NB fishing licence prices, purchase steps and rules before you cast
Most anglers aged 16 or older need a provincial licence to fish New Brunswick inland waters. The correct licence depends on your residency, age, target species, trip length and exact waterbody.
This guide shows the official base fee, estimated total with HST, Outdoors Card steps, youth exemptions, salmon routes, tidal-water rules and the important April 2026 invasive-fish condition.
Do you need a New Brunswick fishing licence?
You generally need the correct provincial resident or non-resident licence.
No regular licence is required for species other than sea-run Atlantic salmon. Salmon and Crown Reserve rules differ.
No New Brunswick provincial angling licence is required, but federal seasons and limits still apply.
A separate Parks Canada fishing permit is required. A provincial NB licence does not apply.
You must still check whether the exact lake, river, pool or river section is open on your date and whether local bag, size, gear, guide or access rules apply.
Choose the correct licence before paying
Complete these checks in order. Skipping the waterbody or species check is the most common reason anglers select the wrong product.
Where will you fish?
- Inland provincial water: provincial licence route.
- Tidal water: no provincial licence.
- National park: Parks Canada permit.
- Crown Reserve: additional authorization.
Which fish will you target?
- Sea-run Atlantic salmon: salmon-class licence.
- Landlocked salmon: regular angling licence is sufficient.
- Trout, bass and other fish: ordinary angling licence.
Who is fishing?
- New Brunswick resident or non-resident?
- Age 0–9, 10–15, 16–64 or 65+?
- Season, seven-day or three-day trip?
- Does a non-resident guide rule apply?
You do not need a salmon licence to fish for or retain landlocked salmon. A salmon-class licence is required when angling for sea-run Atlantic salmon.
New Brunswick fishing licence cost with estimated HST total
The base prices include the fish-stocking and conservation fees. Tax is additional. Estimated totals below use New Brunswick’s 15% HST rate.
| Class | Licence | Period | Official base | Estimated with 15% HST |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Non-resident salmon | Season | $173.00 | $198.95 |
| 2 | Non-resident salmon | 7 consecutive days | $100.00 | $115.00 |
| 3 | Non-resident salmon | 3 consecutive days | $53.00 | $60.95 |
| 4 | Non-resident angling except sea-run Atlantic salmon | Season | $64.00 | $73.60 |
| 5 | Non-resident angling except sea-run Atlantic salmon | 7 consecutive days | $41.00 | $47.15 |
| 6 | Non-resident angling except sea-run Atlantic salmon | 3 consecutive days | $30.00 | $34.50 |
| 7 | Resident salmon, age 16–64 | Season | $36.00 | $41.40 |
| 8 | Resident salmon, age 10–15 or 65+ | Season | $20.00 | $23.00 |
| 9 | Resident angling except sea-run Atlantic salmon | Season | $23.00 | $26.45 |
| 10 | Resident angling except sea-run Atlantic salmon, age 65+ | Season | $15.00 | $17.25 |
Estimated total for a resident aged 16–64 not targeting sea-run Atlantic salmon.
Estimated total for a resident aged 65+ not targeting sea-run Atlantic salmon.
Estimated total for three consecutive days of non-salmon angling.
Estimated total for seven consecutive days of non-salmon angling.
- Season licences are available for purchase from April 1.
- The seasonal angling-licence period runs from April 15 through March 31.
- Three-day and seven-day licences use consecutive calendar days.
- A salmon licence includes authorization for other fish.
- Only one Class 1, 7 or 8 licence may be purchased in a season.
- Non-residents may purchase multiple combinations of Class 2 and Class 3 salmon licences.
Licences and draw applications are non-refundable. Confirm the angler’s name, residency, class, species route and short-term start date first.
How to buy an NB fishing licence online
Open the official Fish & Wildlife page
Select “Buy a licence / Apply for a draw / Get an Outdoors Card.” Avoid unofficial ordering websites.
Get your free Outdoors Card number
Complete the one-time registration. The number is issued immediately, so you do not need to wait for the physical card to arrive.
Confirm residency and personal information
Enter your legal name, date of birth, address and identification details. Most residents validate with an NB driver’s licence or NB photo ID.
Select the licence class
Choose resident or non-resident, salmon or regular angling, then the appropriate season, seven-day or three-day period.
Check the transaction summary
Confirm every detail before paying because completed licences are non-refundable.
Download the licence for offline use
Save the PDF, JPEG or PNG directly to your phone. Do not rely on cellular reception or an email link at the fishing location.
What to prepare
- Unique personal email address
- Legal name and date of birth
- Current address
- Residency information
- NB driver’s licence or photo ID when applicable
- Target species and intended dates
- Credit/debit card or Google Pay
Accepted payment methods
Online: MasterCard, Visa, American Express, Discover, MasterCard Debit, Visa Debit and Google Pay.
