Latest news on regulation

The general sport fishing rules are published every two years on April 1. Here you will find all the new rules in effect on April 1, 2026.

The new rules regarding this fishing zone are as follows:​​​​

• Reduction of the daily catch limit for lake trout in lands in the domain of the State (public lands): 1 in all.
• Prohibition on fishing for copper redhorse.
• Prohibition on fishing for Atlantic salmon, except in certain salmon rivers.
• Modification of the daily catch-and-release limit for Atlantic salmon in certain salmon rivers.
• Modification of the fishing period and authorized gear for several species in certain sectors of the Rivière Restigouche.
• Modification of the catch and possession limit for char in certain sectors of the Rivière Restigouche: 1 in all.
• Modification of the catch and possession limit for char in the Parc national de la Gaspésie and in the Réserves fauniques de Matane, de Port-Daniel and des Chic-Chocs: 7 char in all, including a maximum of 2 Arctic char.
• Modification of the fishing period for several species in managed wildlife territories: fixed opening and closing dates.

See all the particular rules for zone 1.

The new rules regarding this fishing zone are as follows:

• Reduction of the catch and possession limit for lake trout in lands in the domain of the State (public lands): 1 in all.
• Prohibition on fishing for copper redhorse.
• Prohibition on fishing for Atlantic salmon, except in certain salmon rivers.
• Modification of the daily catch-and-release limit for Atlantic salmon in certain salmon rivers.
• Modification of the fishing period for char in a sector of the Rivière Restigouche: May 15 to September 10.
• Mandatory release of char in certain sectors of the Rivière Restigouche and Rivière Patapédia.
• Modification of the catch and possession limit for char in the zec of Bas-Saint-Laurent and in the Réserve faunique de Rimouski: 7 char in all, including a maximum of 2 Arctic char.
• Modification of the fishing period for several species in managed wildlife territories: fixed opening and closing dates.

See all the particular rules for zone 2.

The new rules regarding this fishing zone are as follows:

• Modification of the fishing period for several species: fixed opening and closing dates.
• Reduction of the catch and possession limit for lake trout in lands in the domain of the State (public lands): 1 in all.
• Prohibition on fishing for copper redhorse.

See all the particular rules for zone 5.

The new rules regarding this fishing zone are as follows:

• Modification of the fishing period for several species: fixed opening and closing dates.
• Reduction of the catch and possession limit for lake trout in lands in the domain of the State (public lands): 1 in all.
• Prohibition on fishing for copper redhorse.
• Prohibition on fishing for yellow perch in the Réservoir Choinière.

See all the particular rules for zone 6.

The new rules regarding bait fish are as follows:

• Modification of the fishing period for several species: fixed opening and closing dates.
• Reduction of the catch and possession limit for lake trout in lands in the domain of the State (public lands): 1 in all.
• Several modifications for pike and walleye fishing in the Aire faunique communautaire du lac Saint-Pierre, the St. Lawrence River, and the downstream portion of certain tributaries:
  • For pike:
    • modification of the fishing period;
    • modification of the catch and possession limit: 1 pike in all;
    • modification of the length limit from 56 cm to 70 cm inclusively;
    • modification of the authorized fishing gear to angling only;
    • obligation to transport fish whole or gutted.
  • For walleye:
    • closure of fishing from November 1 to December 19 and from March 16 to March 31;
    • opening of fishing for sauger: June 1;
    • modification of the catch and possession limit for walleye: 2 walleye.
• Complete closure of fishing for all species from March 16 to March 31 in the Aire faunique communautaire du Lac Saint-Pierre, the St. Lawrence River, and the downstream portion of certain tributaries.
• Prohibition on fishing for Atlantic salmon.
• Prohibition on fishing for copper redhorse.
• Modification of the fishing period for several species in a sector of Lac Aylmer and the Rivière Coleraine
• Number of lines authorized in winter on Lac Aylmer: maximum of 5 lines.
• Modification of the length limit for muskellunge in Lac à la Tortue: no length limit.
• Extension of the moratorium on sport and commercial yellow perch fishing in Lac Saint-Pierre and in the sector of the St. Lawrence River, between Pont Laviolette and Saint-Pierre-les-Becquets, until 2027.

