2023 Newfoundland and Labrador Recreational Groundfish Fishery
In 2023, the recreational groundfish fishery will be open for a total of 39 days. For the 2023 season, there is no requirement for licences or tags.
Species and area
The recreational groundfish fishery will occur in all NAFO areas/subareas around Newfoundland and Labrador, which includes 2GH, 2J3KL, 3Ps, 3Pn and 4R. Three exceptions are the Eastport, Gilbert Bay and Laurentian Channel Marine Protected Areas (MPA) where recreational groundfish fishing will not be permitted.
Season dates:
Summer season:
- Saturday, July 01, 2023 to Monday, July 03, 2023
- Saturday, July 08, 2023 to Monday, July 10, 2023
- Saturday, July 15, 2023 to Monday, July 17, 2023
- Saturday, July 22, 2023 to Monday, July 24, 2023
- Saturday, July 29, 2023 to Monday, July 31, 2023
- Saturday, August 05, 2023 to Monday, August 07, 2023
- Saturday, August 12, 2023 to Monday, August 14, 2023
- Saturday, August 19, 2023 to Monday, August 21, 2023
- Saturday, August 26, 2023 to Monday, August 28, 2023
- Saturday, September 02, 2023 to Monday, September 04, 2023
Fall season:
- Saturday, September 23, 2023 to Sunday, October 01, 2023
Retention limits
Recreational fishers are limited to five groundfish per day (including cod).
Management measures and regulations
The recreational fishery is open to both residents and non-residents.
The maximum boat limit when three or more people are fishing is 15 groundfish.
For 2023, tour boat operators will be eligible to apply for a licence to seek an increased trip limit. This licence will have harvest reporting requirements.
Retention of Atlantic halibut, Spotted and Northern wolffish, and any species of shark is prohibited. Sculpins and cunners may be released. All other groundfish caught must be retained and are part of the daily bag limit of 5 groundfish.
High-grading of groundfish is not permitted and no fish are permitted to be wasted.
All fish caught must be retained in a readily identifiable state. Fish may be bled, gutted, and split while at sea, but further processing such as, skinning, cutting into sections, packing or otherwise at sea is not permitted, as such further processing practices make determinations of species, number and size of the fish problematic.
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.
Provisions will continue that allow persons with a disability to designate a person to catch their daily limit of groundfish will continue. First time applicants must complete the Designation for Persons with a Disability Form and have their doctor/ophthalmologist complete the required section.
A printable version of this form can be found here.
Individuals who wish to renew their Disability Designation can complete the form electronically and can send via email, or by clicking submit at the bottom of the form, which will be generated an email for the applicant automatically.
An electronic and fillable version of this form can be found here.
Applicants are encouraged to submit their application electronically, via email to NL-TN.Licences@dfo-mpo.gc.ca. Applications received via regular mail may result in delays to processing your application.
To fill out a PDF form, you must:
- download it to your computer
- use PDF software to open it (such as, Adobe Reader or Foxit PDF)
For more information: How to download and open a PDF form
For safety reasons, fishing is only permitted from one hour before sunrise until one hour after sunset.
The public is reminded to follow safe boating practices and be aware of local weather and sea conditions before leaving port.
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