You can apply now to fish in regular Crown reserve waters.

A draw is held for the 20 prime salmon stretches on both the Miramichi and Restigouche rivers.

Those who are chosen in the draw have access for two angling days.  The use of a fishing camp is included with 16 of these stretches at no additional cost.

Last year, 389 of the 574 draw applications were successful, resulting in 1,460 anglers (in parties of two or four) fishing on Crown waters.

Regular Crown reserve stretches are available from June 10 to Sept. 15 while the daily and live release Crown reserves are available from June 1 to Sept. 15. Some exceptions to these dates apply depending on the stretch of water.

Applications are being accepted until March 1.

The names of those chosen will be available online March 18.

Anglers must obtain an Outdoors Card number to apply for a Crown reserve draw or to purchase an angling licence. The card is available through a free registration process that may be completed online, at participating licence vendors, or Service New Brunswick centres. Crown reserve applications may be submitted online or by contacting any district office.

The booking period for unsuccessful applicants in the regular Crown reserve draw is May 6-19. The first-come, first-served open booking period will be from June 3 to Sept. 15.