Basic Information on Ontario Fishing Licences

A licence to fish in Ontario consists of an Outdoors Card plus a fishing licence tag (either printed on the back of the card or accompanying the card). Most Canadian residents need a Fishing Version Outdoors Card and licence to fish in Ontario if they are between the ages of 18 and 64 years old. Those under 18 or 65 years or older are exempt.

Outdoors Card options: There are two options for purchasing an Outdoors Card: one year or three years. You must have and Outdoors Card and Fishing Licence to fish in Ontario, unless you have purchased a one-day licence.

Licence options: There are two versions of the fishing licence – Sport & Conservation. The Sport licence allows full catch and possession fishing privileges. In most cases, the Conservation licence has a catch and possession limit that is lower than the Sport licence. Conservation licences cost less than Sport licences to reflect these reduced limits.

You can also get more information on the Outdoors Card by calling the Outdoors Card Centre at 1-800-387-7011.  This toll-free number works from all regions of Canada, from Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. (Eastern Time) or you can Purchase a Fishing Licence Online. 

For more information, refer to the current Recreational Fishing Regulations Summary, which is available online and at licence issuers across Ontario.

Note:
If you do not live in Canada, you will need a non-resident licence to fish in Ontario.