Fisheries Management Zone 12
View Fisheries Management Zone 12 map using Fish ON-Line or a PDF.
- The Zone 12 boundary extends across the mouths of tributaries, except the Madawaska and Mississippi Rivers where the boundary extends upstream to the first dam.
- Remember that regulations differ between Ontario and Quebec waters. Anglers are responsible to ensure they are obeying the regulations of the waters where they are fishing.
General information
- See general fishing regulations for more information on how to use this summary.
- See the boundary waters section for information on licences and limits in boundary waters and remember that regulations differ between Ontario and Quebec. Anglers are responsible to ensure they are obeying the regulations of the waters where they are fishing.
- American eel is a specially protected species and may not be caught or possessed under a recreational fishing licence.
- The following species are not present in this Zone and are closed to fishing all year:
- Pacific salmon
- FMZ 12 the Ottawa River. Baitfish and leeches from adjacent Bait Management Zones (BMZ) are permitted, but can only be moved out of the Ottawa River to be disposed of immediately more than 30 metres from the water. See bait for more details.
Zone-wide seasons and limits
Zone-wide seasons and limits apply to all waters in the Zone except for the specific waters and species listed in the species exceptions and fish sanctuaries.
Aggregate limits for trout and salmon (including splake)
Limits: S-5 and C-2; total daily catch and possession limit for all trout and salmon species combined
Atlantic salmon
Season: Friday before fourth Saturday in April to September 30
Limits: S-1 and C-0
Brook trout
Season: Friday before fourth Saturday in April to September 30
Limits: S-5 and C-2
Brown trout and rainbow trout
Season: Friday before fourth Saturday in April to September 30
Limits: S-5 and C-2
Channel catfish
Season: open all year
Limits: S-12 and C-6
Crappie
Season: open all year
Limits: S-30 and C-10
Lake sturgeon
Season: closed all year
Lake trout and splake
Season: Friday before fourth Saturday in April to September 30
Limits: S-2 and C-1; must be greater than 45 centimetres
Lake whitefish
Season: open all year
Limits: S-12 and C-6
Largemouth and smallmouth bass combined
Season: Friday before fourth Saturday in June to November 30
Limits: S-6 and C-2
Muskellunge
Season: Friday before third Saturday in June to December 15
Limits: S-1; must be greater than 137 centimetres, and C-0
Northern pike
Season: January 1 to March 31 and Friday before third Saturday in May to December 31
Limits: S-6 and C-2
Sunfish
Season: open all year
Limits: no limit
Walleye and sauger combined
Season: January 1 to March 31 and Friday before third Saturday in May to December 31
Limits: S-5 and C-2; must be less than 40 centimetres from March 1 to June 15
Yellow perch
Season: open all year
Limits: S-50 and C-25
Species exceptions
American shad
Season: open all year
Limits: S-5 and C-2
- Ottawa River - below Carillon Dam to Pointe Fortune
Fish sanctuaries
No fishing - March 1 to Thursday before third Saturday in May
- Lac des Chats (Ottawa River), - Madawaska River and Mississippi River - including waters of the Madawaska River downstream from the Arnprior Generating Station, Ottawa River from Dochart Creek to the lighthouse (45°27′03″N., 76°21′02″W.) and then east following the inter-provincial boundary to the south end of the CNR bridge at Lavergne Point (West Carleton Township), and the Mississippi River downstream from the Generating Station at the town of Galetta
No fishing - March 15 to June 15
- Lake Timiskaming (Ottawa River) - Harris Township, Sutton Bay
No fishing - April 1 to June 15
- Lac la Cave (Ottawa River) - from the Lake Timiskaming dam downstream to a line drawn due east from the southernmost point of land at the mouth of Fournier Creek in Poitras Township
No fishing - April 1 to Thursday before second Friday in May
- Ottawa River - between the Quebec Carillon Power House and Pointe Fortune
No fishing - April 1 to Friday before third Saturday in May
- Muskrat River - Renfrew County, from Highway 17 downstream through the City of Pembroke to its confluence with the Ottawa River