Crown Reserve waters are limited-entry stretches of rivers and selected lakes owned by the Province of New Brunswick, which are available to resident anglers only. Only those residents whose principal place of residence is within the Province of New Brunswick may apply for Crown Reserve Waters.

Types of Crown Reserve Waters:

Regular Crown Reserve: waters are identified salmon angling waters located in the Miramichi and Restigouche River drainages. Specific waters are allocated by computer draw from submitted applications. There are 20 Regular Crown Reserve waters in the Province. Regular Crown Reserve season dates run from June 1 to September 15.
Daily Crown Reserve: waters include salmon and trout fishing waters designed to provide quality angling opportunity without long range commitment. Brook trout Daily Crown Reserves have been established on Upper, Middle, and Lower Peaked Mountain Lakes in the Miramichi River Drainage as well as the California Lake, Caribou Lake and a portion of te Nepisiguit Watershed. Daily Crown Reserves for Atlantic salmon are established in the Restigouche River Drainage. Daily Crown Reserve season dates run from June 1 to September 15.
Hook and Release Reserve: waters are established to promote the concept that salmon and trout, if caught on flies and carefully released will survive to provide additional recreation to other anglers. The Department of Natural Resources and Energy has designated several stretches within the Miramichi River permitted. The Hook and Release seasons range from June 1 to September 15.

Crown Reserve Fee:

• Regular Crown Reserve and Daily Salmon Licence fee is $30 plus tax per angler per day.
• Salmon Hook and Release Waters licence fee is $20 plus tax per angler per day.
• Cains River, Peaked Mountain Lakes, California Lake, Caribou Lake and the Nepisiguit River Reserve licence fee is $10 plus tax per angler per day.

Applying for Crown Reserve Waters:

• Regular Crown Reserve Water application forms are available at all Department of Natural Resources and Energy offices and Service NB.
• Daily Crown Reserve: applications are made between 8:30 and 11:00 am seven days in advance of the fishing day is desired, by calling the appropriate district office. Should the call-in date fall on a Saturday or Sunday, applications will be accepted on the following Monday. If more applications are received than there is space available, a mini draw will occur after 11:00 am at the issuing office. Anglers are limited to two trips per month and the trips shall not overlap month ends. Anglers may apply for vacant water. If water is not claimed seven days in advance, this vacant water may be applied for, by proper party size, up to 48 hours before the fishing date. After this time any party size not exceeding the stretch limit will be accepted. Applications for vacant water does not affect the two day monthly allotment.
• Hook and Release Reserves: applications are made between 8:30 and 11:00 am seven days in advance of the fishing day desired, by calling the appropriate district office. Should the call-in date fall on a Saturday or Sunday applications will be accepted on the following Monday. If more applications are received than there is space available, a mini draw will occur after 11:00 am at the issuing office. Anglers are limited to two trips per month and the trips shall not overlap month ends. Anglers may apply for vacant water. If water is not claimed seven days in advance, this vacant water may be applied for, by proper party size, up to 48 hours before the fishing date. After this time any party size not exceeding the stretch limit will be accepted. Applications for vacant water does not affect the two day monthly allotment.