Fishing the

Matane River

Easily accessible fun!

In brief

Matane River

The Matane River flows through the town of the same name on the Gaspé coast, just before emptying into the St-Laurent. It rises at Lac Matane and flows for 80 kilometers, including through Réserve faunique de Matane. With its many tributaries, the river is considered Quebec's training ground for salmon fishing, as many anglers have learned their trade on it.

Having long served as a communication route for Amerindians, the Matane River has been marked since the 19th century by log driving and several dams, most of them equipped with a salmon fishway. In 1879, Colonel Irwing founded the Matane Salmon Club, becoming a pioneer of sport fishing for this species. In the 1930s, following the near-disappearance of the Matane salmon, the provincial government established protection measures and fishing regulations. Managed today by the Société de gestion de la rivière Matane, sport fishing for salmon in this waterway offers 80 pools spread over the entire length of the river. Access to most of them is easy, and salmon are plentiful.

The river will appeal to anglers because of its easy road access to the pools, and the fishway where you can watch the salmon run up to the Mathieu-D'Amours dam in the heart of Matane.

 

TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF ANNUAL DRAWS

Click here to see the results of the annual draw.

The annual Matane River draw takes place on November 1st.

50% of the rods will be distributed during this draw, while the remainder will be made available in the 48-hour draws during the season. Winners (ranks 1 to 180) may reserve a maximum of 2 consecutive or non-consecutive fishing days for 1 or 2 people per day. Rods still available after the annual draw will be allocated by telephone reminder on December 15, 2023 for non-winners of the draw, and from December 16, 2023 for all anglers.

For more information on the draws, click here.
To see detailed pricing of Matane River, click here.

 

Services offered

  • Equipment rental

Conditions

Lenght

80 kilometers

Type of fishing possible

Wading

Fishing season

June 15 to September 30

Sectors and pools

80 pools in 8 sectors, including 4 public sectors

Daily catch limit per angler

https://www.quebec.ca/tourisme-et-loisirs/activites-sportives-et-de-plein-air/peche-sportive/

Gaspé peninsula

Carte - Gaspé peninsula

Access to the region

The Gaspé peninsula begins at Sainte-Flavie, where Route 132 splits in two to form a loop of some 844 kilometers around the peninsula, known as the "Tour de la Gaspésie". It's at this municipality that you can choose between the southern and northern itineraries. The region is also accessible by bus, train, ferry and air. Air transport is available via the Gaspé, Bonaventure and Mont-Joli airports.

A fishing paradise

Criss-crossing immense valleys, the 22 salmon rivers of the Gaspé Peninsula are renowned for their crystal-clear waters of a thousand shades of turquoise or emerald, flowing over stony beds. While most of these rivers run north-south or south-north, winding their way through the ancient Appalachian massif of the Chics-Chocs mountains, they all flow through a varied and rich wilderness, thanks to the diversity of their microclimates.

These superb rivers, which welcome both experts and novices to salmon fishing, are easily accessible. What's more, these rivers almost always end up in or next to a small, picturesque coastal municipality.

Because the waters of these rivers come from unspoiled nature, they are of impeccable purity and among the clearest in the world. These qualities, combined with the beauty of the environment and the warm welcome of the Gaspesians, have given the region a worldwide reputation as a fishing paradise.

Image | Gaspé peninsula
Image | Gaspé peninsula
Bannière | Image