Fishing Spots - Select by City

The Best Fishing Spots in Nova Scotia

Nova Scotia offers varied recreational fishing in both freshwater and saltwater settings, from forested rivers and lakes to exposed Atlantic coastlines. Key species include river and lake targets like Atlantic salmon, native brook trout and stocked rainbow or brown trout, coastal favorites such as striped bass and mackerel, and offshore trophies like bluefin tuna and Atlantic cod. Anglers pursue fish by fly fishing, shore casting, boat trips for inshore species, and trolling or deepwater trips for pelagics, with productive estuaries and diverse seasons offering opportunities for both light-tackle outings and big-game adventures.

Top Cities For Fishing

Sea Fishing

Amherst (8 km to coast)

Antigonish (18 km to coast)

Balls Creek (3 km to coast)

Berwick (19 km to coast)

Bridgewater (12 km to coast)

Chester (0 km to coast)

Cole Harbour (2 km to coast)

Dartmouth (0 km to coast)

Digby (0 km to coast)

Eskasoni 3 (3 km to coast)

Fall River (16 km to coast)

Glace Bay (0 km to coast)

Greenwood (17 km to coast)

Halifax (1 km to coast)

Ingonish (2 km to coast)

Kentville (15 km to coast)

Lake Echo (8 km to coast)

Lower Sackville (9 km to coast)

Lunenburg (1 km to coast)

Middleton (13 km to coast)

New Glasgow (7 km to coast)

Pictou (1 km to coast)

Port Hawkesbury (1 km to coast)

Princeville (18 km to coast)

Stellarton (11 km to coast)

Sydney (3 km to coast)

Sydney Mines (1 km to coast)

Timberlea (12 km to coast)

Truro (11 km to coast)

Westville (8 km to coast)

Windsor (2 km to coast)

Wolfville (3 km to coast)

Yarmouth (0 km to coast)

Top Saltwater Fishing Spots

Bay of Fundy

Tide-driven fishery famous for striped bass, sculpin, and seasonal mackerel; shore casting around Hantsport and Five Islands and boating near rips such as Digby Gut and the Minas Basin edges.

Chedabucto Bay

Expansive eastern bay featuring summer mackerel, fall sea trout near river mouths, and inshore pollock; launch from Guysborough or work shores near Canso and Fox Island Main.

Halifax Harbour

Urban-access saltwater hotspot with prolific mackerel runs spring–fall, plus striped bass, pollock, and winter smelt; popular piers around Dartmouth, Point Pleasant, and Bedford Basin, with sheltered coves for small-boat trolling and jigging.

Lunenburg Harbour

Historic harbour with accessible wharves for mackerel and pollock, plus nearby shoals for light-tackle trolling; shorelines around Lunenburg and islands toward Blue Rocks provide steady action in summer and early fall.

Mahone Bay

Island-studded bay with sheltered waters for mackerel, pollock, and inshore cod in colder months; casts from town wharves in Mahone Bay and Chester, or troll edges around Tancook Island.

Minas Basin

Inner Fundy sub-basin with extreme tides concentrating striped bass, flounder, and summer mackerel; productive access at Burntcoat Head, Walton, and channels leading to Cobequid Bay.

Pictou Harbour

Northumberland Strait gateway known for warm-season striped bass and mackerel; shore options at town wharves in Pictou and New Glasgow, with boaters working channels toward Caribou.

Shelburne Harbour

Deep, protected harbour offering summer mackerel, nearshore pollock, and fall sea-run trout near creeks; fish from Shelburne waterfront or drift rips toward Sandy Point and McNutt Island.

St. Margarets Bay

Clear, deep bay producing summer mackerel, inshore pollock, and in-season striped bass; shore casting from Peggys Cove area rock ledges and small-boat jigging off Hubbards and Tantallon points.

Sydney Harbour

Large, sheltered harbour where summer runs of mackerel and gaspareau attract anglers, with pollock and occasional striped bass; piers along North Sydney and Sydney Mines and boat access to South Bar rips.

Yarmouth Harbour

Fundy-side harbour where currents funnel mackerel, pollock, and in-season striped bass; shore casting along the waterfront in Yarmouth and boat jigging near the Yarmouth Bar passage.

Top Freshwater Fishing Spots

Kejimkujik Lake

Large interior lake known for smallmouth bass, chain pickerel, and native brook trout in cooler periods; paddle-friendly coves near Jeremy’s Bay and island drop-offs toward Big Red are productive.

Lake Ainslie

Nova Scotia’s largest natural lake, offering brown trout, brook trout, and white perch; shore access at Scotsville and Inverness County community spots, with trolling lanes along the western basin.

Margaree River

Iconic salmon and trout river with classic pools holding Atlantic salmon (fall peaks) and brook trout in spring; famed stretches near Margaree Forks, Big Intervale, and the tidal reach at Margaree Harbour.

St. Marys River

Broad, gentle river prized for Atlantic salmon (fall) and abundant brook trout in spring; classic pools near Sherbrooke, with productive trib confluences toward Goshen and Ecum Secum headwaters.