Ontario Record Fish

How to Enter a Potential Record Catch

Please refer to the current Ontario Recreational Fishing Regulations Summary  to determine the open season(s) for each species. All entries will be acknowledged and entrants will be notified regarding the ranking of their fish within 60 days of submission.

The following are the fish entry requirements for consideration in the OFAH’s Ontario Record Fish Registry:

1. The fish must be legally angled in Ontario public waters during regular open seasons and be entered within 30 days of being caught. Fish artificially raised to maturity or illegally relocated from waters outside of Ontario are not eligible.
2. Fish must be caught with hook and line, on rod and reel or ice fishing apparatus, and must be entered only by the person listed as the angler. Fish caught using spears, seines, dip nets, or bow and arrow will not be considered.
3. Fish must be weighed on government-inspected scales, and measured for Total Length and Total Girth. Your entry must include a photo(s) of the fish on the scale that clearly displays the weight of the fish. Total Length is the measurement from the tip of the snout to the tip of the tail (with the tail collapsed) in order to get the longest possible measurement. Total Girth is measured at the fish’s widest point.
   
   

   * These measurements must be accompanied by validations on the witness statement portion of the application form, or a letter signed by the witness stating the same information. *

4. Each entry must be accompanied by high resolution colour photos, showing a full length side view of the fish with fanned out fins (tail fin, dorsal fin, and anal fin). The photograph should include a ruler alongside the fish to verify length. Both the fish and ruler should be the same distance from the camera. Additional photos will expedite species identification and processing: close-up side profile of the head; underside and top of fish, and mouth and lips (for suckers only).
5. All fish entered must be whole, frozen and in possession of the angler until requested by Registry Officials for species verification. Freeze in a block of ice to prevent freezer burn and protect the fish against damage.
   
   

In its decision, the OFAH reserves the right to reject or accept any entry, and all decisions of the OFAH Registry Officials are final. Registry Officials include fisheries biologists or other qualified officials from the OFAH, Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR) and the Royal Ontario Museum (ROM). The OFAH extends its thanks to the MNR and the ROM for their involvement in the OFAH Ontario Record Fish Registry.