This year thousands of anglers will travel provincial highways to fish Ontario's many lakes and streams. Throughout the fishing season, resident and non-resident anglers will steal away to secret fishing holes in search of their favorite catch of walleye, perch, bass or northern pike.
Anglers who may be considering a fishing trip in the near future need to ensure they are transporting fish home in compliance with the Ontario Fishing Regulations, which help protect fisheries resources.
The fish that you catch and keep may be gilled and gutted. 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
- are prepared at an overnight accommodation for storage
- are being transported on the water from a temporary overnight accommodation to your primary residence and you are not engaged in sport fishing, or,
- are being transported overland.
In addition, when packaging fish you must ensure that a Conservation Officer can determine:
- the number of fish you have, and,
- the species of fish that you have in your possession. This may require leaving a large patch of skin, the head, or some other identifying feature on the fish, depending on the species of fish (e.g., lake whitefish vs. lake herring).
Improperly packaged fish fillets are difficult for Conservation Officers to inspect. These packages sometimes contain many fillets that are either frozen or have been cut up into small pieces, or both. Sometimes skin is left on the fillets, other times it isn't.
Here are a few helpful hints to ensure your catch is being properly packaged for transport:
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Tips For Transporting Packaged Fish
- All fish -- not just those with limits -- must be packaged so that they can be easily counted and identified. Package each fish individually or arrange your fish in a clear freezer bag. Place the fillets flat in the bag. DO NOT freeze your fillets in a container such as a milk carton or margarine tub. A large lump of fillets frozen in bags is also not acceptable. Remember, fish must be packaged in such a way that they can be easily counted.
- Ensure you leave at least a large patch of skin on all fish fillets for identification purposes. Since anglers often transport various species of fish and it's their responsibility to ensure each and every fillet of their catch can be identified. Some species (such as lake whitefish and lake herring) may require additional identifying features such as leaving on the head.
- Conservation Officers may inspect your catch at any time. Always have your fish and your licences easily accessible. Pack your coolers of fish last and where they can be quickly inspected. No one wants to unload a vehicle to find licences and coolers.
- If a Conservation Officer inspects the sport fish you're transporting and finds 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 away from where you live.
- Last but not least, before planning your trip, ensure you pick up a copy of the current year's Ontario Recreational Fishing Regulations Summary. The Summary can be picked up at any outlet selling fishing licences or at any ServiceOntario office. If you have questions about any regulation, contact the Ministry of Natural Resources office in the area that you intend to fish.
The fishing season also means Conservation Officers will step up enforcement efforts to ensure anglers are complying with regulations. Each year, these officers routinely conduct boat patrols, camp checks, fly-ins over remote lakes and scheduled road check stations. During these patrols they will inspect thousands of sportfish being transported across the province. Most inspections show that the majority of anglers are complying with Ontario's sport fishing laws.
Want more information? WATCH THE VIDEO on transporting sport fish.
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