See all the particular rules for zone 7.

The new rules regarding bait fish are as follows:

• Modification of the fishing period for several species: fixed opening and closing dates.
• Reduction of the catch and possession limit for lake trout in lands in the domain of the State (public lands): 1 in all.
• Several modifications for pike and walleye fishing in the St. Lawrence River, Lac des Deux Montagnes, the Rivières des Outaouais, des Prairies and des Mille Îles, and the downstream portion of the Rivière aux Chiens, Rivière aux Saumons, Rivière Beaudette, Rivière Châteauguay, Rivière Delisle, Rivière du Chêne, Rivière du Nord, Rivière L’Assomption, Rivière Mascouche, Rivière Rigaud, Rivière Saint-Jacques, Rivière Saint-Louis and Rivière à la Tortue:
  • For pike:
    • modification of the fishing period;
    • modification of the catch and possession limit: 1 pike in all;
    • modification of the length limit from 56 cm to 70 cm inclusively;
    • modification of the authorized fishing gear to angling only;
    • obligation to transport fish whole or gutted.
  • For walleye:
    • closure of fishing from November 1 to December 19 and from March 16 to March 31;
    • opening of fishing for sauger: June 1;
    • modification of the catch and possession limit for walleye: 2 walleye.
• Complete closure of fishing for all species from March 16 to March 31 in the St. Lawrence River, Lac des Deux Montagnes, the Rivière des Outaouais, Rivière des Prairies and Rivière des Mille Îles, and the downstream portion of the Rivière aux Chiens, Rivière aux Saumons, Rivière Beaudette, Châteauguay, Rivière Delisle, Rivière du Chêne, Rivière du Nord, Rivière L’Assomption, Rivière Mascouche, Rivière Rigaud, Rivière Saint-Jacques, Rivière Saint-Louis and Rivière à la Tortue.
• Prohibition on fishing for copper redhorse.
• Prohibition on fishing for redhorses and suckers in the Rivière Yamaska, between the downstream side of the Route 132 bridge and Farnham, as well as in the Canal de Chambly of the Rivière Richelieu.
• Extension of the moratorium on sport and commercial yellow perch fishing in Lac Saint-Pierre and in the sector of the St. Lawrence River, between Pont Laviolette and Saint-Pierre-les-Becquets, until 2027.

See all the particular rules for zone 8.

The new rules regarding this fishing zone are as follows:

• Modification of the fishing period for several species: fixed opening and closing dates.
• Reduction of the catch and possession limit for lake trout in lands in the domain of the State (public lands): 1 in all.
• Prohibition on fishing for copper redhorse.

See all the particular rules for zone 9.

The new rules regarding this fishing zone are as follows:

• Modification of the fishing period for several species: fixed opening and closing dates.
• Reduction of the catch and possession limit for lake trout in lands in the domain of the State (public lands): 1 in all.
• Prohibition on fishing for copper redhorse.
• Modification of the fishing period for all species in the Rivière Gatineau, between Île Marguerite and the Barrage des Rapides-Farmer, in Chelsea and Gatineau: opening on July 16.

See all the particular rules for zone 10.

The new rules regarding this fishing zone are as follows:

• Modification of the fishing period for several species: fixed opening and closing dates.
• Reduction of the catch and possession limit for lake trout in lands in the domain of the State (public lands): 1 in all.
• Prohibition on fishing for copper redhorse.
• Modification of the fishing period for bass in Lac Lynch: opening on April 23.

See all the particular rules for zone 11.

The new rules regarding this fishing zone are as follows:

• Modification of the fishing period for several species: fixed opening and closing dates.
• Reduction of the catch and possession limit for lake trout in lands in the domain of the State (public lands): 1 in all.
• Modification of the winter fishing period for a sector of Baie de Kipawa: daily opening on the first Saturday in March.
• Reduction of the daily catch limit for char and trout to 3 in all in the following lakes:
  • Lac sans nom (commonly called “Lac de la Ville”) (48°48’23’’ N, 79°10’01’’ W);
  • Lac de la Petite Prairie (47°16’48’’ N, 79°15’22’’ W).
• Prohibition on fishing for copper redhorse.

