Your complete guide to getting out on the water — from fresh mackerel off the wharf to battling a 1,000 lb bluefin tuna.
Most visitors to Prince Edward Island come for the lobster and the oysters. But there’s another seafood experience on the Island that doesn’t get nearly the attention it deserves — and it involves catching your own dinner on the open water of the Gulf of St. Lawrence.
PEI deep sea fishing is one of the Island’s most underrated visitor experiences. Within three hours you can be hauling mackerel and cod out of some of the most productive waters in the Atlantic, keeping everything you catch, and heading back to your cottage with enough fresh fish for a meal that no restaurant can match — because you pulled it out of the water yourself an hour ago.
And if you want to go bigger, North Lake on the eastern tip of the Island is internationally known as the Tuna Capital of the World — where giant bluefin tuna weighing up to and over 1,000 pounds prowl the waters just minutes from the harbour.
Here’s everything you need to know about deep sea fishing on PEI in 2026.
What You’ll Catch: The Three Tiers of PEI Deep Sea Fishing
Mackerel & Cod — The Classic Family Experience
This is the entry point for deep sea fishing on PEI and it’s genuinely excellent. Atlantic mackerel are fast, hard-fighting, and delicious — one of the finest eating fish in the sea when caught fresh. Cod, once the backbone of the entire Atlantic fishery, are making a comeback in Gulf waters and are a thrill to pull up from depth.
The typical trip format works like this: the boat heads out from the harbour and anchors in shallower water first, where everyone jigsfor mackerel. Once you have mackerel — which doubles as bait — the boat moves to deeper water to fish for cod, haddock, flounder, and whatever else decides to cooperate. Sculpin, monkfish, and rock eels make regular appearances and add to the adventure.
You keep everything you catch. Most operators will clean your fish for you before you leave the boat. You go home with fresh-caught fish in a bag — it doesn’t get more farm-to-table than that.
Best for: Families, first-time anglers, anyone who wants a genuine hands-on fishing experience without serious sport fishing commitment. Kids especially love it — the mackerel hit fast and hard, and there’s rarely a dull moment.
Striped Bass — The Sporting Middle Ground
Striped bass have returned to PEI waters in significant numbers and are increasingly targeted by anglers looking for something more sporting than mackerel but more accessible than tuna. Several operators now offer bass-specific trips or include them as part of broader deep sea excursions. Hard fighters on light tackle, excellent eating, and genuinely exciting to land.
Giant Bluefin Tuna — The Bucket List
This is where PEI fishing enters a completely different category.
North Lake Harbour on the eastern tip of Prince Edward Island has earned its reputation as the Tuna Capital of the World. Every summer and fall, anglers from across Canada, the United States, and internationally make the pilgrimage to North Lake to test themselves against the giant bluefin — one of the fastest, most powerful fish in the ocean. These are not small fish. North Lake bluefins regularly weigh 700 to 1,200 pounds, and they fight accordingly.
The experience is physically demanding, emotionally unforgettable, and genuinely unlike anything else you can do in Canada. Charter operators run full-day and half-day tuna trips from North Lake through the summer and fall season. The boats are well-equipped, the captains are experienced big-game fishermen with decades on these waters, and the fish are there — sometimes within five minutes of leaving the harbour.
It’s not cheap and it’s not for everyone. But if you’ve ever wanted to experience big-game sport fishing at the highest level, PEI’s east end is one of the best places in the world to do it.
Best for: Serious anglers, bucket-list experiences, groups willing to invest in an extraordinary day on the water.
The Best Deep Sea Fishing Operators on PEI
For Mackerel, Cod & Family Fishing:
Aiden’s Deep Sea Fishing — North Rustico
Operating for over 50 years from North Rustico Wharf, Aiden’s is one of the Island’s most trusted and longest-running fishing operations. Three trips daily, government-approved boats, everything supplied including rods, tackle, bait, and rain gear. You keep the fish you catch, cleaned to your liking. Located just minutes from Cavendish — easy access from the main tourist corridor.
📍 North Rustico Wharf | peifishing.com
Bob’s Deep Sea Fishing — North Rustico
Also at North Rustico Harbour, Bob’s runs a classic three-hour mackerel-then-cod format that’s been a visitor favourite for years. Adults $65, children $55, full charter $875. Right next door is Kate’s On the Dock Eatery — Bob’s daughter runs it — so you can eat fresh local seafood with a harbour view after your trip. A genuinely nice full-morning experience.
📍 North Rustico Harbour | bobsdeepseafishing.com
Off the Hook Experiences — North Rustico
Three trips daily from North Rustico at 8:30am, 1pm, and 5pm. Three hours on the Gulf of St. Lawrence fishing for mackerel, cod, and whatever else is running. All tackle and bait included, rain gear provided. Also runs full and half-day bluefin tuna charters for groups wanting to step up to big game. One of the better-organized operations on the north shore.
📍 North Rustico | fishingpei.ca
Richard’s Deep Sea Fishing — Covehead Harbour
Departing from Covehead Harbour — 15 minutes from Charlottetown, right inside PEI National Park — Richard’s runs three trips daily through July, August, and early September. Adults $80, children $60, all taxes included. Private charters available for up to 18 guests at $300/hour. Guests regularly catch Atlantic mackerel, striped bass, cod, and sculpin. The National Park location adds a scenic element that North Rustico trips don’t have.
