DFO advises that the 2010 trout and smelt winter angling seasons in non-scheduled waters throughout Newfoundland and Labrador will open and close as follows:

Trout season dates:

• Zone 1 (Insular Newfoundland)............ February 1 - April 15
• Zone 2 (Labrador Straits)........ March 1 - September 7
• Zone 3 (Southeastern Labrador)...... March 1 - September 7
• Zone 4 (Western Labrador)..... February 1 - September 7
• Zone 5 (Central Labrador)........ February 1 - September 15
• Zone 6 (Northern Labrador) ........February 1 - September 15

Consult the 2009/10 Angler's Guide for specific information on these special management areas.

Daily bag limits:

The daily bag limit for in-land and tidal waters of insular Newfoundland for all trout species combined, and for brook trout in Labrador, is 12 trout or five pounds (2.27 kg) plus one fish, whichever is reached first.

The daily bag limit for Labrador Lake Trout and Arctic Char is two fish per day.

In special trout management areas, the daily bag limit is six Trout or two pounds (0.9 kg) plus one fish, whichever is reached first.

Possession limit:

The possession limit is twice the daily bag limit with the exception of the Special Trout Management areas, where the possession limit is the daily bag limit.

Angling gear:

While fishing through the ice, anglers are permitted to use three separate lines which must be closely and constantly attended by the angler.

Smelt:

Smelt angling in non-scheduled inland waters of insular Newfoundland and in Labrador are subject to the same season dates as Trout angling, with the exception of those ponds that opened January 15, 2010, as was previously announced. There is no bag or possession limit for smelt.

For a complete list of trout angling information, please consult the 2009/10 Angler's Guide, which is available online at www.nfl.dfo-mpo.gc.ca

Dec. 22, 2009

Reminder: St. Paul's Inlet closure

DFO reminds trout anglers that retention of Trout in St.Paul's Inlet on the Northern Penninsula is prohibited from January 1-31, 2010. During this period of time incidentally caught Trout must be released back into the water from which it was taken in a manner that causes it the least harm.

This measure is in place to protect Trout that congregate in the inlet.

St Paul's Inlet is defined as the body of water inside(East) of the highway bridge on Route 430.

DFO reminds anglers that:

- the fall salmon angling season on the Humber, Gander and Exploits Rivers will close on Wednesday, October 7, 2009.

- the fall brown and rainbow trout angling season in selected areas on the Avalon Peninsula and east coast areas will close on Wednesday, October 7, 2009.

Sep. 3, 2009

Salmon and Trout Angling Season Closures

DFO reminds anglers that the salmon and trout angling seasons will close on Monday, September 7, 2009.

Atlantic Salmon closures:

Insular Newfoundland:

- All zones will close to salmon angling on Monday, September 7, 2009.

- Fall angling is permitted on the Lower Humber, Gander and Exploits Rivers from September 8, 2009 to October 7, 2009. Retention is only permitted on the Gander River.

Labrador:

Zones 1, 2 and 14b will close to salmon angling on Tuesday, September 15, 2009.

Trout closures:

- Zone 1 (Insular Newfoundland) will close to angling on Monday, September 7, 2009.

- Brown and rainbow trout angling in selected areas on the Avalon Peninsula and East Coast areas will continue until October 7, 2009.

- Zones 2,3 and 4 in Labrador will close to angling on September 7, 2009. Zones 5 and 6 will close to angling on September 15, 2009.

- These closures include the Churchill River Drainage Basin Watershed which closes September 7, 2009 and the Eagle Plateau Management Zone which closes September 15, 2009.

Sep. 3, 2009

Special Trout Management Areas Open for Labour Day Weekend

DFO advises that the following Special Trout Management Areas will reopen for the Labour Day weekend, from September 4-7, 2009.

- Indian Bay Watershed

- Northwest Brook Watershed, Indian Bay

- Middle Brook Watershed

Aug. 17, 2009

Salmon rivers closing

DFO advises that Salmon Brook, Port Blanford and Southwest Brook, Port Blanford will close to all angling as of one hour after sunset on Monday, August 17, 2009. Northwest River, Port Blandford is also closed to all angling. These closures are as per the management plan for this system.

Aug. 13, 2009

Aides Lake closed to all angling

DFO advises anglers that Aides Lake on the Humber River system is closed to all angling, as per the management measures that are in place for this river system.

