Striped bass anglers are smiling again in Gaspésie.

Rediscovering the pleasure of striped bass fishing in Gaspésie:

Striped bass anglers are smiling again in Gaspésie. After a long fishing ban, this species could be fished again under mandatory catch-and-release rules. More recently, keeping catches has finally been allowed, and beach barbecues sometimes carry the delicious aroma of this fish once more…

Gaspésie is a magnificent peninsula in eastern Quebec, at the mouth of the St. Lawrence River. With its 3,000 km of coastline and traditions rooted in the sea and ocean, this renowned region delights recreational anglers with a healthy population of striped bass, also known in French as bar d'Amérique.

Striped bass nearly disappeared from Quebec waters. All striped bass fisheries on the St. Lawrence were therefore closed from 1996 to 2012. The conservation program is bearing fruit, and anglers can once again enjoy a striped bass fighting at the end of their line. Popular with residents and visitors alike, this fishery has gained renewed appeal since 2017. Here is why.

Striped bass in Gaspésie: fishing is open… but regulated

Striped bass have been the subject of a St. Lawrence conservation program since 2002, through Operation Renaissance. The species is doing relatively well today because it is strictly regulated. Use the official search tool and select “zone 1”, which corresponds to Gaspésie, to find the applicable regulations.

Summary — source (https://mffp.gouv.qc.ca/peche-bar-raye-permise-certaines-rivieres-quebec-saison-2019-2020-2019-07-10/)
“Quebec City, June 10, 2019 — Striped bass fishing will be permitted during the 2019 season in most rivers flowing into zone 21, east of a line connecting Forestville and Rimouski.
This decision follows a consultation held in 2018 with the wildlife partners of the Ministère des Forêts, de la Faune et des Parcs and the Indigenous communities concerned, following an increase in the abundance and range of the southern Gulf of St. Lawrence striped bass population.
The following fishing rules are renewed for the 2019 season in the portion of fishing zone 21 east of a line connecting Forestville (at Île Patte de lièvre) to Rimouski (at Pointe Santerre):
• fishing season from June 15 to October 31, 2019;
• a maximum of three single hooks may be used on one line;
• only artificial lures may be used (natural bait is prohibited);
• a daily catch and possession limit of three striped bass with a total length between 50 and 65 cm.”
These rules may change each year, so consult Quebec's forestry and wildlife website for updates: https://mffp.gouv.qc.ca/.

Regulatory changes for the 2018 striped bass fishing season

Shore fishing for striped bass with soft plastics: an active and contemplative pursuit.

Recreational fishing is an essential part of Gaspésie and has always belonged to the region's culture. Salmon and striped bass, two characteristic species of the peninsula, have things in common: both put up a strong fight and are often found in the same places as they migrate between fresh and salt water.

Enthusiasts like to wait for the right tide late in the day, when their chances of a catch improve. The atmosphere is fantastic: waves at sunset and then in moonlight, a crackling fire ready to grill the day's catch. Enjoying tender, wood-fire-cooked striped bass a few metres from where it was caught is one of the simple pleasures of fishing in Gaspésie!

More adventurous anglers prefer to get closer to the waves on rocky outcrops. Do not forget your fishing life jacket, especially at night. Some places can become dangerous, particularly in a strong swell.

A few tips for striped bass fishing.

Striped bass are constantly moving and rather unpredictable. That adds suspense to the fishing and makes landing one even more exciting.
Striped bass are more likely to bite on dark days, at sunrise and sunset, and at night.
They are found in water between 7 and 18°C and readily move if the temperature does not suit them. In hot weather, they head deeper, down to 30 m. On cloudy days, however, they stay near the surface, between 30 and 60 cm deep. Adapt your fishing to the weather!

Striped bass hunt live prey, including small fish. When wind or a changing tide stirs the sea, sediment is churned up and bass come to feed. That is where you want to be. Once you locate a concentration of striped bass, cast upstream or beyond the fish and retrieve your lure toward you.


Which lure should you choose for striped bass?

Striped bass enjoy eels, sand lance, herring, mackerel, anchovies, marine worms and squid. You therefore have plenty of soft-plastic profiles to offer. Weighted soft plastics are useful. Their effectiveness depends heavily on the location and fishing season. If possible, ask local anglers for information!

Light-coloured, pink and white lures, as well as imitations of familiar prey, work well during the day; dark or black lures have proven effective at night. As always, carry a selection of colours, sizes and swimming actions. That will spare you the frustration of watching your neighbour catch fish while you bring back only seaweed.

Choose 12–20 lb monofilament line. If you need to release your catch, flatten the hook barbs with flat-nose pliers to avoid unnecessary injury to the fish.
If you expect to find large specimens, do not hesitate to choose large lures. Remember, however, that keeping fish is permitted only for those between 50 and 65 cm.

According to some specialists, striped bass are beginning to become overabundant in the St. Lawrence. Watch the regulations closely, as fishing may soon open along the shores of this legendary river by Gaspésie. In any case, anglers pursuing this species native to the American Atlantic coast have much to look forward to!