Hillsborough Bay

Saltwater
Bay

Hillsborough Bay

Saltwater
Bay

Sq. miles: 84
Boat Ramps: 0
Access Points: 0
Species: 8

Hillsborough Bay is the largest bay on Prince Edward Island, covering approximately 244 square kilometers along the island's southern coast. It opens to the Northumberland Strait and features a complex shoreline with several tidal rivers feeding into it, most notably forming Charlottetown Harbour. The bay is a dynamic tidal system with significant ecological importance, serving as a nursery area for juvenile fish and shellfish and supporting large seabird colonies. Its waters encompass several islands, sub-basins like Orwell Bay and Pownal Bay, and numerous coastal communities, making it a central feature for both marine life and recreational activities on PEI.

Species & education

Learn what type of fish are at Hillsborough Bay and what's needed to catch them.

Find which waters have the species you want to catch

Atlantic Herring

Clupea harengus

Atlantic Mackerel

Scomber scombrus

Atlantic Tomcod

Microgadus tomcod

Pacific Cod

Gadus macrocephalus

Rainbow Smelt

Osmerus mordax

Striped Bass

Morone saxatilis

White Hake

Urophycis tenuis

Winter Flounder

Pseudopleuronectes americanus

Fishing spots, boat ramps & amenities

Learn how to get on Hillsborough Bay. Uncover great fishing access points, boat ramps, and all the facilities you need for an unforgettable day on the water. Some locations shown may border or include private property. Always check property boundaries and applicable regulations before visiting. onWater's Public & Private Land layer can help you plan your access with confidence.

Key areas focus on structure and tidal flow. The entrance to Charlottetown Harbour, where multiple tidal rivers meet the bay, is a productive zone. Governors Island, located about 4 km offshore, offers reefs on its seaward side and mudflats on the landward side during low tide. The areas around Point Prim and the various smaller islands within the bay also attract fish. Underwater channels formed by the Hillsborough, Yorke, and Elliott Rivers provide structure.

Know where you can legally fish on Hillsborough Bay

See public and private land boundaries along the water, turn on private parcels with owner details to know where permission is required, and find land-trust parcels that offer permitted fishing access.

Pe licenses and regulations

No licenses or regulations available for Pe.

Take Hillsborough Bay with you

The onWater Fish app keeps this water's access points, species and conditions in your pocket, with the tools you use once you're there.

Use the map without signal
Download the map around Hillsborough Bay to use it offline when coverage drops.
Log your catches here
Keep a private fishing journal for Hillsborough Bay to find where and when fish are biting for you.

Get the onWater Fish app

Free on iOS and Android

Tides, wind & water conditions (10 day forecast)

On open water, wind and tide matter as much as the weather. See the best times to fish Hillsborough Bay and check the marine forecast before you launch.

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