Cape Breton Island 
New Brunswick and Nova Scotia are inviting residents and visitors to experience fishing without a license this weekend.
In New Brunswick, the upcoming Fish NB Days are scheduled for the first weekend of June, specifically June 6 and 7. During this event, no angling license will be required, but standard fishing regulations, such as catch limits and access restrictions, will still apply. Notably, this year, the province has removed the requirement for tagging landlocked salmon over 48 cm in length, and anglers do not require a salmon licence to retain landlocked salmon.
Nova Scotia offers a free sportfishing weekend on the same dates. Anglers can fish without a general license, although those targeting Atlantic salmon are still required to obtain a salmon fishing license. All other fishing regulations remain in effect.
The Nova Scotia Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture, in collaboration with the Department of Natural Resources, provides a Tackle Share program at six provincial parks. This program offers free access to fishing gear for park visitors, encouraging them to engage in sport fishing and enjoy the local natural beauty. Among the participating parks are Mira River, Bolyston, Dollar, Laurie, Smiley’s, and Ellenwood.
Both provinces are hosting fishing derbies this weekend, and you can participate without needing a license.
New Brunswick Fishing Derbies
- YMCA 2026 Annual Fishing Derby – June 6, 8:00 am – 1:00 pm @ 135 Glenn Carpenter Lane, Saint John
- HRAA’s Family Fishing Derby – June 5 to 7 @ Hammond River Conservation Center, 10 Porter Rd, Nauwigewauk
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Nova Scotia Fishing Derbies
- Sat., June 6, 2026 | 9:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. @ Hibernia Campground, Queens County
- Sat., June 6, 2026 | 8:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. @ Petit Lac, Grand Etang, Inverness County
- Sat., June 6, 2026 | 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. @ Barrington Municipal Exhibition Grounds, Shelburne County
- Sat., June 6, 2026 | 8:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. @ Eden Lake, Pictou County
- Sat., June 6, 2026 | 9:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. @ Spectacle Lake, West Dalhousie, Annapolis County
- Sat., June 6, 2026 | 8:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. @ Springhill Pit Pond, Cumberland County
- Sat., June 6, 2026 | 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. @ East Loon Lake, 126 Hillcrest Drive, East Loon Lake Village, Halifax Regional Municipality
- Sat., June 6, 2026 | 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. @ Amaguadees Pond, Eskasoni, Cape Breton Regional Municipality
- Sat., June 6, 2026 | 9:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. @ Church Point, 200 Bonnenfant Road, Digby County
- Sat., June 6, 2026 | 7:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. @ Loon Lake, behind RCL Branch 160, 703 Main St., Dartmouth, Halifax Regional Municipality
- Sat., June 6, 2026 | 7:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. @ MacKinnon’s Campground Ltd., 2457 Hwy 395, East Lake Ainslie, Inverness County
- Sat., June 6, 2026 | 10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. @ McKeen Lake Lodge, 12110 Hwy 7, Aspen, Guysborough County
- Sat., June 6, 2026 | 7:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. @ Isaac Lake, Cumberland County
- Sat., June 6, 2026 | 8:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. @ Cunard Pond, behind Cunard Jr. High School, 121 Williams Lake Road, Halifax Regional Municipality
- Sat., June 6, 2026 | 8:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. @ Pothier Motors, Falmouth, turn left in the dealership parking lot, drive through the red gate to the back of the lot, Hants County
- Sat., June 6, 2026 | 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. @ Quarry Pond behind the Pictou Works Dept building, Pictou County
- Sat., June 6, 2026 | 10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. @ Rawdon Gold Mines Variety & Campgrounds, Hants County
- June 6, 2026 | 11:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. & June 7, 2026 | 11:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. @ Cameron and Gillis Lakes, Pinevale, Antigonish County
- June 6, 2026 | 10:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m. & June 7, 2026 | 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. @ Parkville Campground, 4911 Hwy 215, Noel, Hants County
- Sun., June 7, 2026 | 8:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. @ Lake Pleasant Campground, 240 Air Force Rd., Springfield, Annapolis County
- Sun., June 7, 2026 | 8:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. @ Lake O’Law Provincial Park, Inverness County
- Sun., June 7, 2026 | 8:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. @ Robert’s Pond, 172 Cheticamp Back Road, Inverness County
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Re: Fishing Derby – East Loon Lake, NS
Pictured here (contact me if you want the photo) standing with her parents and grandparents is Charleigh who caught the biggest fish (youth 12 and under), a 1 pound, 9 ounce beauty she was able to catch during the derby on June 1.