Get your lines and bait ready as this year’s cod food fishery will run from July 21 to Aug.12, and Sept. 22 to Sept. 30.
Recreational fishermen are limited to five groundfish per day (including cod). However, the maximum boat limit when three or more people are fishing is 15 groundfish. This includes tour boats.
The recreational fishery is open to both residents and non-residents and there is no requirement for licences or tags.
The fishery will occur in all NAFO areas around Newfoundland and Labrador, with two exceptions — the Eastport and Gilbert Bay Marine Protected Areas (MPA) where recreational groundfish fishing will not be permitted.
A news release notes other rules that include: retention of Atlantic halibut and spotted and northern wolffish is prohibited. Sculpins and cunners may be released. All other groundfish caught must be retained. High-grading of groundfish is not permitted.
All fish caught must be retained in an identifiable state. Fish may be bled, gutted and split while at sea, but further processing such as filleting and skinning at sea is not permitted.
Only angling gear and handlines with a maximum of three hooks are permitted. Handlines include artificial lures, baited hooks and feathered hooks. Artificial lures with treble hooks weighing less than five ounces or 142 grams are acceptable. Traditional jiggers are not permitted unless they are modified and have only one single hook.
There are provisions in this year's recreational fishery that allow a disabled person to designate a person to catch their daily limit of groundfish. Information is available at DFO licencing centres.
The sale of groundfish caught in the recreational fishery is strictly prohibited.
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