About fishing regulations

Ontario is divided into 20 Fisheries Management Zones. Ontario fishery regulations apply across the province, but each zone has exceptions to meet its unique needs. Those exceptions are made with variation orders, and reflected in the Ontario Fishing Regulations Summary.

The Ontario Fishing Regulations Summary lists the current regulations and exceptions in each zone. Check it before you fish.

Changes to fishing regulations

Variations orders are amendments to the Ontario fishery regulations.

They protect and sustain Ontario fisheries by adjusting:

  • fishing seasons
  • eligible waterbodies
  • species and catch limits
  • other exceptions or additions

New variation orders

When it amends variation orders, the ministry notifies the public and posts the latest version.

Ontario Fishing Regulations Summary

Every year, the ministry publishes the Ontario Fishing Regulations Summary. Anglers use this guide to follow the Ontario fishery regulations.

The Ontario Fishing Regulations Summary reflects the latest variation orders. Changes from the previous year are flagged with red text.

Current variation orders

Fish sanctuary variation order

Commercial fishing close time variation order

Sport fishing for baitfish variation order

Sport fishing variation orders

Each Fisheries Management Zone (FMZ) has its own sport fishing variation order:

Northwest Ontario

Fisheries Management Zone 2 (Far North West – Pickle Lake)

Fisheries Management Zone 4 (Kenora, Red Lake, Dryden, Sioux Lookout, Thunder Bay)

Fisheries Management Zone 5 (Fort Frances, Kenora, Dryden)

Fisheries Management Zone 6 (Thunder Bay, Nipigon, Dryden)

Fisheries Management Zone 7 (Geraldton, Terrace Bay, Manitouwadge, Wawa)

Northeast Ontario

Fisheries Management Zone 1 (Far North – Peawanuck, Polar Bear Provincial Park)

Fisheries Management Zone 3 (Far North East – Attawapiskat, Kashechewan, Moosonee, Hearst)

Fisheries Management Zone 7 (Geraldton, Terrace Bay, Manitouwadge, Wawa)

Fisheries Management Zone 8 (Hearst, Chapleau, Cochrane, Timmins, Kirkland Lake)

Fisheries Management Zone 10 (Sault Ste. Marie and Sudbury)

Fisheries Management Zone 11 (North Bay)

Fisheries Management Zone 12 (Ottawa River)

Southern Ontario

Fisheries Management Zone 12 (Ottawa River)

Fisheries Management Zone 15 (Parry Sound, Bancroft, Pembroke, Algonquin Park)

Fisheries Management Zone 16 (Southwestern Ontario)

Fisheries Management Zone 17 (Peterborough and the Kawartha Lakes)

Fisheries Management Zone 18 (Eastern Ontario)

Great Lakes

Fisheries Management Zone 9 (Lake Superior)

Fisheries Management Zone 13 (main basin of Lake Huron)

Fisheries Management Zone 14 (Georgian Bay and the North Channel of Lake Huron)

Fisheries Management Zone 19 (Lake Erie)

Fisheries Management Zone 20 (Lake Ontario)