The rules in brief

Fishing is a fun and exciting activity that is open to everyone. You can fish alone, as part of a group or with your family. You can even try catching different species in lakes or rivers. While this is a renewable resource, it remains fragile. That is why there are a few basic rules that you need to know before going fishing. The enjoyment that you will derive from fishing will more than compensate for the few minutes that it will take you to read the applicable rules.

A licence?

Save for a few exceptions, a licence is required to fish, and you must have it on hand when you take part in this activity. A licence may be obtained from authorized sales agents. They are generally hunting and fishing supply retailers, convenience stores, etc. Several types of licences are offered at different prices, depending on the species that you wish to fish for and the length of the planned fishing outing.

It may be possible to fish without having to purchase a licence

Indeed, a child who is a minor can always fish under the licence of one of his parents. Morever, a person may fish under the licence of his spouse provided that he fishes in the company of his spouse or has his spouse’s licence in his possession. In addition, a minor or an adult student can fish in the company of an adult who is a licence-holder.

Where may you fish?

Fishing is generally permitted throughout Québec

While most of the bodies of water of Québec are public, the properties that border them may be privately owned, particularly in southern Québec. Before entering a private property or crossing over privately owned land to gain access to the place where you want to go fishing, you must obtain the owner’s permission and consider yourself his guest.

Lands that are not private belong to the domain of the State and access to these lands is open to all. However, a portion of the lands of the domain of the State is organized in structured territories which are governed by special access conditions and for which you must generally pay certain fees in order to fish or spend time on these lands. In return, they offer more elaborate infrastructures such as, for example and depending on the location, cabin accommodations and watercraft.

How many fish am I entitled to keep?

There are three types of limits on fish

The daily catch limit corresponds to the maximum number of fish that may be caught and kept in a day for a species in one of the 29 fishing zones of the province. The fish eaten on the very day are part of this daily limit. For example, if the catch limit is 15 fish and if, after having caught them, you decide to eat 5, you cannot go back and catch another five fish of this species on that day. You may however continue to fish for another species for which the catch limit has not yet been reached. Daily catch limits are not cumulative.

Moreover, when a person fishes under another person’s licence, he is not entitled to his own catch limit. The fish that he catches must be included in the licence-holder’s limit.

The possession limit corresponds to the number of fish of a species which a person may have in his possession at any given time and in any given place, whether it be at the fishing site, on the road or at home. This possession limit is generally equal to the daily catch limit. If, for example, the catch limit for a species is 15 fish in a given zone, the possession limit for this species, in this zone, will also be 15 fish. When you go fishing in more than one zone, the authorized possession limit is equal to the higher of the limits permitted for the species in question.

No licence is required to possess fish. A person may share his fish with another person who does not have a fishing licence. You must however respect the daily catch limit and the person receiving this fish must also respect the authorized possession limit.

In addition to catch and possession limits, there may be length limits for certain species and in certain areas.

What you also need to know!

• The maximum number of hooks that you can have on your line is generally three.
• Certain bodies of water are reserved for fly fishing.
• You can fish at night, except in salmon rivers.
• Earthworms and leaches are authorized as bait and there is no restriction on their use.
• In most zones, using fish (minnows) as bait is prohibited.
• When you transport fish, it must be possible to identify the species, by leaving a piece of skin on the fish, for example. If a length limit applies, you generally cannot cut the fish into fillets; you must also be able to count them.
• Fish caught during sportfishing is not intended for sale.

Where can you learn more?

There you have the basic rules governing fishing in Québec. Once you have chosen the place where you would like to fish, you will have to determine the fishing zone in question and have a good knowledge of the seasons and limits that apply in the zone, as well as the specific conditions of access, if it is a wildlife sanctuary, a zec or an outfitting operation for example. For this purpose, you can consult the web site at www.mrnf.gouv.qc.ca/en/fishing-rules, you can also obtain information by telephone at 1 877 346-6763 or consult a wildlife conservation officer.