Aug. 6, 2009

Closing: Section of Salmon Cove River, Trinity Bay

DFO advises anglers that due to extreme environmental conditions, a section of Salmon Cove River, Trinity Bay in Zone 6 will close as of 6 p.m. this evening, Thursday, August 6, 2009.

The closed section includes downstream 25 meters from the culvert on the seaward side of Route 230 (Cabot Highway) where the road crosses the river.

Jul. 31, 2009

Salmon Rivers Opening

DFO advises that the following rivers will open to angling at one hour before sunrise on Saturday August 1, 2009:

• Zone 5:
• Salmon Brook, Port Blanford
• Southwest Brook, Port Blanford
• Zone 7:
• North Arm River, Holyrood
• Zone 10:
• Pipers hole River

Jul. 29, 2009

Correction - Some Rivers on Avalon and Burin Peninsulas Re-opening

DFO advises anglers that because of improved environmental conditions, the following rivers on the Avalon and Burin Peninsulas will re-open to angling at one hour before sunrise on Thursday, July 30, 2009.

Zone 6:

• Bellevue River
• Salmon Cove River, Trinity Bay

• Renews River

• Biscay Bay River
• Northwest Brook, Trepassey
• Peter's River
• Salmonier River, including Black River below the falls
• Colinet River, including north and east branches
• Rocky River and tributary streams
• North Harbour River, St. Mary's Bay
• Little Salmonier River, St. Mary's Bay
• Big Barachois Brook, St. Mary's Bay
• Branch River, St. Mary's Bay

• Great Barasway
• Southeast River (Placentia) and tributary streams
• Northeast River, Placentia
• Nonsuch Brook
• Cape Rodger River
• Bay de l'Eau River
• Red Harbour River, Northeast and Northwest branches and tributary streams
• West Brook, Northwest Arm, Mortier Bay and tributary streams
• Tide's Brook, Mortier Bay including Main Brook, Shearstick Brook and tributary streams
• Salmonier River, Burin
• Little St. Lawrence River and tributary streams
• Lawn River and tributary streams
• Taylor's Bay River, Burin Peninsula and tributary streams
• Salmonier Lamaline River and tributary streams
• Piercey's Brook and tributary streams

• Grand Bank Brook and tributary streams
• Garnish River, including Lower Garnish and Upper or Black River and tributary streams

• Zone 7:
• Salmon Cove River, Conception Bay
• North River, Conception Bay
• South River, Conception Bay
• North Arm River, Holyrood
• Zone 10:
• Piper's Hole
• Come by Chance
• North Harbour, Placentia Bay
• Watson's Brook
• Black River

Section of Exploits River Open to Catch and Release

DFO advises anglers that the section of the main stem of the Exploits river, below Red Indian Lake Dam, downstream to the Abitibi-Bowater steel bridge, previously closed to all angling, will now open to catch and release angling only for all trout species and salmon, on July 28, 2009.

Jul. 22, 2009

River Closures on the Avalon and Burin Peninsulas

DFO advises that due to extreme environmental conditions, the following rivers on the Avalon and Burin Peninsulas will close to angling one hour after sunset, Wednesday, July 22, 2009.

Zone 6:

• Salmon Cove River, Trinity Bay
• Bellevue River

• Salmon Cove River, Conception Bay
• North River, Conception Bay
• South River, Conception Bay
• North Arm River, Holyrood

• Renews River

• Biscay Bay River
• Northeast Brook, Trepassey
• Northwest Brook, Trepassey
• Peter's River
• Salmonier River, including Black River below the falls
• Colinet River, including north and east branches
• Rocky River and tributary streams
• North Harbour River, St. Mary's Bay
• Little Salmonier River, St. Mary's Bay
• Branch River, St. Mary's Bay

• Great Barasway
• Southeast River (Placentia) and tributary streams
• Northeast River, Placentia
• Come By Chance River
• Watson's Brook, Placentia Bay
• North Harbour River, Placentia Bay
• Black River, Placentia Bay, below the falls
• Piper's Hole River
• Nonsuch Brook
• Cape Rodger River
• Bay de l'Eau River
• Red Harbour River, Northeast and Northwest branches and tributary streams
• West Brook, Northwest Arm, Mortier Bay and tributary streams
• Tide's Brook, Mortier Bay including Main Brook, Shearstick Brook and tributary streams
• Salmonier River, Burin
• Little St. Lawrence River and tributary streams
• Lawn River and tributary streams
• Taylor's Bay River, Burin Peninsula and tributary streams
• Salmonier Lamaline River and tributary streams
• Piercey's Brook and tributary streams

