The Best Places To Go Fishing In Nova Scotia

If you’re into fishing, Nova Scotia is the place for you. With 7,600 km of saltwater coastline, 6,700 lakes, and 100 rivers, there are seemingly never-ending opportunities to fish in the province. To get you started, we’ve put together a list of some of the top places to go.

Northumberland Shore

Head to the Northumberland Shore between June and October to join one of the 20 Giant Bluefin tuna tours in the region. Sport fishers from around the world flock to Nova Scotia to fish the Giant Blue Fin tuna, which can reach up to 1,000 pounds!

Eastern Passage

20 minutes from Halifax you’ll find the tiny fishing town of Eastern Passage. Head to Fisherman’s Wharf for saltwater fish like mackerel and pollack, nearby Morris Lake and Desaid Lake for bass, trout, and pickerel, or take a chartered boat for blue shark.
from @eye_of_j — Fishing off McCormick Beach #easternpassage #fishing #foggymorning
A post shared by halifaxnoise.com (@halifaxnoise) on Aug 14, 2016 at 4:17am PDT

Bras D’or Lake

The sea inlet, Bras D’or, in Cape Breton is a great spot to catch a variety of fish year-round. Trout is the most popular catch in the 11,000 square km area, but you’ll also find smelt, salmon, eel, bass and more.
One of many train bridges in Cape Breton from earlier in the summer. . . . . . . . . . . #brasdorlakes #capebreton #capebretonisland #novascotia #ns #lakes #sunset #clouds #train #trainbridge #eastcoast #atlanticcanada #maritimes #trees #reflections #getoutside
A post shared by drewbrand (@drewbrand) on Sep 21, 2017 at 5:03am PDT

Shubenacadie and Stewiacke Rivers

During the early season (April) the rivers here are brimming with striped bass, and fishers can catch up to 20 per day! Take care when the Bay of Fundy tides roll in as they can make the mud banks slippery and dangerous.

Minas Basin

Head to the pier at Minas Basin for year-round striped bass fishing. If you don’t want to bring your own, you can buy bait at the Kingsport Wharf.
#striper #minasbasin
A post shared by Nick Watts (@nick_watts8) on Aug 26, 2017 at 1:03pm PDT

Margaree River

Part of the largest river system in Cape Breton, the Margaree River is the perfect spot for fly-fishing. With an abundance of salmon and trout, gorgeous scenery, and close proximity to the world-famous Cabot Links and Cabot Cliffs golf courses, this is a great place to make a vacation or a day trip.
Little day trip to the Margaree river #flyfishing #salmon #firstfishonaflyrod #margareeriver
A post shared by Jordan Quinn (@outdoorfinatics) on Apr 24, 2017 at 3:38am PDT

About the author

Kate Horodyski

Kate is a freelance lifestyle and travel writer based in Halifax, Canada. You can find her online at katehorodyski.com and on Instagram @katehorodyski.