In person: vendors and Service New Brunswick Centres also accept cash.
The system may end an inactive session after 30 minutes. An unpaid item placed in the cart normally remains there until 11:59 p.m. that day.
Contact Fish & Wildlife or visit a Service New Brunswick Centre with alternative proof of residency and another piece of identification. NB residents normally revalidate residency every three years.
Where to buy a New Brunswick fishing licence in person
Tackle shops, retailers and outfitters
The official vendor list includes participating Canadian Tire stores, tackle shops, convenience stores and sporting camps throughout the province.
Service New Brunswick
Visit an SNB Service Centre when you need an in-person purchase, residency help or account lookup.
Call the location first
Confirm opening hours, payment methods and whether the location can issue the exact licence product you need.
Do children need an NB fishing licence?
| Age and activity | Licence requirement | Catch-limit rule |
|---|---|---|
| Age 0–15, not fishing for sea-run Atlantic salmon | No regular provincial angling licence required | The young angler has their own daily bag and possession limits |
| Resident age 10–15 fishing for sea-run Atlantic salmon | May buy Class 8 or accompany a valid salmon-licence holder | Class 8 gives the youth their own limit; otherwise the catch is included in the adult’s limit |
| Non-resident age 10–15 fishing for sea-run Atlantic salmon | May buy an appropriate non-resident salmon licence or accompany a valid salmon-licence holder | Guide requirements may also apply |
| Under age 10 fishing for sea-run Atlantic salmon | Cannot hold an independent salmon catch limit; must accompany a valid salmon-licence holder | The child’s catch is included in the licence holder’s limit |
| Youth fishing Crown Reserve water | Separate Crown Reserve authorization rules apply | Check the youth section of the current Fish Book before booking |
Helping with safety is different from actively angling. An adult who casts, controls the rod or fishes independently may need their own licence.
Situations where the ordinary licence answer changes
Licence-free fishing dates
The next dates are February 13–15 and June 5–6, 2027. Residents and non-residents may fish without a licence, and non-residents do not need a guide on those days.
One-day operator package
Some approved operators and outfitters can offer a one-day angling adventure licence to residents or non-residents.
Provincial licence does not apply
Fundy and Kouchibouguac National Parks require park-issued fishing permits and have park-specific rules.
Separate booking and licence
A regular angling or salmon licence does not automatically authorize fishing on Crown Reserve water.
Permission may still be required
A fishing licence does not provide permission to trespass, cross private land or fish water controlled by a lessee.
No provincial angling licence
Federal seasons, retention limits, closures and species rules still apply below the official tidal boundary.
Seasons, closed waters, bag limits, size limits, gear restrictions, private access, Crown Reserve restrictions and winter-water designations remain in force.
How to check whether your fishing spot is tidal water
Search for the named river or estuary
Use the official tidal-water boundary list or interactive map.
Find the legal boundary marker
The boundary may be a bridge, dam, causeway, power line, coordinate or another described landmark.
Confirm which side you will fish
Water downstream from the official inland boundary is generally tidal; water upstream is inland.
Check federal regulations
Licence-free tidal status does not mean unrestricted fishing. Confirm the species season and retention rules with Fisheries and Oceans Canada.
A location can look coastal but remain legally inland, or show tidal movement farther upstream than expected. Use the official named boundary.
When does a non-resident need a licensed guide?
Guide generally required
A non-resident angling for sea-run Atlantic salmon must normally be accompanied by a licensed New Brunswick guide.
Any species can trigger the rule
After the designated date, a non-resident needs a guide while angling for any species on officially listed Guide Required Waters.
Temporary guide waiver
Non-residents may fish without a guide or licence on Fish NB Days, while all other restrictions remain applicable.
A river may contain both Guide Required and unrestricted sections, and the guide-start date can differ between rivers.
- Exact river, lake or pool name
- Fishing date and time
- Species being targeted
- Shore, wading or boat method
- Guide Required Water status
- Guide’s current Class I licence
- Crown Reserve or lease status
- Legal access to the shoreline
Mandatory retention of five invasive fish species
Effective April 1, 2026, recreational angling licences include a condition requiring anglers to retain specified invasive fish in Recreational Fishery Areas where those species are not considered established.
First identify the fish and the Recreational Fishery Area. Retention is mandatory only in the areas listed for that species.
| Species | Areas where retention is mandatory |
|---|---|
| Black crappie | All Recreational Fishery Areas |
| Chain pickerel | Restigouche, Chaleur, Miramichi, Southeast and Inner Bay of Fundy |
| Largemouth bass | Restigouche, Chaleur, Miramichi, Southeast, Inner Bay of Fundy and Upper Saint John |
| Muskellunge | Restigouche, Chaleur, Miramichi, Southeast, Inner Bay of Fundy and Southwest |
| Smallmouth bass | Restigouche, Chaleur, Miramichi and Southeast |
Common angling rules to check before your trip
Waterbody-specific exceptions can be stricter than these general rules. Always open the current map or Fish Book after reviewing this checklist.
