Gaspé Peninsula Atlantic Salmon Fishing Guide

The Gaspé Peninsula has some of the best-known Atlantic salmon rivers in the world, with clear water and big fish. Most water is run by local groups, such as ZECs and wildlife reserves, and the best stretches are booked through draws. In 2026 every salmon must be released, fishing is mostly fly only, and each angler may catch and release two salmon a day.

📍 Gaspé Peninsula (Gaspésie), Quebec, Canada. The York, Dartmouth and Saint-Jean rivers flow into Gaspé Bay near the town of Gaspé. The Matapédia runs down the valley through Causapscal to the Restigouche River, which forms part of the Quebec-New Brunswick border.

Map: spots, ramps and marinas

★ Fishing hot spot · ● Boat ramp · ● Marina · ▭ Protected area (solid red = no fishing, dashed = fishing with rules)

Open the full Newfoundland, Gaspé & Magdalen Islands map →

Quick facts

The York River runs 98 km from the Chic-Choc Mountains to Gaspé Bay; the Saint-Jean runs 121 km and reaches Gaspé Bay at Douglastown.
The Matapédia flows 87 km from Lake Matapédia and gets a run of about 5,000 salmon a year.
In Quebec, a 'large salmon' is 63 cm or longer; a 'small salmon' (grilse) is 30 cm to under 63 cm.
For 2026, Quebec made release of all salmon mandatory in Gaspésie, after low runs of large salmon in 2024 and 2025.
Restigouche spring fish are mostly large salmon, often 30 pounds and up.

What you can catch

Atlantic salmon (large)
63 cm and up; mandatory release in Gaspésie in 2026.
Grilse (small salmon)
30 cm to under 63 cm; on the Restigouche they show up around the end of June.
Sea-run brook trout
Picks up in July, best in August; strict rules since 2022 to protect falling stocks.
Brook trout
On the Quebec Restigouche the trout season is May 15 to September 10; rules vary by sector.
Striped bass
On the Gaspé flats; best in June, with bigger fish again in September.
Rainbow smelt
Spring smelt runs start in early May on the Restigouche.

Month by month

January	Closed. Plan trips and book lodges and guides.
February	Closed.
March	Closed. Quebec announced 2026 salmon rules on March 12.
April	Quebec waters of the Restigouche open for salmon April 15 (fly only).
May	York, Dartmouth and Saint-Jean open May 25. Smelt run on the Restigouche; trout season opens May 15.
June	Peak run, mid to late June; big early salmon. Grilse arrive near the end of June. Striped bass on the flats.
July	Good dry-fly fishing as the water drops. Sea-run brook trout start.
August	Low, warm water can be hard; rain can bring good fishing. Sea-run brook trout best now.
September	Large salmon after fall rains. Restigouche trout closes September 10; Gaspé rivers close September 30.
October	Closed. Sign up for the November pre-season draw by October 31 (noon).
November	November 1 pre-season draw for York, Dartmouth and Saint-Jean sectors.
December	Closed.

Tips

Enter the November draw for the best restricted sectors; unlimited sectors and daily 4 p.m. draws are other options.
Bring a fly rod; salmon rivers are generally fly fishing only.
Keep released salmon in the water and let them recover before letting go.
Check river status before you go; low or warm water can affect fishing.
Hire a local guide for the first trip to learn the pools, though most Gaspé sectors do not require one.

Rules and license

Quebec Ministry of Environment, Wildlife and Parks (MELCCFP); local managers such as the Société de gestion des rivières de Gaspé and the CGRMP (Matapédia) · Official rules page ↗

A Quebec Atlantic salmon fishing licence is required. Most sectors are run by a ZEC, wildlife reserve, outfitter or private owner with their own access rules and fees.
2026: release of all salmon is mandatory in Gaspésie and Bas-Saint-Laurent; release quota is 2 salmon per angler per day.
Salmon fishing is generally fly only in salmon rivers, and banned in non-salmon rivers and in the St. Lawrence estuary and gulf.
Restigouche (Quebec waters): salmon season starts April 15, fly only all season, release all salmon, 2 per day.
Patapédia: release all salmon and all trout; 2 salmon per day.
York, Dartmouth and Saint-Jean: season May 25 to September 30; keeping salmon prohibited in 2026.
No fishing from bridges over salmon rivers or within 23 m downstream of a fish ladder or fish passage.
The Restigouche is shared with New Brunswick; New Brunswick waters follow New Brunswick and DFO rules.

Rules change. Always check the official page before you fish.

Boat ramps and marinas

The map above shows 12 boat ramps and 4 marinas from OpenStreetMap. Tap any dot for directions.

Boat ramp near Nevins Cove
Club nautique Forillon
Marina de Bonnaventure
Marina de Chandler
Marina de Gaspé

Sources

Checked October 2026. BigJoe does not invent facts: every number on this page comes from the sources listed above.