Specific methods for certain species

Special conditions apply to rainbow smelt fishing at certain sites. You may use a lift net and landing net in the following situations: 

Residents with no licence and non-residents with a valid sport fishing licence may fish up to 120 rainbow smelt per day, using a lift net or landing net, from April 1^st to May 31.

These methods are prohibited at the following locations:

• In the waters of the îles de la Madeleine and in the rivière Ouelle, between the downstream side of the route 132 bridge and a straight line linking the point of rivière Ouelle and the mouth of ruisseau Gagnon;
• In ruisseau de l’Église, in the municipality of Beaumont;
• In the waters of zone 21 where the daily catch limit is 60 rainbow smelt and which are described among the exceptions for zone 21;
• In rivière Saguenay, between a line perpendicular to the current running from the upstream side of the split (48°26’23’’ N., 70°54’08’’ W.) located near the municipality of Saint‑Fulgence, and the downstream side of the Dubuc bridge in Saguenay.

A sport fishing licence holder may use a lift net or landing net to catch up to 120 rainbow smelt per day:

• from May 1^st to May 31, in rivière Bonaventure, between the downstream side of the former route 132 bridges and Fosse du Malin;
• from April 1^st to May 14, in zones 9 and 15, except for the waters of lac Archambault, including bays and tributaries, and lac Tire (zone 9);
• from April 1^st to May 14, in the waters of zones 4, 5 and 6, except certain bodies of water.

A sport fishing licence holder may use a lift net or landing net to catch up to 500 rainbow smelt per day:

• from May 1 to May 31, in lac des Écorces (zone 10) and lac Chaud (zone 11) and in their tributaries;
• from April 15 to May 20, in rivière aux Rats, between lac aux Rats and a straight line passing through the point 49°30'00" N., 72°11'56" W. (zone 28).

In a salmon river

In a part of a salmon river where smelt fishing is permitted, this species can be fished at night:

• From December 1, 2025 to April 23, 2026;
• From December 1, 2026 to April 22, 2027;
• From December 1, 2027 to April 27, 2028.

If you have a valid sport fishing licence, you may use a lift net or landing net to fish for whitefish in certain places and on certain conditions as indicated below:

Rivière Touladi (zone 2)

The sector located between the downstream side of ruisseau à Mac and lac Témiscouata.

Periods: October 15 to October 28

Quota: 50 whitefish per day

Rivière Saint-François (zone 4)

The sector located between lac Aylmer and the downstream side of route 263 bridge.

Period: October 25 to November 7

Quotas: 10 whitefish per day

Specific conditions apply to burbot fishing in the waters of lac Saint‑Jean encircled by routes 169, 170 and 373, excluding the portions of La Grande Décharge (downstream of the Maligne dam and the lac Saint‑Jean water retention structures) and rivière Petite Décharge (the portion situated between its mouth in the Saguenay and the lac Saint‑Jean water retention structures).

At this specific location, you may, if you have a burbot fishing licence, fish:

• from December 20 to March 31, with no catch limit;  
• using two night lines with no more than 10 fishhooks each, lying continuously on the bottom. In addition, each night line must be identified with one of the tags issued with your licence, affixed to the identification marker.

No other species can be retained with this burbot-specific fishing method.

The use of spears or harpoons while not swimming is permitted year-round to fish for American eel in the waters of the îles de la Madeleine.