The new 2023 Ontario Fishing Regulations Summary is now available as a downloadable PDF online. The new regs came into effect on Jan. 1, 2023.
Additional trout fishing opportunities
Brown trout are now present in Fisheries Management Zone (FMZ) 5 with a catch limit of S-5 and C-2.
Additional brook trout fishing opportunities in FMZ 6, all year, S-5 and C-2:
Goodmorning Lakes North (48°47’11″N., 88°42’03″W.) – Dorion Township
Goodmorning Lakes South (48°46’41″N., 88°41’47″W.) – Dorion Township
Nunya Lake (49°28’59″N., 89°35’27″W.)
Additional rainbow trout fishing opportunities in FMZ 6 (S-5 and C-2):
Danielle Lake (49°29’16″N., 89°34’38″W.)
Dennis Lake (49°28’55″N., 89°35’56″W.)
Sandybeach Lake (48°46’42″N., 88°46’09″W.) – Dorion Township
Ursus Lake (48°35’35″N., 89°01’11″W.) – MacGregor Township
Additional rainbow trout fishing opportunities in FMZ 7 (S-5 and C-2):
Centennial Lake (47°54’51”N., 84°42’51”W.) – Naveau Township
Dragline Lake (48°38’04”N., 85°24’21”W.) – Cecile Township
North Twin Lake (48°38’09”N., 85°23’53”W.) – Cecile Township
Additional rainbow trout fishing opportunities in FMZ 10 (S5 and C-2):
Bridget Lake (47°53’43”N., 84°51’26”W.) – Rabazo Township
Fishing exceptions
Now closed to fishing in FMZ 7:
Borealis Lake (49°00’43”N., 86°44’08”W.)
Now closed to fishing in FMZ 8:
Big Club Lake (48°28’N., 80°48’W.) – Bond and Macklem Townships
Lake 57 (48°17’N., 80°40’W.) -Timmins Township
Nayowin Lake (47°47’N., 81°23’W.) – Burrows Township
Pack Can Lake (48°27’54”N., 79°59’29”W.) – Garrison Township
Pallet Lake (48°16’N., 80°39’W.) – Nordica Township
Waterbody exceptions extended in FMZ 10 to:
Carol Lake – Beulah Township
Live fish may not be used as bait or possessed for use as bait
Fish Sanctuary – no fishing from January 1 to July 31 and October 16 to December 31
Aurora Trout – open from August 1 to October 15
Aurora Trout – S-1 and C-0
Lake 21 (47°37’N., 80°57’W.) – Tyrell Township
Live fish may not be used as bait or possessed for use as bait
Fish Sanctuary – no fishing from January 1 to July 31 and October 16 to December 31
Aurora Trout – open from August 1 to October 15
Aurora Trout – S-1 and C-0
Bait restrictions in FMZ 10:
Live fish may not be used as bait or possessed for use as bait
Carol Lake – Beulah Township
Lake 21 – Tyrell Township
Waterbody exceptions in FMZ 11:
Liberty Lake – Aston Township
Live fish may not be used as bait or possessed for use as bait
Fish Sanctuary – no fishing from January 1 to July 31 and October 16 to December 31
Aurora Trout – open from August 1 to October 15
Aurora Trout – S-1 and C-0
Laker and splake in FMZ 12
Lake trout and splake slot size for FMZ 12 (Limits: S-2 and C-1) must now be greater than 45 cm.
Fish along with TackleShare
The TackleShare program provides fishing opportunities all over Ontario, including renting rods, reels, and tackle boxes from loner sites across the province.
Learn more at: https://www.tackleshare.com/
Invading Species Awareness Program (ISAP)
To learn more about aquatic invasive species, as well as how to report a sighting, click here: http://www.invadingspecies.com/
To read up on Ontario’s Bait Management Zones (BMZs), click here: https://www.ontario.ca/document/ontario-fishing-regulations-summary/bait
Message from the Minister
“I would like to thank Ontario’s anglers and Indigenous partners for their contributions to these fishing regulations. By sharing your perspectives and insights, you are helping to promote sustainable fisheries for future generations of anglers,” Minster of Natural Resources and Forestry Graydon Smith stated.
Click here for more outdoors news: niteowldev.com/news
Learn more about Ontario fishing by clicking here: https://www.ontario.ca/page/fishing
To read the downloadable PDF, click here: https://www.ontario.ca/document/ontario-fishing-regulations-summary
I’m needing clarification. I’m with a group of guys that has fished the Clear Water Bay, Deception Bay and Rush Bay areas for 17 years. We are nonresident, United States fishermen. We ate Walleye several times a week while we were there. (We’ve missed the past 3 years due to COVID and border restrictions.) We stopped keeping and eating Walleye several years back when the Ontario game and fish issued a restriction on Walleye in the Shoal lake. We thought Rush Bay might be part of Shoal Lake.
Is it legal to keep Walleye caught in the Rush Bay Area? I don’t need a book of regulations , we get one each year, and we are still unclear concerning Rush Bay and Shoal Lake. Will it be legal for us to keep Walleye, caught in the Rush Bay Area, to eat while in Canada this (2023)summer?
Please respond back. It appears that the border may be opened to us this summer and we are booking our stay.
Download link is broken
https://www.ontario.ca/files/2022-12/mnrf-fwsb-fishing-regulations-summary-en-2022-12-09.pdf
Eric, thanks for letting us know; it’s since been updated, and here it is, too: https://www.ontario.ca/document/ontario-fishing-regulations-summary
Thanks
Would like to receive a outdoors book please
Hi Wanda,
Do you mean a subscription to the Ontario OUT of DOORS magazine? If so, here’s the subscribe page: https://new.oodmag.com/subscribe/
If you’re looking for a hard copy of the Fishing Regulations, you can inquire at your local Service Ontario, but it’s getting harder and harder to find these each year.
Yes, please send me a guide and updated news about Ontario fishing. Thanks
Art,
You can pick up a physical copy of the 2023 Ontario Fishing Rules and Regs at select Service Ontario locations (best to call ahead to be sure they have some in stock).
Also you can sign up for our OOD newsletter at: https://new.oodmag.com/enewsletter/
Thank you!
muskie regulation dates and changes north west including LOW and CEDAR LAKE
sign me up
Ray,
What would you like to be signed up for, the bi-monthly newsletter? If so, please use this link to register: https://new.oodmag.com/enewsletter/
How do I create an account on the ood app? I’m already a member but want to use the app.
Ron we’ll have someone reach out to you via email about giving you digital access.
Here are some tutorials for how that works: https://new.oodmag.com/digital/
Can I bring nightcrawlers into Ontario as long as they are in artificial bedding? I’m fishing in zone #4.
Thank you
Dear All: I would like to obtain a copy of the Outdoor Magazine for 2023 and 2024.
Thanks in advance and wish you great days ahead!