See all the particular rules for zone 13.

The new rules regarding this fishing zone are as follows:

• Modification of the fishing period for several species: fixed opening and closing dates.
• Reduction of the catch and possession limit for lake trout in lands in the domain of the State (public lands): 1 in all.
• Prohibition on fishing for copper redhorse.
• Modification of the catch and possession limit and the length limit for lake trout in Lac Mondonac: same limits as those for the zone.

See all the particular rules for zone 15.

The new rules regarding this fishing zone are as follows:

• Modification of the fishing period for several species in Lac aux Loutres, Lac Nelson and Lac Turgeon: fixed opening date.
• Reduction of the catch and possession limit for lake trout in lands in the domain of the State (public lands): 1 in all.
• Modification of the length limit for lake trout: 55 cm or more.
• Prohibition on fishing for copper redhorse.

See all the particular rules for zone 16.

The new rules regarding this fishing zone are as follows:

• Reduction of the catch and possession limit for lake trout in lands in the domain of the State (public lands): 1 in all.
• Modification of the length limit for lake trout: 55 cm or more (except for Lac Lymburner: 45 cm or more).
• Prohibition on fishing for copper redhorse.

See all the particular rules for zone 17.

The new rules regarding this fishing zone are as follows:

• Modification of the fishing period for several species: fixed opening and closing dates.
• Prohibition on fishing for Atlantic salmon, except in certain salmon rivers.
• Addition of a daily catch-and-release limit for Atlantic salmon in certain salmon rivers.
• Prohibition on fishing for copper redhorse.

See all the particular rules for zone 19.

The new rules regarding this fishing zone are as follows:

• Modification of the fishing period for several species: fixed opening and closing dates.
• Prohibition on fishing for Atlantic salmon, except in certain salmon rivers.
• Addition of a daily catch-and-release limit for Atlantic salmon in certain salmon rivers.
• Prohibition on fishing for copper redhorse.

See all the particular rules for zone 19.

The new rules regarding this fishing zone are as follows:

• Modification of the fishing period for several species: fixed opening and closing dates.
• Reduction of the catch and possession limit for lake trout in lands in the domain of the State (public lands): 1 in all.
• Prohibition on fishing for Atlantic salmon, except in certain salmon rivers.
• Modification of the daily catch-and-release limit for Atlantic salmon in certain salmon rivers.
• Prohibition on fishing for copper redhorse.

See all the particular rules for zone 20.

The new rules regarding this fishing zone are as follows:

• Prohibition on fishing for Atlantic salmon, except in certain salmon rivers.
• Modification of the daily catch-and-release limit for Atlantic salmon in certain salmon rivers.
• Reduction of the catch and possession limit for lake trout in lands in the domain of the State (public lands): 1 in all.
• Prohibition on fishing for copper redhorse.
• Several modifications for pike and walleye fishing in the zone:
  • For pike:
    • modification of the fishing period;
    • modification of the catch and possession limit: 1 pike in all;
    • modification of the length limit from 56 cm to 70 cm inclusively;
    • modification of the authorized fishing gear to angling only;
    • obligation to transport fish whole or gutted.
  • For walleye:
    • closure of fishing from November 1 to December 19 and from March 16 to March 31;
    • opening of fishing for sauger: June 1;
    • modification of the catch and possession limit for walleye: 2  walleye.
• Modification of the fishing period for several species in the waters of the Îles-de-la-Madeleine, including Étang du Ouest: fixed opening and closing dates.
• Reduction of the catch and possession limit for char in the Rivière Saguenay: 3 in all.
• Modification of the fishing period for several species in the Rivière Saguenay: opening on June 1.

See all the particular rules for zone 21.

The new rules regarding this fishing zone are as follows:

• Modification of the fishing period for several species: fixed opening and closing dates.
• Reduction of the catch and possession limit for lake trout in lands in the domain of the State (public lands): 1 in all.
• Prohibition on fishing for copper redhorse.
• Modification of the fishing period for bass in Lac du Jésuite: same fishing period as that of the zone.
• Reduction of the daily catch limit for char in Lac Fontaine: 5 in all, including a maximum of 2 Arctic char.
• Modification of the no-fishing sector in the Rivière du Milieu: from the power line to the outlet of Lac Charlie.