📍 Covehead Harbour, PEI National Park | richardsdeepseafishingpei.com
Joey’s Deep Sea Fishing — Rusticoville
Runs deep sea fishing, a combined Lobster Fish & Feast experience, and tuna charters all from the same operation. The Lobster Fish & Feast is particularly well-regarded — it combines mackerel and cod fishing with a visit to oyster and mussel beds, hauling a lobster trap, and a lobster roll picnic on board. If you want one trip that covers multiple PEI seafood experiences, this is hard to beat.
📍 Rusticoville | joeysfishing.com
For Giant Bluefin Tuna:
Captain Jeff MacNeill / Money Maid Charters — North Lake
Captain Jeff MacNeill is one of North Lake’s most celebrated big-game fishermen with over 35 years of experience chasing bluefin on these waters. The Money Maid operates out of North Lake Harbour — ground zero for PEI tuna fishing — where 700–1,200 pound bluefins are regularly encountered within five minutes of leaving the dock. Also offers mako shark fishing, lobster fishing, and whale and seal watching for groups wanting variety.
📍 North Lake Harbour | peitunacharters.com
Ernie’s Charter Fishing — North Lake
Full-day bluefin tuna charters at $1,500 for groups of up to 8, half-day at $900. Also runs an all-inclusive deep sea experience including East Point Lighthouse sail, mackerel and cod fishing, lobster trap hauling, and seal and whale watching — $70 adult, $60 child. One of the most complete fishing operations on the Island, covering everything from family deep sea to serious big-game.
📍 North Lake | erniescharterfishing.com
PEI Bluefin Tuna Charters / Bruce Brothers — North Lake
The Bruce Brothers fleet runs “The Tuna Clipper” and “Harvest Moon” out of North Lake, with a proven track record that’s earned them appearances on the BigWater Adventures fishing series. Full and half-day charters targeting giant bluefin from their North Lake home port, where the fish concentrate in summer and fall.
📍 North Lake | peibluefintunacharters.com
North Lake: The Tuna Capital of the World
It’s worth understanding why North Lake carries this title rather than anywhere else on the Island.
The eastern tip of PEI sits where the Gulf of St. Lawrence meets the open Atlantic — a convergence zone where cold and warm water currents meet, creating the conditions that bluefin tuna require. The tuna follow massive schools of mackerel and herring into these waters every summer, and North Lake Harbour provides the closest sheltered access point to where the fish concentrate.
The fishery here is genuinely world-class. Anglers come from Japan, Europe, and across North America specifically for North Lake tuna. The fish are large — consistently in the 700–1,200 pound range — and they’re present in numbers that other regions can’t match. Charter captains here have decades of local knowledge about where the fish run, how the currents affect their movement, and how to put their clients onto fish.
If you’re driving through eastern PEI, it’s worth a stop at North Lake Harbour even if you’re not fishing — watching a tuna boat come in with a 1,000 pound fish is a sight worth seeing.
What to Know Before You Book
Book ahead in peak season. July and August trips — especially the popular three-hour mackerel and cod excursions — fill up fast. Tuna charters book weeks in advance. If you’re planning around a specific date, book before you leave home.
Everything is typically supplied. Rods, tackle, bait, and usually rain gear are included at most operators. Bring sunscreen, a hat, and a light jacket regardless of the forecast — it’s always cooler on the water than on shore.
Wear soft-soled shoes. Boat decks can be slippery — leave hard-soled dress shoes at the accommodation.
Bring a cooler. You’re going to catch fish and you’ll want to keep them cold. Most operators will clean your catch before you disembark — ask when you book.
Seasickness is real. If you’re prone to motion sickness, take medication before you board rather than after you start feeling unwell. The north shore can have a chop, particularly on afternoon trips when the wind picks up.
Children are welcome. Most mackerel and cod trips are perfectly suitable for children — the fish hit quickly, trips are three hours, and the operators are experienced with young anglers. Check minimum age requirements when booking, as tuna charters typically have age and physical requirements.
Fresh Mackerel: The Most Underrated Meal on PEI
A note on eating what you catch — because this deserves more attention than it usually gets.
Fresh mackerel caught off PEI and eaten the same day is one of the finest things you can eat on the Island. It’s an oily, flavourful fish that suffers badly when it’s not fresh — which is why it has an undeserved reputation in markets where it arrives days after being caught. Fresh off the boat, filleted and pan-fried in butter with salt and lemon, it’s extraordinary.
Most deep sea fishing operators will clean your mackerel and cod before you leave the dock. Take them home to your cottage, cook them that evening, and you’ll understand why commercial fishermen eat so well.
Connecting Fishing to the Broader PEI Seafood Experience
Deep sea fishing fits naturally into a broader PEI seafood itinerary. A few combinations worth considering:
Catch mackerel in the morning at North Rustico, then walk next door to Fisherman’s Wharf for a lobster supper that evening. Fish for cod at Covehead Harbour inside the National Park, then drive 15 minutes to Charlottetown for dinner at Claddagh Oyster House. Drive the eastern tip — North Lake for tuna watching or fishing, then continue to Georgetown harbour for fresh lobster straight off the boat.
PEI is small enough that you can experience the full arc of its seafood culture — catching, buying, and eating — all in a single day.
Browse our full directory of PEI fishing charters, seafood experiences, and restaurants.
Pricing and operator details current as of early 2026. Always confirm availability, pricing, and seasonal schedules directly with operators before booking.
