Once again the time is nearing towards the opening of the 2022 Newfoundland Recreational Cod Fishery season. If you're a local you already know what it's all about or certainly know people who do. This is the time of year when everyone's excitement for tight lines and crystal clear waters grows exponentially.
Everyone is hungry for a feed of fresh cod, and when the season opens the bays throughout Newfoundland will fill with residents and non-residents alike, fishing for Cod with traditional cod jiggers and rods from an open boat. If you've never been jigging for cod in Newfoundland you're really missing out on a world-class experience. I mean yes, the fish is amazing, but the experience on the water is even better.
What dates is the 2022 Newfoundland recreational cod fishery open?
Last year the 2021 Newfoundland Recreational Cod Fishing Season was open for 39 days and saw a lot of participation. The fine weather of last summer coupled with significant uptake in outdoor activities made the Newfoundland recreational Cod Jigging season one of the most popular activities and for good reason. Jigging your own cod with a traditional Newfoundland jigger from an open boat with your friends and family taking part in the cod jigging is a favorite pastime and super popular summertime activity. If you've never jigged for cod, you really need to get out there and experience it during this 2022 Newfoundland Recreational Cod Fishing Dates.
The dates for this summer’s food fishery have finally been announced.
The fishery will be open for 39 days, on every Saturday, Sunday, and Monday starting July 2 and running through the summer until September 5.
Another fall fishery will open from September 24 to October 2. The daily bag limit is five groundfish per day, with a maximum boat limit of 15 fish when three or more people are fishing.
Cod Jigging in Newfoundland is about more than Cod Fishing
The bycatch of all the fun is access to some of the highest quality groundfish on the planet, and it only takes one bite of supper that evening to confirm our last statement. Newfoundland Cod is prised for its top quality and taste all over the world, but the activity itself is magical. It's an opportunity to spend time with friends, see icebergs, puffins, whales, and experience what Newfoundland was founded on.
Why is Newfoundland the perfect spot for Cod Fishing?
As if the thousands of miles of coastline surrounding Newfoundland didn't make this Atlantic Canadian province iconic enough, Newfoundland is situated at the perfect spot, where the warm Gulf Stream mixes with the cold Labrador Current, one of the big reasons this part of the globe is so rich in marine life. People from all over the world used to embark on major ocean crossings from Europe every year just to be able to fish here in Newfoundland. There is no other fishing ground on earth that comes even close.
What dates is 2022 ocean fishing in Newfoundland open?
Catch and release Ocean Fishing in Newfoundland is open every day of the year. On top of this, there is a healthy ice fishing season for trout and smelt, a world-famous salmon angling season, and an average of 40 days when you can keep up to 5 Newfoundland cod per person and 15 cod per boat throughout the 2022 recreational cod fishing and food fishery season.
The 2022 Food Fishery is a community affair. Participating in the 2022 Newfoundland Cod Fishing Season is a great way to meet locals and experience the oldest tradition in Newfoundland
The 2022 Newfoundland Anglers Guide
In Newfoundland, the Department of Fisheries and Oceans is responsible for managing all fishing activities in the province. When looking for specific information on fishing in Newfoundland and Labrador, from shellfish to salmon, recreational and commercial, you can find the most detailed information in the 2022 Newfoundland Anglers Guide on the Newfoundland Department of Fisheries and Oceans website where dates and updates and posted in real-time.
The Fisheries and Oceans website itself can get a little overwhelming with the voluminous database of information it contains, but if you want to geek out on everything angling, this is the place.
Official 2022 Recreational Cod Fishery Dates Release
While we're still waiting for the official announcement from the Department of Fisheries and Oceans on the exact 2021 Newfoundland recreational Cod Fishery and Newfoundland groundfish food fishery dates to be released, our inside sources are telling us to expect something similar to what happened last year.
The 2022 recreational cod and groundfish fishery dates will most likely be open weekly throughout July and August 2022 from Saturday to Monday and fishing times will be limited to daylight hours only. We also expect catch limits to remain what they have been in years past, which is 5 fish per person per day and 15 fish maximum per boat. Want to be notified as soon as the official 2022 Cod Fishing dates are released? Follow the Whale House Guest House Twitter for updates, news, travel tips, and more.
Newfoundland Recreational Cod Fishery Tips
When jigging for cod during the 2022 recreational cod fishery, it's important to keep in mind what a privilege it is to have this kind of resource at our doorstep. Newfoundland has one of the richest fishing grounds on our planet, which means it's both a resource to enjoy and protect. Rules of cod jigging include keeping what you catch, be it big or small, pack out what you pack in, ensuring everyone is safe, and never overfishing.
The Department of Fisheries and Oceans is responsible for ensuring the Newfoundland recreational cod fishery is managed properly, and part of that is enforcement which includes covert surveillance and stiff penalties for rule-breakers, so be sure you enjoy yourself and follow guidelines to maximize your enjoyment of the 2022 Newfoundland cod jigging season.
Do you have a fish tale of jigging for cod in Newfoundland? Do you have a favourite bay or technique? Please share your experience with us in the comments below.