Spring-Summer Recreational Groundfish Fishery - 2018

Saguenay Fjord, Estuary and Gulf of St. Lawrence

July 3, 2018

NOTE: This is an archived page

    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 14 to July 6, 2018 and 
    from August 13 to September 30, 2018 

    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 7 to August 12, 2018
    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 14 to July 6, 2018 and
    from August 6 to September 14, 2018 and 
    from September 24 to September 30, 2018

    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 7 to August 5, 2018 and
    from September 15 to September 23, 2018
    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.
    The waters within 50 meters of the coastline between Pointe-des-Monts and Natashquan

    From April 14 to June 29, 2018 and 
    from July 3 to July 6, 2018 and

    from July 10 to July 13, 2018 and
    from July 17 to July 20, 2018 and
    from July 24 to July 27, 2018 and
    from July 31 to August 3, 2018 and
    from August 7 to August 10, 2018 and
    from August 14 to August 17, 2018 and
    from August 21 to August 24, 2018 and
    from August 28 to August 31, 2018 and
    from September 4 to September 21, 2018
    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 30 to July 2, 2018 and
    from July 7 to July 9, 2018 and
    from July 14 to July 16, 2018 and
    from July 21 to July 23, 2018 and
    from July 28 to July 30, 2018 and
    from August 4 to August 6, 2018 and
    from August 11 to August 13, 2018 and
    from August 18 to August 20, 2018 and
    from August 25 to August 27, 2018 and
    from September 1 to September 3, 2018 and
    from September 22 to September 30, 2018
    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.

    The waters between Natashquan and Blanc-Sablon

    From June 30 to July 2, 2018 and
    from July 7 to July 9, 2018 and
    from July 14 to July 16, 2018 and
    from July 21 to July 23, 2018 and
    from July 28 to July 30, 2018 and
    from August 4 to August 6, 2018 and
    from August 11 to August 13, 2018 and
    from August 18 to August 20, 2018 and
    from August 25 to August 27, 2018 and
    from September 1 to September 3, 2018 and
    from September 22 to September 30 2018
    From sunrise to sunset
    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

    Gaspe Peninsula and Lower St. Lawrence
    The waters within 50 meters of the coastline of Gaspe Peninsula and Lower St. Lawrence From April 14 to July 6, 2018 and
    from August 13 to September 30, 2018  

    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 July 7 to August 12, 2018
    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.

    Magdalen Islands
    The waters within 50 meters of the coastline around the Magdalen Islands From April 14 to July 20, 2018 and 
    from August 27 to September 30, 2018 

    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 21 to August 26, 2018
    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 14 to September 30, 2018 
    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

    Brochet

    Northern wolffish

    Bar rayé

    Atlantic wolffish

    Bar rayé

    Spotted wolffish

    Brochet

    Skate

    Bar rayé

     

    For more information you can consult the following variation orders:2018-Q-078 and 2018-035

    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.

    People guilty of offences may be fined up to $100,000 under the Fisheries Act. Anglers must abide by the regulations in force.

    Fisheries and Oceans Canada encourages the public to inform Fishery Officers of illegal or suspicious activities related to marine fisheries or the protection of fish habitat. You can report poaching by using the online form, which can be completed from any mobile device or computer and to which photos can be attached, or by calling 1-800-463-9057. Your call is confidential.

    Poaching Alert

    Contact Us

    For more information, contact a Fisheries Officer at your local DFO office.

    RQ0031 Broadcast: August 8, 2018, 3:30 pm