Guide
Newfoundland seafood seasonality calendar
Newfoundland is known for cold-water snow crab, cod, lobster and capelin — but each one has its own short window. Here's when the boats actually land them, and what that means for what you can order today.
What's in season, month by month
| Species | Typical window | J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Snow crab | April – July | Out of season | Out of season | Out of season | In season | In season | In season | In season | Out of season | Out of season | Out of season | Out of season | Out of season |
| Atlantic cod | Late spring – autumn | Out of season | Out of season | Out of season | Out of season | In season | In season | In season | In season | In season | In season | Out of season | Out of season |
| Lobster | Mid-April – early July | Out of season | Out of season | Out of season | In season | In season | In season | In season | Out of season | Out of season | Out of season | Out of season | Out of season |
| Capelin | June – July | Out of season | Out of season | Out of season | Out of season | Out of season | In season | In season | Out of season | Out of season | Out of season | Out of season | Out of season |
| Turbot (Greenland halibut) | Spring – autumn | Out of season | Out of season | Out of season | In season | In season | In season | In season | In season | In season | In season | Out of season | Out of season |
| Scallops | Spring – autumn | Out of season | Out of season | Out of season | In season | In season | In season | In season | In season | In season | In season | Out of season | Out of season |
Windows are typical and vary by fishing area, quota and weather each year.
Species notes
- Snow crab
- April – July. The signature Newfoundland harvest. Traps come up in cold spring water, which is why the meat is sweet and firm.
- Atlantic cod
- Late spring – autumn. Inshore cod fishing runs through the warmer months, with the recreational food fishery opening in summer.
- Lobster
- Mid-April – early July. Season dates shift by lobster fishing area around the island, but spring is the window almost everywhere.
- Capelin
- June – July. The capelin roll onto the beaches for a few short weeks — the event that pulls cod and whales inshore.
- Turbot (Greenland halibut)
- Spring – autumn. A deep, cold-water fish landed over a long season on the northeast coast.
- Scallops
- Spring – autumn. Dragged from cold bottom grounds; availability depends on weather more than the calendar.
Out of season
Fresh-frozen keeps peak season on the menu
Seasons are short, so we freeze at peak quality within hours of landing. Freezing pauses the clock rather than hiding age — every lot still carries its vessel, harvest zone, catch date and freshness score, so you can see exactly which season your order came from.