New Brunswick

Striped bass season doubled for 2017

The region’s striped bass season will be more than doubled this year, increasing to 200 from 95.

The season in tidal waters will increase to 200 days from 95

Fish must be between 50 and 65 centimetres in length to be harvested and only barbless hooks can be used to catch the fish in tidal waters. (Meghan Wilson/DFO)

The striped bass season will be more than double in length this year, increasing to 200 days for tidal waters from 95 last year.

The season in the southern Gulf of St. Lawrence region, which includes the Maritime provinces, will last from April 15 until Oct. 31 for tidal waters, the Department of Fisheries announced Friday.

A shorter recreational season for inland waters will run from May 1 to Sept. 15.

The season will be closed on the northwest Miramichi River for three weeks starting in mid-May during the bass spawning period.

At the bookends of the season, before June 14 and after Sept. 1., there will be a bag limit of one fish. In the intervening period, the limit will be increased to two.

Fish must also be between 50 and 65 centimetres in length to be harvested, and only barbless hooks can be used to catch bass in tidal waters.