• Grand Bank Brook and tributary streams
• Garnish River, including Lower Garnish and Upper or Black River and tributary streams

Jul. 14, 2009
Retention Fishery on Main Stem of Mid-Exploits River

DFO advises anglers that based on the recent mid-season review of returns, the main stem of the mid-Exploits river, from the Grand Falls fishway to the Abitibi-Bowater steel bridge below Red Indian Lake dam, will open to retention angling at 5:00 a.m. on Wednesday July 15, 2009. This section will have Class III designation permitting the retention of two small salmon. Red tags must be used.

In addition, the section of the main stem of the Exploits river, below Red Indian Lake Dam, downstream to the Abitibi-Bowater steel bridge, will close to angling for all species on July 15, 2009.

Jul. 10, 2009
Ten Mile Lake Closing July 15, 2009

DFO reminds anglers that as per the management plan, Ten Mile Lake, Round Lake and St. Genevieve River system on the Northern Peninsula will close to all angling Wednesday, July 15, 2009.

St. Genevieve River, from its source (the outlet of Ten Mile Lake) to the river mouth will remain open to salmon angling until September 7, 2009.

The bag limit of two trout or five pounds, whichever is reached first, applies to all waters, running in to and out of Ten Mile Lake, Round Lake and St. Genevieve River system, with the exception of Roses Feeder and Manuels Feeder, which are closed to all fishing.

All trout greater than 58 centimeters must be released.

Jul. 9, 2009
Conne River Remaining Closed

DFO advises anglers that the Conne River will not re-open to angling for the remainder of the season.

The fishery was closed for an in-season review conducted from July 5-8, as per the management plan, and will remain closed.

May. 26, 2009

2009 Atlantic Salmon Management Measures

2009 is the third year of the current multi-year (2007-2011) Integrated Fisheries Management Plan for Atlantic Salmon. There are several adjustments to the plan for 2009 including;

• The daily and seasonal bag limit and possession limit for all Bay St. George rivers will be consistent with the rest of the province.
• Grey River will be reclassified from Class II (four-fish retention) to Class III (two-fish retention).
• A section of the Shoal Harbour River from 23 meters above the existing dam, taking in the entire pool, will be permanently closed.
• All of Rocky River will be open to catch and release angling.
• There will be a mid-season review process of returns to determine if enough fish have passed through the Grand Falls fishway to allow a retention fishery on the main stem of the mid-Exploits River.

Angling Season

The angling season dates for insular Newfoundland and for Labrador are unchanged from 2008:

• Insular Newfoundland
• all rivers are open June 1 to September 7:
• Labrador
• all rivers are open June 15 to September 15.
• A fall fishery on the Gander River, Exploits River and Humber River is permitted from September 8 to October 7.
• Salmon caught in coastal areas of Newfoundland and Labrador cannot be retained.
• Environmental protocols will continue to be set aside for 2009. However, DFO will still close rivers in instances of extreme environmental conditions.
• Details on the regulations pertaining to bag limits, river classification, closed areas, and special management areas are contained in the 2009-10 Angler's Guide which is available in booklet form or on-line.

Trout Season Opened May 15, 2009 in Insular Newfoundland

DFO advises that the 2009 summer trout season for Zone 1 (insular Newfoundland) opens on Friday, May 15, 2009, and will remain open until September 7, 2009. Bag limits and possession limits for insular Newfoundland remain unchanged: daily bag limit for trout (includes speckled trout, brown trout, rainbow and Ouananiche) is 12 trout or 5 pounds (2.27 kg) + 1 trout, round weight (whichever limit is reached first of all species combined); possession limit is twice the daily bag limit.

Zone 2 (Labrador Straits), Zone 3 (Southeastern Labrador), Zone 4 (Western Labrador), Zone 5 (Central Labrador), and Zone 6 (Northern Labrador) are now open.

Zones 1, 2, 3 and 4 will close on September 7; Zones 5 and 6 will close on September 15. Anglers in Labrador are reminded that new management measures for inland waters in Labrador came into effect on February 21, 2007.

These are specifically:

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