2025 fishing regulations released – Ontario OUT of DOORS
A new Ontario Recreational Fishing Regulations Summary is now available with the new year just around the corner.
Some changes have been applied to the Ontario fishing regulations, effective Jan. 1, 2025. They include:
Changes in FMZ 6
- Changes to the list of lake and rainbow trout waterbodies in Additional Fishing Opportunities
Changes in FMZ 7
- Changes to the list of brook trout waterbodies in Additional Fishing Opportunities
- Opening Borealis Lake as part of the three-year aurora trout rotational cycle
Changes in FMZ 8
As part of the three-year aurora trout season rotational cycle:
Changes in FMZ 10
- Changes to the list of lake trout waterbodies in Additional Fishing Opportunities
Changes in FMZ 11
- Changes to extend dip netting season for cisco (lake herring) and lake whitefish to apply to all waters where angling is permitted in Zone 11
Changes in FMZ 17
- Changes to the Extended Fall Season for Atlantic salmon, brown trout, Pacific salmon and rainbow trout in the Ganaraska River
- New fish sanctuary –
No fishing September 1 to October 14
Ganaraska River: from the south side of the Jocelyn Street Bridge to the southerly limit of the CNR right-of-way
Big business
Fishing contributes $1.75 billion to the provincial economy every year, Minister of Natural Resources Graydon Smith stated.
“Ontario is home to thousands of lakes, rivers, and wetlands that provide habitat for a rich diversity of species and world class fisheries,” he stated. “In fact, with 128 species of native fish and 17 naturalized species, these bodies of water contain the highest fish diversity in Canada. It’s no wonder, then, why people from all over the world travel to our great province to take advantage of the abundant angling and recreational opportunities Ontario has to offer.”