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Permitted Baitfish Species

More Information

More of Ontario's Fishing Regulations.

Please note that a number of changes have been made to bait regulations to protect rare and endangered species, conserve biodiversity and prevent the spread of invasive species.

Only the fish species listed below may be used as live bait in Ontario:

Minnows:

Blacknose shiner
Blackchin shiner
Bluntnose minnow
Brassy minnow
Central stoneroller
Common shiner
Creek chub
Eastern blacknose dace
Emerald shiner
Fallfish
Fathead minnow
Finescale dace
Golden shiner
Hornyhead chub
Lake chub
Longnose dace
Mimic shiner
Northern redbelly dace
Pearl dace
Redfin shiner
River chub
Rosyface shiner
Sand shiner
Spotfin shiner
Spottail shiner
Striped shiner

Suckers:

White sucker
Longnose sucker

Others:

Central mudminnow
Lake herring (cisco)
Trout-Perch

Sticklebacks:

Brook stickleback
Ninespine stickleback

Sculpins:

Mottled sculpin
Slimy sculpin

Darters and Logperch:

Blackside darter
Fantail darter
Iowa darter
Johnny darter
Least darter
Rainbow darter
River darter
Tessellated darter
Logperch

Import of Bait

It is illegal to bring any live fish, crayfish, live leeches or salamanders into Ontario for use as bait.

No Release of Bait

Anglers must not release any live bait or dump the contents of a bait bucket including the water, into any waters. The bait bucket water should be disposed of on land, well away from the water’s edge.