- One angling line is generally permitted and it must be held or closely attended.
- An ordinary angling line may have up to three hooks with no more than three points per hook.
- Live fish, including crayfish, cannot generally be used or possessed as bait in inland water.
- Bass, bullhead, sunfish, pickerel, muskellunge, perch, goldfish and other listed spiny-rayed fish cannot be used as live or dead bait.
- Fishing with bait or lures is not permitted on Crown Reserve water.
- Fishing or assisting another angler from specified inland-water bridges is prohibited.
- Do not fish within 23 metres downstream from a fishway entrance, obstruction or leap.
- Do not fish within 100 metres of specified fish-counting, passage or rearing facilities.
- Sport fishing during the open-water season is generally prohibited from two hours after sunset until two hours before sunrise.
- Set lines are permitted only where authorized during the winter fishery.
Sea-run Atlantic salmon and grilse must be released alive. Check current Fisheries and Oceans Canada updates, warm-water closures and striped-bass measures immediately before fishing.
Does the 2026 NB licence include winter fishing?
Yes. The seasonal licence valid from April 15, 2026, through March 31, 2027, includes the January–March 2027 winter-fishing season.
Not every lake, pond or river is open for winter fishing.
One rod-and-line setup is generally permitted and must be closely attended.
Other inland waters allow no set lines; designated waters can allow up to five.
A provincial licence is not required on designated or other tidal water.
- Mount the shelter on skids or runners.
- Display the owner’s name and address in lettering at least 5 cm high.
- Remove all garbage.
- Follow the annual shelter-removal deadline.
At Gibson Lake, Belvidere Lake and Nelson Lake, gas-powered vehicles and equipment are prohibited. Only portable shelters are allowed, and they cannot be left overnight.
Fix common online and mobile-licence problems
| Problem | Exact action | Cost or warning |
|---|---|---|
| No printer | Download the PDF, JPEG or PNG to your phone and keep it available offline. | No printing required |
| No signal at the lake | Open the saved file before leaving home and take a screenshot as a backup. | You must still be able to display a valid licence |
| Licence lost or deleted | Log in and select “Reprint Licence.” Download or print it again. | Online reprint is free |
| Need an in-person reprint | Visit an authorized vendor or Service New Brunswick Centre. | $5.25 plus HST |
| Forgot Outdoors Card number | Check a previous licence, receipt, registration confirmation or the registration email sent on or after January 19, 2026. | An in-person agent can also search using identifying information |
| Forgot password | Select “Forgot Password” and use the email address attached to the account. | Check spam or junk folders |
| Licence product is missing | Check residency, age, season availability and account status. | Products shown depend on eligibility and time of year |
| Bought the wrong licence | Contact Fish & Wildlife immediately. | Licences are non-refundable |
The Outdoors Card number is used to access the system and buy a licence. While fishing, carry the actual angling licence in printed or accepted electronic form.
Practical checks most licence pages miss
Check consumption guidance
Mercury guidance differs by species, fish size, Recreational Fishery Area and whether the person eating the fish is in a sensitive population.
Check cyanobacteria advisories
Do not enter or let pets enter visible blooms or mats. Review current advisories before using or eating fish from affected water.
Clean, drain and dry
Clean boats, trailers, waders, augers and fishing equipment before moving to another waterbody. Never release unused bait or fish.
The provincial angler survey uses both catch and no-catch information. Submit 2026 information by January 15, 2027, for eligibility in the published survey prize draw.
New Brunswick Fish & Wildlife contact
Phone: 506-453-3826
Email: fw_pfweb@gnb.ca
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:15 a.m.–4:30 p.m.
Report suspected illegal fishing: 1-800-222-TIPS (8477)
NB fishing licence FAQs
How much is a New Brunswick resident fishing licence in 2026?
How much is a non-resident NB fishing licence?
How long is a 2026 New Brunswick seasonal licence valid?
Do I need an Outdoors Card before buying an NB fishing licence?
Can I show my New Brunswick fishing licence on my phone?
Do children under 16 need a fishing licence in New Brunswick?
Do I need a salmon licence for landlocked salmon?
Do I need an NB fishing licence in tidal water?
Does an NB fishing licence work inside Fundy or Kouchibouguac National Park?
When are the next Fish NB licence-free days?
Check these pages immediately before fishing
This page is a practical summary, not legislation. Regulations, closures and variation orders can change during the season. Verify the exact waterbody, date and target species shortly before fishing.