Spring-Summer Recreational Groundfish Fishery 2025
Saguenay Fjord, Estuary and Gulf of St. Lawrence
June 23, 2025
Several groundfish stocks in the Gulf of St. Lawrence, including northern Gulf cod, southern Gulf cod and white hake, are in the critical zone of the precautionary approach framework. Fisheries and Oceans Canada is currently developing rebuilding plans for these stocks in consultation with Indigenous partners and other fishing industry stakeholders. As a result, changes may be made to recreational fisheries management measures over the next few years to promote recovery of depleted groundfish stocks.
Regulations
The recreational groundfish fishery is practiced without a licence. However, you must comply with the regulatory measures, such as:
- The fishing areas, the closed times, the quantities and the species authorized to retain, as specified in the table and variation orders below.
- It is the responsibility of each person to insure that all fish harvested can be retained. Every fish caught accidently and that cannot legally be retained must be released where it was caught, and where it is alive, in a manner that causes it the least harm.
- No person shall engage in recreational fishing for groundfish by any means other than by hand-line or by angling.
- No person shall possess fish that were caught by any person while fishing for recreational purposes and that have been skinned, cut, packed or otherwise dealt with in such a manner that the species and number of fish cannot be readily determined.
- No person shall buy, sell, trade, barter or offer to buy, sell, trade or barter any fish that was caught while fishing for recreational purposes.
- No person who is fishing for recreational purposes shall waste any fish that is suitable for human consumption.
| Fishing Areas | Opening of the Fishery and Restrictions |
|---|---|
| Charlevoix | |
| The waters within 50 meters of the coastline between Baie-Saint-Paul and Tadoussac | From April 15 to June 30, 2025 and from August 7 to October 1st, 2025 Each person engaged in recreational fishing can, in any day, catch and retain 15 groundfish of all species in the aggregate, except (0) zero cod, haddock, pollock, white hake and the forbidden species. |
| The waters between Baie-Saint-Paul and Tadoussac | From July 1st to August 6, 2025 From sunrise to sunset Each person engaged in recreational fishing can, in any day, catch and retain 15 groundfish of all species in the aggregate, including no more than a combination of 5 cod and/or white hake, except (0) zero forbidden species. |
| North Shore | |
| The waters within 50 meters of the coastline between Tadoussac and Pointe-des-Monts | From April 15 to June 30, 2025 and from August 7 to October 1st, 2025 Each person engaged in recreational fishing can, in any day, catch and retain 15 groundfish of all species in the aggregate, except (0) zero cod, haddock, pollock, white hake and the forbidden species. |
| The waters between Tadoussac and Pointe-des-Monts |
From July 1st to August 6, 2025 Each person engaged in recreational fishing can, in any day, catch and retain 15 groundfish of all species in the aggregate, including no more than a combination of 5 cod and/or white hake, except (0) zero forbidden species. |
| The waters within 50 meters of the coastline between Pointe-des-Monts and Natashquan | From April 15 to June 23, 2025 and from August 2 to October 1, 2025. Each person engaged in recreational fishing can, in any day, catch and retain 15 groundfish of all species in the aggregate, except (0) zero cod, haddock, pollock, white hake and the forbidden species.
|
| The waters between Pointe-des-Monts and Natashquan |
From June 24 to August 1, 2025 |
| The waters between Natashquan and Blanc-Sablon |
From June 28 to 30, from July 5 to 7, from July 12 to 14, from July 19 to 21, from July 26 to 28, from August 2 to 4, from August 9 to 11, from August 16 to 18, from August 23 to 25, from August 30 to September 1 and from September 20 to 28, 2025 |
| Gaspe Peninsula and Lower St. Lawrence | |
| The waters within 50 meters of the coastline of Gaspe Peninsula and Lower St. Lawrence | From April 15 to June 23, 2025, from July 9 to July 16, 2025, and from August 8 to October 1st, 2025 Each person engaged in recreational fishing can, in any day, catch and retain 15 groundfish of all species in the aggregate, except (0) zero cod, haddock, pollock, white hake and the forbidden species. |
| The waters around Gaspe Peninsula and Lower St. Lawrence |
From June 24 to July 8, 2025 and from July 17 to August 7, 2025 |
| Magdalen Islands | |
| The waters within 50 meters of the coastline around the Magdalen Islands | From April 15 to July 14, 2025 and from August 21 to October 1st, 2025 Each person engaged in recreational fishing can, in any day, catch and retain 15 groundfish of all species in the aggregate, except (0) zero cod, haddock, pollock, white hake and the forbidden species. |
| The waters around the Magdalen Islands | From July 15 to August 20, 2025 From sunrise to sunset Each person engaged in recreational fishing can, in any day, catch and retain 15 groundfish of all species in the aggregate, including no more than a combination of 5 cod and/or white hake, except (0) zero forbidden species. |
| Saguenay | |
| The portion from the mouth of the Saguenay Fjord lying upstream of a line joining Pointe Noire, Baie-Sainte-Catherine, (48º07’24’’N, 69º43’00’’W) to Pointe Rouge, Tadoussac, (48º08’06’’N, 69º42’06’’W) | From April 15 to October 1st, 2025 Each person engaged in recreational fishing can, in any day, catch and retain 5 groundfish of all species in the aggregate, except (0) zero forbidden species. |
The recreational fishery of the following species is forbidden at all time and in every area:
Halibut
Northern wolffish
Spotted wolffish
Atlantic wolffish
Skate
For more information you can consult the following variation orders: 2025-011, 2025-Q-027
Offences and Poaching
Fisheries and Oceans Canada whose mandate is to protect and conserve marine resources, strictly enforces the Fisheries Act and is ever vigilant in its efforts to prevent poaching of marine resources.
The Fisheries Act provides for fines of up to $100,000 for violations and the seizure of equipment used in the commission of the offence. Fish harvesters must comply with the regulations in force.
Contact Us
For more information, contact a Fisheries Officer at your local DFO office.
| RQ0063 Broadcast - July 21, 2025, 10:19 a.m. |
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