Along the shores of the Bay of Fundy and Atlantic coast of Nova Scotia, striped bass is a highly prized fish by anglers because of their feisty nature and size. Striped bass can grow to up to 100 centimetres in length and can reach up to 30 years of age.
Historically, they are known to have spawned in four Maritime rivers: the Shubenacadie/Stewiacke, Annapolis, Saint John, and Miramichi. It is believed that successful spawning may now be restricted to the Shubenacadie/Stewiacke and Miramichi rivers.
As with any sport or recreational fishing activity, there are certain rules and regulations that anglers must abide by when angling for striped bass. If a person is caught breaking the rules, charges will be laid under the Fisheries Act. In recent years there has been an increase in the number of violations, resulting in fines up to $1,200.
The daily bag limit is one striped bass, 68 cm (26.8 inches) in length or longer measured from the tip to the nose to the tip of the tail. If caught with an undersize striped bass, the minimum fine is $200. For each subsequent undersize bass it is an additional $100, plus court fees and surcharges. Furthermore, it is illegal to alter striped bass in any way so that the species, number, weight or size cannot readily be determined.
It is important to note that Fisheries and Oceans exercises a no-tolerance policy for offences involving striped bass. DFO Fishery Officers are actively working with the N.S. Department of Natural Resources conservation officers in monitoring, patrolling, and enforcing the regulations pertaining to recreational striped bass fishing. Anglers are to be aware that if they are caught with an illegal striped bass, they will receive a ticket.
Anglers can fish striped bass year round in the tidal waters of the Bay of Fundy, as well as along the Atlantic Coast of N.S.
As a general rule, angling for striped bass in the inland waters of N.S. begins April 1 and is permitted as long as a fishing season is open in those waters for trout, salmon, landlocked salmon or smallmouth bass. In the inland waters of New Brunswick draining into the Bay of Fundy, the season is open from April 15 to Oct. 15.
Please note, however, that angling for striped bass is not permitted anywhere in the tidal waters of the Gulf of St. Lawrence and Northumberland Strait or in any inland waters of N.S., N.B. or P.E.I. emptying into that area. Angling for striped bass in the Bay of Fundy and along the Atlantic coast of N.S. will be permitted again in 2008. A seasonal angling closure in a part of the Stewiacke River, which is believed to be their spawning location, is under consideration for 2008. If you have any questions regarding seasonal closures or rules and regulations for angling striped bass, check with your local DFO office.
In 2004, the Committee on the Status of Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC) assessed striped bass in Atlantic Canada as a “threatened” species and recommended that it be listed under the Species at Risk Act (SARA). DFO has consulted broadly on the implications of such a listing and consultations are ongoing. No decision has been made with respect to listing striped bass at this time, however as mentioned earlier, the species is protected via restrictions under the Fisheries Act. Strict management measures implemented by DFO more than a decade ago have resulted in increased numbers of striped bass, particularly in the Bay of Fundy.
For more information about striped bass, visit DFO’s website at
www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca. (Ian Marshall is the DFO Area Director for Southwest Nova Scotia. If you have questions about this column or would you like to read about other DFO issues that affect you and your community in future columns, send en email to CommEnquire@mar.dfo-mpo.gc.ca or call (902) 426-3550.
