Ontario fishing rules: gear, bait, sanctuaries

Summary#

These are final federal amendments called Regulations Amending the Ontario Fishery Regulations, 1989 and the Ontario Fishery Regulations, 2007: SOR/2023-245. They give Ontario more flexibility to set recreational fishing gear rules, change which baitfish can be used, and create or update fish sanctuaries. The changes take effect on January 1, 2024.

What it does#

• Gives the provincial minister authority to change gear and equipment rules (for example, number of hooks or lines, or whether only artificial lures may be used) without needing a federal regulation change. This updates the Ontario Fishery Regulations, 2007 to reflect new powers under the Fisheries Act.
• Reorganizes rules so Ontario can use variation orders to adjust gear and equipment quickly.
• Standardizes two-line trolling rules:
  • Allows two lines throughout Zone 9 (Lake Superior area).
  • Allows two lines from a fishing vessel throughout Zone 19 (Lake Erie area).
• Changes the baitfish list:
  • Removes 15 species from the list of live baitfish allowed.
  • Adds 1 species: the banded killifish.
  • Reduces the permitted list from 48 species to 34 species.
• Expands where dead rainbow smelt may be used as bait by removing some prohibitions in parts of the Nipigon watershed.
• Updates waters where live baitfish are banned by adding Pack Can Lake, Greenhorn Lake, and Sorley Lake (these are being stocked or protected for aurora trout).
• Creates three new year‑round sanctuaries closed to all fishing: Aurora Lake, Little Aurora Lake, and Little Whitepine Lake.
• Expands seasonal sanctuaries that close certain waters to fishing from April 1 to June 15 to protect spawning walleye (parts of the Valentine River, Fushimi Lake, and Hanlan Lake).
• Clarifies that references to Lake Nipigon include tributaries that lie in adjacent management zones (so some protections now apply across Zones 2, 6, and 7).
• Allows dead, food‑prepared red swamp crayfish to be transported for human consumption (aligns with Ontario’s invasive species rules), and updates some scientific (Latin) names and GPS coordinates in schedules.
• Administrative and technical edits (coordinates, minister title, minor wording).

Who's affected#

• Recreational anglers across Ontario. Over 1.2 million sport fishing licences are issued each year, and many anglers will see changes to gear, line, and bait rules.
• Commercial bait harvesters and retailers (about 1,100 businesses in Ontario) who sell live bait; they may need to adjust which species they harvest and sell.
• Local fishing clubs and guides in areas where sanctuaries or bait bans are added or changed.
• Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry and Fisheries and Oceans Canada for administration and enforcement.
• Indigenous communities were consulted. The regulation text says modern treaty partners are not affected, but local Indigenous groups were engaged on specific changes.

Why it matters#

• It lets Ontario respond faster to local fishery needs. Variation orders can be used to change gear rules in about 6 to 12 months, rather than the longer federal regulation amendment process (about 18 to 24 months).
• It aims to reduce ecological risks from live bait. Cutting the number of allowed bait species and closing some lakes to live bait should lower the chance of introducing invasive species or fish diseases.
• It protects rare fish: new and expanded sanctuaries are meant to safeguard naturally reproducing aurora trout and walleye spawning areas.
• For anglers, some familiar options may change (fewer permitted live bait species, different hook/line rules in specific waters). Officials expect most impacts to be small and manageable, and that information will be published in Ontario’s annual fishing rules and online tools before the season.
• The amendments are in force as of January 1, 2024, so anglers and bait businesses should check the updated rules before fishing.