2014 Recreational Striped Bass Fishery in the Southern Gulf of St. Lawrence

News Release

April 4, 2014 - Moncton, New Brunswick

Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Gulf Region, today announced management measures for the recreational striped bass fishery that will take place in 2014 throughout the Southern Gulf of St. Lawrence. This area includes the Maritime Provinces adjacent to the Gulf of St. Lawrence.

Compared to 2013, we have added and extended retention periods and lowered the retainable fish size.

This decision takes into consideration input from stakeholder and Aboriginal consultations held last fall and winter. This season’s management measures are also based on the most recent scientific information for this stock. As part of the monitoring of this stock, fishery statistics will be collected during the retention periods of the striped bass recreational fishery. This information will inform future management decisions.

Quick Facts

Management measures for the 2014 recreational striped bass fishery are as follows:

Fishing season

The recreational striped bass fishery will take place from May 1 to September 30, 2014.
Striped bass can be caught and released throughout the fishing season.
From May 1 to 21, from August 1 to 21, and from September 24 to 30, 2014, anglers will be able to retain a maximum of one striped bass per day and with a prohibition on possessing more than one striped bass at any given time.
A maximum retainable fish size of 65 centimeters has been set to protect the large spawners in the system that produce the largest amount of eggs and offer the greatest contribution to recruitment. A minimum retention size of 50 centimeters has been set to minimize the catch of fish that are not mature.

Extension of gear restrictions

For both the retention and the catch and release fisheries, gear restrictions are extended throughout the southern Gulf. It will be mandatory to use single non-offset barbless circle hooks (when anglers are using bait) throughout the Southern Gulf of St. Lawrence.
This type of hook helps to decrease chances of mortality when a fish is returned to water. In turn, this will help to achieve an adequate level of protection during staging and spawning activities.

Data collection

As in 2013, data collection on the striped bass recreational retention fishery will take place this season. Anglers are requested to fill out survey forms during the striped bass limited recreational retention fishery. These forms are available on the Gulf Region website.

Recreational fishery in the Gaspé Peninsula

In early March, the province of Quebec announced a recreational catch and release striped bass fishery would take place this summer in one portion of the southern Gaspé Peninsula from June 15 to September 30, 2014. The public is reminded to verify the website of the Ministère du Développement durable, Environnement, Faune et Parcs for additional details (French only).

Illegal activity

Enforcement activities will be carried out during the fishing seasons to reduce illegal activities. The public can report any illegal activity by calling 1-800-222-8477, or the nearest Fisheries and Oceans Canada office found in the blue pages of their phone book.

Associated Links

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For media enquiries:

Steve Hachey
Communications Advisor
Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Gulf Region
506-851-7045

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Date modified:: 2014-04-04

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2014 Recreational Striped Bass Fishery in the Southern Gulf of St. Lawrence

News Release

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