The Best Fishing Spots in Prince Edward Island
Prince Edward Island is a compact, coastal fishing destination with sheltered bays, estuaries and nearby offshore grounds that suit a wide range of angling styles; for recreational fishing you’ll find productive saltwater shore and boat opportunities for striped bass in spring and early summer, plentiful schools of Atlantic mackerel, and blanketing runs of herring that attract predators, while inshore and offshore trips target groundfish like Atlantic cod, pollock and seasonal big-game like bluefin tuna in late summer and fall; inland waters and small streams offer brook trout, brown trout and smallmouth bass, making the island a versatile spot for light-tackle, jigging, trolling and fly anglers alike.
Top Cities For Fishing
Sea Fishing
Alberton
(1 km to coast)
Belfast
(4 km to coast)
Borden-Carleton
(2 km to coast)
Charlottetown
(1 km to coast)
Cornwall
(1 km to coast)
Kensington
(7 km to coast)
Montague
(5 km to coast)
North Rustico
(1 km to coast)
O'Leary
(13 km to coast)
Souris
(1 km to coast)
Stratford
(2 km to coast)
Summerside
(1 km to coast)
Three Rivers
(1 km to coast)
Tignish
(4 km to coast)
Top Saltwater Fishing Spots
Charlottetown Harbour
A bustling urban harbour where shore anglers and small boats target summer runs of Atlantic mackerel and spring-through-fall striped bass; quiet coves also give up flounder and occasional skate. Its central location makes it a convenient launch to the Hillsborough River for tidal bass or out into the Northumberland Strait when baitfish push in.
Covehead Bay
Backed by dunes, Covehead has channels that funnel baitfish, drawing summer mackerel and spring–fall striped bass; flats give steady flounder action. The lighthouse area offers classic shore casting, while boats can roam toward Tracadie Bay or the open Gulf on calm days.
Georgetown Harbour
Protected waters at the confluence of the Brudenell River and Montague River hold summer mackerel, with striped bass prowling tidal cuts and docks; drifting baits produces flounder. It’s a practical launch for exploring Cardigan Bay and nearby estuaries.
Malpeque Bay
A broad, sheltered bay famed for late-summer mackerel blitzes and reliable spring and fall striped bass along the channels and sandbars; drifting the flats produces winter flounder. Access from communities around the bay makes it a good alternative to nearby New London Bay or Tracadie Bay on windy days.
Murray Harbour
A sheltered harbour on the eastern shore where summer brings steady mackerel and school-size striped bass, with flounder along muddy flats; in calm weather, boats run toward Murray River or offshore rips. Evening pier bites can be excellent on small metals.
Naufrage Harbour
A north-shore working harbour with rock and sand structure that draws striped bass around tides and reliable summer mackerel schools; bottom fishing turns up flounder. When swell builds, many shift east toward Souris Harbour for more shelter.
New London Bay
Sandy points and tidal cuts concentrate striped bass, while summer brings dense schools of mackerel inside the bay and along the mouth; bottom rigs tempt flounder. If wind shifts, anglers often relocate to more protected water in Malpeque Bay .
North Cape
Where the tides meet at the island’s tip, shore casters find strong currents that stack mackerel in summer and move-through striped bass at dusk; rips can also draw pollock. Anglers often combine a session here with time at nearby Tignish Harbour or the beaches toward West Point .
North Rustico Harbour
A classic north-shore harbour with easy breakwater access for mackerel and evening striped bass under moving tide; boats work outside for pollock and the occasional bluefin tuna sighting offshore. When swells build, anglers often slide to protected water in Rustico Bay .
Northumberland Strait
The island’s south-shore strait is prime for migratory striped bass from spring through late fall and abundant summer mackerel; sandy bars also hold flounder. Productive shore access near Summerside Harbour and Borden-Carleton complements boat trolling along current seams when bait schools stack.
Souris Harbour
A gateway to eastern Gulf waters, with inshore mackerel through summer and good shots at striped bass around tide changes; nearby offshore grounds are famous for late-summer bluefin tuna. Many charters stage here before running toward North Lake when conditions align.
St. Peters Bay
Known for productive channels and eelgrass edges that attract striped bass from spring through autumn and consistent summer mackerel; inside flats yield flounder. Many pair a morning here with an afternoon run to nearby Morell River for sea-run trout in season.
Summerside Harbour
With warm south-shore waters, Summerside is a dependable producer of striped bass from shore and small craft, plus summertime mackerel around piers and lights. It’s a good jumping-off point to current lines in the Northumberland Strait when bait pushes through.
Tignish Harbour
On the northwest tip, Tignish offers access to Gulf currents where summer mackerel school thick and inshore striped bass slide along the beaches; occasional bluefin tuna roam offshore. Shore anglers often alternate between the harbour mouth and the beaches toward North Cape .
Tracadie Bay
A shallow bay with strong tidal flow where anglers cast for striped bass along estuary mouths and pick up mackerel on summer evenings; drifting turns up flounder. On calm mornings, boats slip out past the dunes toward Covehead Bay and the outer bars.
Top Saltwater & Freshwater Spots
Brudenell River
Gentle meanders and tide-influenced reaches suit light-tackle approaches for sea-run brook trout in spring and striped bass around estuary mouths; deeper pools also have summer trout. Many pair it with neighboring Montague River or a short run to Georgetown Harbour .
Hillsborough River
A large tidal river feeding Charlottetown Harbour , offering spring and early-summer runs of sea-run brook trout and consistent striped bass in the brackish reaches; quiet pools upstream hold resident trout. Kayak anglers drift between bridges to work current breaks and points.
Montague River
Flowing through the town of Montague, this system offers accessible water for sea-run brook trout and tidal striped bass, with calmer pools upstream for resident trout. Boaters often continue down toward Brudenell River or out to Georgetown Harbour when conditions permit.
Morell River
A renowned river for sea-run brook trout in spring and a noted fall Atlantic salmon fishery, with tidal stretches also seeing striped bass. Its estuary connects easily to St. Peters Bay , letting anglers split time between fresh and salt.
West River
Close to Charlottetown Harbour , the West River mixes tidal runs of striped bass with spring sea-run brook trout, and calmer upstream stretches for resident trout. Small boats and kayaks work bends, marsh edges, and bridge pylons on moving water.