Fish for Striped Bass in Gaspésie

Good news for striped bass anglers, the season is now open!

Striped bass, which can grow up to 90 cm long and live up to 20 years, are abundant in the waters off Gaspésie. This fish is highly prized by anglers, because it has a reputation for being as combative as salmon!

When to fish for striped bass?

This year, the fishing season starts May 15 for zone 1. From May 15 to October 31 for zone 21 in Chaleur Bay and part of the Gulf of St. Lawrence (downstream side of the Campbelltown bridge at the Cap Gaspé). Please note that the daily catch and possession limit is set at three striped bass per day.

Where to fish for striped bass?

You can fish for striped bass directly from the beach, at rising tide, in Carleton-sur-Mer, Caplan, Saint-Siméon, Bonaventure, Percé and Gaspé (from the Haldimand and Boom Defense beaches as well as from the wharf at Sandy Beach). The fishing zone now extends into Haute-Gaspésie as well as east of Mont-Joli.

Pêche Sportive Baie-des-Chaleurs offers striped bass fishing excursions. Accompanied by a guide, learn the basics of fishing for striped bass and enjoy a unique experience at sea! Camp de Base Gaspésie and Destination Haute-Mer also offer guide and boat services.

Important information

• Only striped bass that is 50 to 65 cm in length can be kept.
• Daily catch and possession limit is set at three striped bass per day.
• Anglers may only use single-point hooks and can attach up to three hooks to the same line.
• Only artificial lures are allowed; it is forbidden to fish with natural bait.

Striped bass are native to the Miramichi River and to the southern Gulf of St. Lawrence; they span the Atlantic coast from the St. Lawrence River to Louisiana. A few years ago, this species was rather rare, and its future seemed uncertain. All fisheries have been closed to assist in the recovery of the species, and these measures have been successful: in recent years, the striped bass population has increased dramatically. A maximum catch size of 65 cm was set to protect the large spawners that produce the largest quantities of eggs. A minimum catch size of 50 cm was also set to minimize the catch of fish that are not yet mature.

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