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Fish Ontario

Overview

Few outdoor experiences can compare with fishing in Ontario’s 250,000 lakes and the thousands of rivers and streams. It is a favourite activity that Ontario residents and visitors enjoy year-round.

Non-Resident Angler Outdoors Card Requirement

The Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR) is working on a project to improve the fishing and hunting licensing system. Once these improvements are complete, non-resident anglers will be able to purchase Ontario fishing licences from home, using the Internet or the automated toll-free phone system. As part of this project, MNR will also be developing an automated licensing system for licence issuers to improve service to anglers and hunters.

The automated system will mean that all anglers and hunters will need a unique identification number. That is why MNR will be extending the requirement to have an Outdoors Card to non-resident anglers and hunters, effective January 1, 2009. The Outdoors Card will be required to purchase an Ontario fishing or hunting licence.

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Ontario's Fish

Ontario is home to 2,000 lakes that contain lake trout, more than 3,500 lakes with walleye and 400 lakes and rivers that are home to muskellunge. Despite the abundance of Ontario's fisheries resources, they are in high demand.

Fish are an important part of the province's economy. Ontario's fisheries sustain the sport fishing and tourist industries, as well as the commercial fishery. About 1.4 million anglers fish in Ontario each year. These anglers spend more than $2.3 billon dollars annually on fisheries-related expenditures.

The Ministry of Natural Resources, as the manager of Ontario's fisheries, works to maintain healthy fish communities so present and future generations will enjoy high quality fishing and viewing opportunities. One of the ways we can ensure healthy fish communities is to manage our fisheries on a broad, landscape level.

Anglers are reminded that Fisheries Management Zones replaced the former fishing divisions in 2008. This management approach makes the fishing regulations easier to understand.

Fish Licence Free!

Ontario Family Fishing Weekend
July 10 - 12, 2009

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