Atlantic Salmon Fishing

Once one of the most plentiful species on Earth, the salmon was a cornerstone in the diets of human ancestors across the Northern Hemisphere. Pacific Salmon follow a natural range from Northern California to the Eastern shores of Siberia. Atlantic Salmon, while native to waters from New England to Norway, has seen a dramatic decrease in numbers and range thanks to commercial fishing.

As a result, the vast majority of Atlantic Salmon available for purchase are raised on fish farms around the world. On a commercial scale, it is no longer environmentally responsible nor commercially viable to fish for Atlantic Salmon on a large scale. This does not mean that Atlantic Salmon fishing is banned or impossible, but it is harder to find good fishing grounds.

Finding Wild Atlantic Salmon
Fishing for Pacific Salmon is relatively easy to come by, thanks to the plentiful numbers of fish that are maintained by international fishing treaties. However, Atlantic Salmon no longer swim in many of their natural waters, and even when they do, their numbers rarely sustain any worthwhile fishing endeavors. In addition, the smaller numbers of Atlantic Salmon mean that any year's catch will be very unpredictable.

If you have your heart set on Atlantic Salmon fishing, it might take some real searching before you find a place that you like. Most Atlantic Salmon runs are now found in Nova Scotia and other Northern locales, which still might not feel like a vacation even in spring and summer. It might take a few disappointing trips before you find a stream that gives up a reliable catch, but they are out there.