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Fish for Free This Year in Ontario

Steven Bull and his son Wilson with a panfish. The first catch of his “career!”

Feb 16, 2024

Four times a year, Canadian residents can fish in Ontario for free! This means you do not need to buy a fishing license if you want to fish during these times:

  • Family Fishing Weekend (February 17–19, 2024)
  • Mother’s Day Weekend (May 11–12, 2024)
  • Father’s Day Weekend (June 15–16, 2024)
  • Family Fishing Week (June 29–July 7, 2024)

Follow fishing rules
Remember to follow proper fishing rules during these free fishing periods:

  • Follow conservation license catch limits
  • Obey size limits and sanctuaries
  • Follow the fishing regulations
  • Carry a permit or identification card issued by the provincial or federal government, showing your name and date of birth

For the Ontario Fishing Regulations Summary, go HERE.
Use Ontario’s Fish ON-Line website HERE.

TackleShare
Don’t have any fishing gear? Not to worry. TackleShare loans out rods and reels for FREE. New anglers can gear up at locations across the province including:

  • Ontario provincial parks
  • Conservation authorities
  • Libraries

Urban fishing
There are fishing sites in many urban areas across the province. Learn more about them HERE. 

New to fishing and not sure where to start? Check out Steven Bull’s article in Canadian Boating, Tackle Box Basics: A Non-Anglers Guide to Fishing.

For more information, visit Ontario Family Fishing.

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