The Best Fishing Spots in New Brunswick
New Brunswick is a top destination for recreational fishing, with productive rivers, lakes and rugged coastlines that suit anglers of all styles. Inland waters are known for quality brook trout (speckled trout), brown trout, walleye, northern pike and smallmouth bass, while the Miramichi and Restigouche rivers are famous for Atlantic runs of Atlantic salmon and sea-run trout. Along the coast and in estuaries you can also find striped bass and other saltwater species, making both fly fishing and spin casting productive options from shore or boat. Overall, New Brunswick offers varied water types and species for anglers seeking river, lake or coastal experiences.
Top Cities For Fishing
Sea Fishing
Atholville
(1 km to coast)
Baie Ste. Anne
(2 km to coast)
Bas-Caraquet
(2 km to coast)
Bathurst
(2 km to coast)
Beresford
(4 km to coast)
Bouctouche
(4 km to coast)
Campbellton
(0 km to coast)
Caraquet
(1 km to coast)
Dalhousie
(1 km to coast)
Dieppe
(3 km to coast)
Fundy Bay
(1 km to coast)
Grand Bay-Westfield
(6 km to coast)
Grande-Digue
(1 km to coast)
Greater Lakeburn
(5 km to coast)
Lamèque
(0 km to coast)
Lutes Mountain
(17 km to coast)
McEwen
(10 km to coast)
Memramcook
(12 km to coast)
Miramichi
(18 km to coast)
Moncton
(4 km to coast)
Neguac
(0 km to coast)
Quispamsis
(5 km to coast)
Richibucto
(3 km to coast)
Riverview
(8 km to coast)
Rothesay
(5 km to coast)
Sackville
(2 km to coast)
Saint Andrews
(1 km to coast)
Saint-Antoine
(8 km to coast)
Saint John
(1 km to coast)
Shediac
(2 km to coast)
Shediac Bridge-Shediac River
(4 km to coast)
Shippagan
(2 km to coast)
St. Stephen
(10 km to coast)
Tracadie-Sheila
(1 km to coast)
Wells
(8 km to coast)
River Fishing
Top Saltwater Fishing Spots
Bouctouche Bay
Fringed by dunes at Irving Eco-Centre , this shallow bay has productive bars and channels for striped bass, summer mackerel, and flounder; cast from the boardwalk area, wharves, or drift light tackle along current seams.
Miramichi Bay
A hotspot for spring and fall striped bass with bonus summer mackerel, Miramichi Bay rewards shore casters at points and bridges and boaters working rips and channels near Neguac and Bay du Vin .
Passamaquoddy Bay
Tide-swept channels and protected coves near St. Andrews hold summer mackerel, inshore pollock, and bottom-dwelling flounder; fish from piers and breakwaters or run small boats to rips and ledges on calmer tides.
Saint John Harbour
Urban saltwater action at the mouth of the Saint John features tidal rips near Reversing Falls and accessible piers for striped bass, mackerel, inshore pollock, and flounder; fish moving tides from shore or troll/jig by boat along breakwalls and channels.
Shediac Bay
Warm summer waters and easy access around Pointe-du-Chêne make Shediac Bay a favorite for schooling mackerel, inshore flounder, and roaming striped bass; jig from wharves or troll spoons and plugs along the beaches and bar edges.
Caraquet Bay
Sheltered waters and accessible wharves around Caraquet provide steady summer action for mackerel and inshore flounder, with chances at cruising striped bass along beaches and channel edges on moving tides.
Top Freshwater Fishing Spots
Cains River
A celebrated Miramichi tributary with tea-stained flow and deep holding water for fall-run Atlantic salmon and abundant brook trout; work classic pools and woody undercuts, or float between access points near Blackville .
Grand Lake
New Brunswick’s largest lake offers expansive flats and weedlines for smallmouth bass, chain pickerel, and prolific white perch, with steady summer action and reliable ice fishing for perch and smelt in sheltered bays like Cumberland Bay .
Nashwaak River
A wade-friendly trout and salmon tributary of the Saint John, the Nashwaak features riffles, glides, and cutbanks holding brook trout in spring and early summer, with chances at Atlantic salmon and summertime smallmouth bass near the lower river and confluence at Fredericton .
Renous River
Joining the Southwest Miramichi River at Quarryville, the Renous offers cool summer flows, prime Atlantic salmon water, and strong brook trout fishing; wade runs and tailouts or drift to cover more of its classic boulder-studded structure.
Spednic Lake
A large, clear border lake in the St. Croix system known for hard-fighting smallmouth bass, occasional landlocked salmon, and roaming white perch; target rocky points and island shoals by boat, with select shore access near Canterbury .
Top Saltwater & Freshwater Spots
Saint John River
From tidal reaches around Reversing Falls to calm upriver stretches, this big system produces striped bass, smallmouth bass, muskellunge, shad, and occasional sturgeon; jig, troll, or cast from shore along parks, causeways, and boat ramps through spring, summer, and fall.
Kennebecasis River
A scenic Saint John River tributary known for trophy muskellunge, strong smallmouth bass and chain pickerel bites, and occasional tidal striped bass; drift weedbeds and drop-offs in summer and target smelt through the ice around Hampton .
Kouchibouguac River
Meandering through Kouchibouguac National Park , this estuary system mixes sea-run brook trout with spring and fall striped bass, plus summer mackerel just off the bars; paddle shallow channels or cast from park bridges and beaches.
Miramichi River
World-renowned for Atlantic salmon, the Miramichi also offers sea-run brook trout in spring and surging runs of striped bass in the tidal reaches near Miramichi ; drift classic pools, swing flies in summer, and cast plugs or soft plastics from shore during spring and fall tides.
Richibucto River
Tidal creeks and channels near Richibucto and the open bars at Cap-Lumière draw spring and fall striped bass, summer mackerel, and plentiful white perch; productive for shore anglers at causeways and wharves and for small boats working the rips.
Restigouche River
A legendary clear-flowing river famed for large Atlantic salmon and sea-run brook trout, the Restigouche fishes best from late spring through summer, with accessible water near Campbellton and broader, boat-friendly reaches closer to the estuary.