Transporting sport fish in Ontario

Anglers need to ensure they are transporting fish in compliance with the regulations, which are designed to protect fisheries resources. The fish that you catch and keep may be cleaned. However, please remember that fish taken from waterbodies where size limits are in effect must be readily measurable at all times, unless the fish are:

  • Being prepared for immediate consumption
  • Prepared at an overnight accommodation for storage
  • Being transported on the water from a temporary overnight accommodation to your residence and you are not engaged in sport fishing
  • Being transported overland.

In addition, when packaging fish you must ensure that a Conservation Officer can easily determine:

  • The number of fish in your possession
  • The species of fish in your possession.

Tips for packaging fish

  1. All fish must be packaged so that they can be easily counted and identified, not just those with limits.
  2. To ensure fish can be easily counted, package each fish separately, or arrange fillets spread flat in a clear freezer bag. Do Not freeze fillets in a milk carton, margarine tub or other container. A large lump of fillets frozen together in bags is also unacceptable.
  3. Since anglers often transport various species of fish, it’s their responsibility to ensure every fillet of their catch can be easily identified. Ensure you leave at least a large patch of skin on all fish fillets for identification purposes. Some species (e.g. Lake Whitefish or Lake Herring) may require additional identifying features such as the head.
  4. Conservation Officers may inspect your catch at any time. Always have your fish and your licence easily accessible and place coolers of fish where they can be easily inspected. No one wants to unload a vehicle to find licences and coolers.
  5. If a Conservation Officer inspects the sport fish you’re transporting and they are improperly packaged:
    • Your catch may be seized for evidence
    • You could get a ticket and be fined
    • You may have to attend court, usually close to where the inspection took place, which may be far from where you live.

Colour photo of frozen fish fillets without skin in a transparent package. A red cross inside a circle is shown on the bottom right of the photo to indicate improper packaging since the species cannot be identified and numbers cannot be counted.

  • Frozen Fish fillets without skin attached
  • Species cannot be identified
  • Numbers cannot be counted

Colour photo of frozen fish fillets forming a block in a transparent package. A red cross inside a circle is shown on the bottom right of the photo to indicate improper packaging.

  • Fillets form a frozen block
  • Numbers cannot be counted
  • Species cannot be determined on all fillets

Colour photo of walleye fillets with whole skin in a transparent package. A green checkmark inside a circle is shown on the bottom right of the photo to indicate that it is properly packaged.

  • Walleye fillets properly packaged
  • Whole skin attached
  • Can be counted and identified

Colour photo of walleye fillets with patch of skin attached in a transparent package. A green checkmark inside a circle is shown on the bottom right of the photo to indicate that it is properly packaged.

  • Walleye fillets
  • Patch of skin attached
  • Can be counted and identified

Colour photo of perch and walleye fillets with patch of skin attached in a transparent package. A green checkmark inside a circle is shown on the bottom right of the photo to indicate that it is properly packaged.

  • Perch and Walleye fillets
  • Patch of skin attached

Colour photo of pike fillets in a transparent package. A green checkmark inside a circle is shown on the bottom right of the photo to indicate that it is properly packaged.

  • Pike fillets
  • Individually packaged

Call 1-877-TIP-SMNR (847-7667) to Report Resource Abuse