Do I need a fishing license in Canada?

Fishing license required in every province/territory. Official source: dfo-mpo.gc.ca (https://www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca).

Where can I buy a fishing permit for Canada?

You can buy permits via: Federal marine waters (DFO (Fisheries and Oceans Canada)); Non-resident licenses (Each province / territory); Conservation license (Most provinces).

What fish species are common in Canada?

Popular target species in Canada include Walleye, Northern pike, Lake trout, Smallmouth bass, Largemouth bass. See the species table on this page for sizes, closed seasons and key waters.

What are the main fishing rules in Canada?

Ontario: two license types (Sport vs Conservation) with different bag limits. Closed seasons, minimum sizes and bag limits vary by species and water — see the rules tables above.

Is catch and release allowed in Canada?

Yes, catch and release is practiced for several species in Canada. Check the species notes above for any restrictions.

All countries & rules

Fishing in Canada

Each province/territory manages independently; DFO (federal) for marine · dfo-mpo.gc.ca

Plan your trip with up-to-date fishing rules in Canada, where to buy a Canada fishing license, common fish species (Walleye, Northern pike, Lake trout, Smallmouth bass), closed seasons and key waters. All info is sourced from Each province/territory manages independently; DFO (federal) for marine.

Licenses & permits

•Fishing license required in every province/territory.
•Separate licenses for residents and non-residents.
•Additional tags/stamps for specific species (salmon, steelhead, sturgeon).
•National Parks require separate fishing permit.
•Barbless hooks mandatory in many provinces (BC, Alberta).

Where to buy

Federal marine waters — DFO (Fisheries and Oceans Canada) · Varies
Non-resident licenses — Each province / territory · Typically 3–8× resident price
Conservation license — Most provinces · Lower bag limits, lower cost

Regional licenses

Ontario · CAD 28/year (sport)
British Columbia · CAD 36/year
Alberta · CAD 28/year
Quebec · CAD 27/year
Manitoba · CAD 25/year
Saskatchewan · CAD 25/year
New Brunswick · CAD 27/year
Nova Scotia · CAD 28/year
Newfoundland · CAD 27/year
Prince Edward Island · CAD 15/year
National Parks · CAD 10/day

General rules

•Ontario: two license types (Sport vs Conservation) with different bag limits.
•British Columbia: classified waters require additional license, barbless hooks mandatory.
•Quebec: zone-based system with 29 zones.
•Alberta: barbless hooks mandatory province-wide, bait bans on many rivers.
•Atlantic provinces: Atlantic salmon heavily regulated, mostly catch-and-release.
•Conservation license = lower bag limits, lower cost.
•Sport license = standard bag limits.
•Possession limit = typically 2× daily bag limit.
•Lead tackle bans in some areas (National Parks, specific provinces).
•Fish must not be transported alive between water bodies.

Species-specific rules

Species	Water	Min size	Bag limit	Closed season	Notes
Lake trout	Ontario	40 cm	2/day (many lakes)	—	—
Walleye	Ontario	35–46 cm	4–6/day	—	—
Northern pike	Ontario	61 cm	6/day (sport), 2/day (conservation)	—	—
Smallmouth bass	Ontario	30 cm (varies)	6/day (sport)	—	—
Largemouth bass	Ontario	30 cm (varies)	6/day (sport)	—	—
Pacific salmon	British Columbia	Varies by species	Varies by river, daily limits	—	—
Atlantic salmon	New Brunswick	Varies	—	—	Catch-and-release common
Arctic char	Nunavut	Varies	1–3/day	—	—
Steelhead	BC	Varies by river	—	—	Often catch-and-release only
Sturgeon	BC/Ontario	Catch-and-release	0 (no retention)	—	—

Common species in Canada

English	Franska (QC)	Scientific	FAO	Min size	Closed season	Methods	Key waters
Walleye	Doré jaune	Sander vitreus	WAL	35–46 cm	—	Jig, trolling	ON, MB, SK lakes
Northern pike	Brochet	Esox lucius	FPI	61 cm	—	Spin, fly	ON, MB, SK, AB
Lake trout	Touladi	Salvelinus namaycush	LAT	40 cm	—	Trolling, jig	ON, QC, NWT, deep lakes
Smallmouth bass	Achigan à petite bouche	Micropterus dolomieu	SMB	30 cm	—	Spin, fly	ON, QC
Largemouth bass	Achigan à grande bouche	Micropterus salmoides	LMB	30 cm	—	Spin, fly	ON (southern)
Pacific salmon (5 spp.)	Saumon du Pacifique	Oncorhynchus spp.	—	Varies	—	Fly, spin, trolling	BC rivers
Steelhead	Truite arc-en-ciel anadrome	Oncorhynchus mykiss	TRR	Varies	—	Fly, spin	BC classified waters
Atlantic salmon	Saumon atlantique	Salmo salar	SAL	Varies	—	Fly	NB, NS, QC rivers
Arctic char	Omble chevalier	Salvelinus alpinus	ACH	Varies	—	Fly, spin	Nunavut, NWT, Labrador
Brook trout	Omble de fontaine	Salvelinus fontinalis	BKT	20–25 cm	—	Fly	QC, ON, Atlantic provinces
White sturgeon	Esturgeon blanc	Acipenser transmontanus	—	C&R only	—	Bottom	Fraser River (BC)
Musky	Maskinongé	Esox masquinongy	MUE	91 cm (ON)	—	Spin, trolling	ON, QC
Perch	Perchaude	Perca flavescens	YEP	18 cm	—	Jig, worm	ON, QC lakes
Whitefish	Corégone	Coregonus clupeaformis	—	—	—	Fly, bottom, ice	Northern lakes

Frequently asked questions about fishing in Canada

All countries & rules International species guide

Disclaimer: regulations vary by region and change frequently. Always verify with the official source before fishing.