See all the particular rules for zone 26.

The new rules regarding this fishing zone are as follows:

• Modification of the fishing period for several species: fixed opening and closing dates.
• Reduction of the catch and possession limit for lake trout in lands in the domain of the State (public lands): 1 in all.
• Prohibition on fishing for Atlantic salmon, except in salmon rivers.
• Modification of the daily catch-and-release limit for Atlantic salmon in certain salmon rivers.
• Modification of the authorized gear in the Rivière Malbaie, where fishing is permitted: fly fishing with a floating line only.
• Modification of the catch and possession limit and the length limit for char in certain sectors of the Rivières Petit Saguenay and du Cabanage: 3 in all under 30 cm.
• Modification of the fishing period for all species, except Atlantic salmon, in a sector of the Rivière du Cabanage: from April 23 to September 15.
• Prohibition on fishing for copper redhorse.
• Several modifications for pike and walleye fishing in the Bassin Louise and in the Rivière Montmorency, between the foot of Chute Montmorency and the northern right-of-way of Route 138:
  • For pike:
    • modification of the fishing period;
    • modification of the catch and possession limit: 1 pike in all;
    • modification of the length limit from 56 cm to 70 cm inclusively;
    • modification of the authorized fishing gear to angling only;
    • obligation to transport fish whole or gutted.
  • For walleye:
    • closure of fishing from November 1 to December 19 and from March 16 to March 31;
    • opening of fishing for sauger: June 1;
    • modification of the catch and possession limit for walleye: 2 walleye.

See all the particular rules for zone 27.

The new rules regarding this fishing zone are as follows:

• Modification of the fishing period for several species: fixed opening and closing dates.
• Reduction of the catch and possession limit for lake trout in lands in the domain of the State (public lands): 1 in all.
• Prohibition on fishing for Atlantic salmon, except in salmon rivers.
• Modification of the daily catch-and-release limit for Atlantic salmon in certain salmon rivers.
• Reduction of the catch and possession limit for char in the zone: 15 in all, including a maximum of 2 Arctic char.
• Modification of the catch and possession limit and the length limit for lake trout in Lac Bonin: same limits as those of the zone.
• Modification of the fishing period for landlocked salmon in the Aire faunique communautaire du Lac-Saint-Jean: opening advanced to May 1 and opening of winter fishing.
• Modification of the fishing period for landlocked salmon in Lac à Jim (Aire faunique communautaire du Lac-Saint-Jean): opening advanced to May 1.
• Modification of the fishing period and authorized gear for all species in the Rivière Ashuapmushuan and Rivière du Cran (Aire faunique communautaire du Lac-Saint-Jean): fly fishing only delayed by 2 weeks.
• Modification of the fishing period for several species, including walleye, in certain sectors of the Rivière Saguenay and Rivière Petite Décharge.
• Modification of the catch and possession limit and the length limit for char in certain sectors of the Rivière Sainte-Marguerite, Rivière Sainte-Marguerite Nord-Est, Rivière Saint-Jean, Rivière Petit Saguenay and Rivière Éternité (including Petit lac Éternité), as well as in certain sectors of the Ruisseaux Benouche and Patrice-Fortin: 3 in all under 30 cm.
• Modification of the catch and possession limit for char in certain sectors of the Rivière Saguenay, Rivière Chicoutimi, Rivière de la Descente des Femmes, Rivière Ha! Ha!, Rivière Shipshaw, Rivière aux Vases, Rivière Valin and Rivière du Moulin: 3 in all.
• Modification of the fishing period for several species in certain sectors of the Rivière Chicoutimi, Rivière de la Descente des Femmes, Rivière Ha! Ha!, Rivière Shipshaw, Rivière aux Vases, Rivière Valin and Rivière du Moulin: from June 1 to September 15.
• Prohibition on fishing for copper redhorse.

See all the particular rules for zone 28.