all of my fishing gear. Charters look great but unless short 2-3 hours I'm not able to go as I'll have my dogs with me... and a 4 year old that will need distractions. They are also rather expensive.

Don't really care what I'm catching, would love any advice, locations and tips for fishing from shore or wharves. (really need current information as Blacks Harbour seems to have been a hot-spot but might be off limits now?)


I've looked at the two main forums, neither one will allow new members to join (broken sign-ups) and their aren't many new posts for 2015.

Stripers seem to be in a world of hurt so I'll not likely target them, Bluefish seem to be a good choice though for sport fish. Not sure if the Mackerel will be in but again it's not too important - even Sculpin will be welcome if nothing else is biting. It'll be mostly catch and release with only something that won't survive going into the frying pan or stock pot. Sand sharks or wolf fish or rays would be great but then again I'd love some information on where to start.

Thanks

Re: Going Fishing in New Brunswick (First time in the Atlant

Posted: Wed Mar 25, 2015 4:30 pm
by Maple
In this case Michael, I think Google will be your friend. If I were you, I'd phone some local New Brunswick tackle shops and ask them what's going on at that time of year. I know trout will be in full swing.

If lobster season is still on, the boats will mostly be busy fishing lobster so will not be running charters yet. Too early for inshore mackerel. Early July things usually start up for the tourist season.

Check this out. Seems to be active.

http://newbrunswickfishing.com/forums/i ... questions/

Re: Going Fishing in New Brunswick (First time in the Atlant

Posted: Wed Mar 25, 2015 4:36 pm
by smitty55
Sounds like a good trip Michael. This may seem basic since you're from the west coast, but make sure the reels you bring are suitable for salt water.
Cheers

Re: Going Fishing in New Brunswick (First time in the Atlant

Posted: Wed Mar 25, 2015 5:18 pm
by MichaelGA
@Maple - read almost every relevant thread on newbrunswickfishing.com - can't make a new UserName as the current software is broken and the admin/programmer has gone AWOL.

@Smitty55 - yup just dusting them off now:
- I have 1 great big 15' surf caster for launching chunks (2-8oz) way out there it has a 7000 size Daiwa surf reel on it last used for shark fishing off the rocks in Mexico. I still have the traces but will have to change the rubbing leaders as 18yr old Mono is probably not a good idea 400lb or not.
- Also a 10' Lamiglass pluggin rod with a Cinnetic braid spool fixed reel, and
- two decent but old heavy berkley rods, one for boat fishing 6' and the other for inshore fishing 8' both with decent but older Penn reels.
Might have to pickup a few drag washers though... maybe try some of the new carbon fiber ones and see what they are like at least with the fixed reels I don't have to worry about proprietary sizes or shapes, ID / OD and wham-bam put it in!

Re: Going Fishing in New Brunswick (First time in the Atlant

Posted: Wed Mar 25, 2015 7:00 pm
by Eli
Spent a few days fishing and hiking in NB last May.

You can catch a pile of tomcod at the mouth of the South Salmon River in the village of Alma (directly adjacent to Fundy NP). There's also striped bass and mackerel there, but you'll be going way too early to encounter them. Fish the upstream side of the bridge. Worms or bacon on bottom. Not a fighting fish, but fries up very well over the camp fire.

The mouth of the Kouchibouguac river has easy access and holds winter flounder (bottom jigging) and searun brook trout (casting). There's also river access at various spots in the park itself and trout can be caught there as well.

Fish on an the incoming and high tide. The South Salmon River turns into a trickle at low tide and is unfishable.

Re: Going Fishing in New Brunswick (First time in the Atlant

Posted: Tue Mar 31, 2015 9:22 pm
by Superdad
If your are fishing in salt water, i don't believe you will require a license, Any where there is a pier on the bay of Fundy, there are sole and mackeral.

If you are fishing fresh water, I would check the New Brunswick fishing regs on-line, I used to have a copy but after two years I tossed it.

Any thing related to Atlantic Salmon for a Non-Resident will require a special license and a GUIDE.

Check the NB Regs.

Lotsa Luck in Charlotte County - St Andrews is a pretty town - Drop By the Atlantic Salmon Federation at Chamcook and tour their centre.

Cheers

David aka Superdad
=

Re: Going Fishing in New Brunswick (First time in the Atlant

Posted: Fri Apr 03, 2015 12:06 pm
by MichaelGA
Thanks for the advice... going for strickly saltwater. I grew up on the Ocean and miss it terribly, wife had some family business to do so i'm making it a 3 week trip!

Only planing on being around Saint Andrews to Blacks Harbour and Grand Manan (wifes business stuff).

Likely get to the island and hang around the docks till I meet someone local and ply them with a beer and shore lunch in exchange for tips etc.

Still love more information on the area in advance though.

ie. are most docks / wharves still open for fishing? I've read mixed reports, sadly all old.

Re: Going Fishing in New Brunswick (First time in the Atlant

Posted: Mon Apr 06, 2015 11:34 am
by smitty55
Recently got some info I never would have figured. My nephew and a friend have a small renovation company. His partner's dad just bought a waterfront home around Halifax that needs some work, so the lads are going to stay there for 6 weeks and fix up the house. My nephew likes to fish so he figured he could do some shore fishing off the dock. Well imagine his surprise when he gets told that he'd be wasting his time fishing because there are no fish there due to the high seal population. Never would have figured that. Now I'm not sure if that applies to where you will be fishing in New Brunswick Michael, but the same thing may be happening there. Something to consider anyways, not that it will stop you from fishing I'm sure. Perhaps Markus can chime in on the seal issue.

Cheers

Re: Going Fishing in New Brunswick (First time in the Atlant

Posted: Mon Apr 06, 2015 2:35 pm
by Markus
I've never had any issues with seals. We fish mackerel, flounder, smelts, seas trout and strippers annually and I've never even seen a seal while fishing. I do get the occasional one tossing around my decoys in the late fall when hunting ducks though. :lol:

Re: Going Fishing in New Brunswick (First time in the Atlant

Posted: Wed Apr 08, 2015 7:53 am
by Stickleback
I'll be heading to New Brunswick (Bathurst) for the August long weekend and the following week. Two years ago we had some fun with stripers right on the beach but we only had 6' rods so getting bait out past breakers was challenging except under really calm conditions. I want to pick up a surf rod/reel combo for this years trip...any suggestions? I don't want to break the bank since I'll probably only use the rig every few years when on the East Coast, but I'm sure a 9' rod would increase my catch rate...

Re: Going Fishing in New Brunswick (First time in the Atlant

Posted: Thu Apr 09, 2015 8:42 am
by RJ
Pick up a cheap lighter action downrigger rod. That'd help you bomb bait out I bet.

RJ