Bait Regs
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Blair
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Bait –There are some areas of the province where the use of any form of bait is notallowed. Bait includes live or dead animals, plants or parts. See Bait (page10), or exceptions to the Zone regulations for the Zone where you are fishing.
Baitfish–Some species of fish may be used as bait in some areas (see Bait, page 10).
Exceptions – In specified waters,there are exceptions to the general regulations established for each Zone.These include fish sanctuaries; bait and gear restrictions; and differentseasons, limits and size limits for some species. Anglers must checkthe exceptions for the waters where they will be fishing.
NOTE: Some waters are grouped with other waters that have the sameregulatory exceptions and these will generally be listed under the proper namefor the largest or most significant water body. If there is nothingstated in the exceptions, then the regulations for the Zone apply.
GENERAL PROHIBITIONS – IT IS ILLEGAL TO:
• Transport live fish, other than baitfish, takenfrom Ontario waters or to transfer or stock any fish into Ontario’s waterswithout a special licence to transport or stock fish.
• Transfer live fish or live spawn from one body ofwater to another without the authorization of the Ministry of NaturalResources.
• Possess any of the following live invasivespecies: rudd, ruffe, bighead carp, black carp, grass carp, silver carp, roundgoby, tubenose goby or any member of the snakehead family.
• Use live fish other than those listed as baitfish(page 10) for bait.
• Fish for or possess the following speciallyprotected fish species: American eel, cutlip minnow and redside dace.
• Sell or buy any recreationally-caught fish (including taxidermy mounts),crayfish, leeches, frogs, fish eggs or spawn. Only holders of commercialfishing or commercial bait licences may sell their catch.
BAIT
Onlyindividuals with a valid bait licence can sell baitfish and leeches. Anglerswith a valid recreational fishing licence may capture their own bait forpersonal use as follows:
Itis illegal to bring any crayfish, salamanders, live fish or leeches intoOntario for use as bait.
NO RELEASE OF BAITIt is illegal to release any live bait or dump the contents of abait bucket, including the water, into any waters or within 30 m of any waters(see page 13).
IMPORT OF BAIT
It is illegal to bring any crayfish, salamanders, live fish orleeches into Ontario for use as bait.
BAIT
LIMIT
NOTES
Baitfish 120
Includes those caught and/or purchased. See list of permitted baitfish species.
Only resident anglers may capture baitfish, using the methods outlined below. One baitfish trap no more than 51 cm (20 in.) long and 31 cm (12.2 in.) wide can be used day or night. Baitfish traps must be clearly marked with the licence holder’s name and address.
One dip-net no more than 183 cm (6 ft.) on each side if square, or 183 cm (6 ft.) across if circular, during daylight hours only (after sunrise and before sunset).
Dip-nets and baitfish traps may not be used in Algonquin Park.
Leeches
120
Includes those caught and/or purchased.
Only one leech trap no more than 45 cm (17.7 in.) in any dimension can be used day or night to capture leeches. Leech traps must be clearly marked with the licence holder’s name.Crayfish
36
Must be used in same water body where caught. May not be transported overland. May be captured using the methods outlined for baitfish above.Frogs
12
Only northern leopard frogs <br style="page-break-before: always; mso-break-type: section-break;" clear="all">BAITFISH
Please note that anumber of changes have been made to bait regulations to protect rare andendangered species, conserve biodiversity and prevent the spread of invasivespecies. Anglers may not use live yellow perch and alewife as bait anywhere inOntario.
Anglers are responsible to ensure that anybaitfish in their posession are permitted baitfish. Only the fish specieslisted below may be used as live bait:
Minnows
Blacknose shiner
Blackchin shiner
Bluntnose minnow
Brassy minnow
Central stoneroller
Common shiner
Creek chub
Eastern blacknose dace
Emerald shiner
Fallfish
Fathead minnow
Finescale dace
Golden shiner
Hornyhead chub
Lake chub
Longnose dace
Mimic shiner
Northern redbelly dace
Pearl dace
Redfin shiner
River chub
Rosyface shiner
Sand shiner
Spotfin shiner
Spottail shiner
Striped shiner
Suckers
Longnose sucker
Northern hog sucker
Shorthead redhorse
Silver redhorse
White sucker
Others
Central mudminnow
Lake herring (cisco)
Trout-Perch
Sticklebacks
Brook stickleback
Ninespine stickleback
Threespine stickleback
Sculpins
Mottled sculpin
Slimy sculpin
Darters and Logperch
Blackside darter
Fantail darter
Iowa darter
Johnny darter
Least darter
Rainbow darter
River darter
Tessellateddarter
Logperch
NOTE: The capture and use ofbait is not allowed in some waters (see other Zone regulations or exceptionsfor the Zone you are fishing in).
SALAMANDERS CANNOT BE CAPTURED, IMPORTED, OR USED AS BAIT INONTARIO.
<br style="page-break-before: always; mso-break-type: section-break;" clear="all">LAWS TO HELP STOP THE SPREAD OF INVADING SPECIES
Harmfulintroduced species are often spread unknowingly. As an angler or boater, youshould always take precautions to help stop the spread of invading species. Thefollowing laws are in place to prevent unauthorized introductions.
POSSESSINGLIVE FISH
It is illegal to possess liveinvasive fish, including round goby, tubenose goby, grass carp, bighead carp,black carp, silver carp, rudd, ruffe and any species of snakehead. If any ofthese species are caught, they should be destroyed and not released back intoany waters.MOVINGLIVE FISH
Many new populations of fish have beenestablished through unauthorized stocking. This practice is illegal and cancause great harm to existing fisheries and aquatic ecosystems. Alicence is required for all fish (including livespawn) transfers and stocking intoOntario waters, and a licence is required to ship or transport live fish, otherthan baitfish, taken from Ontario waters. Also, take carewhen cleaning smelt. Do not rinse equipment or dump entrails into a lake orriver. Fertilized smelt eggs can easily invade new waters.AQUARIUMFISH
Never release or flush pets, plants or waterfrom aquaria, backyard ponds or water gardens. It is illegal and can harm theenvironment. If you have an unwanted aquarium pet, you can return it to a localpet store, donate it to a school or contact the Fish Rescue Program at 1-800-563-7711.CRAYFISH
Crayfish can only be used for bait in thewaterbody in which they were caught and they cannot be transported overland.ROUND GOBY
The round goby is frequently caught by anglers. It is just one ofthe many serious threats to North American waters. Since its discovery in theSt. Clair River in 1990, this bottom-dwelling fish has rapidly spread to manyareas of the Great Lakes and inland waters. The round goby can displace nativefish from optimal habitat, eat their eggs and young, and spawn multiple times aseason. Anglers should know how to identify the round goby - these aggressivefish are easily caught by hook and line.WHAT YOU CAN DO...
• Report new sightings. If you catch a roundgoby it should be destroyed and not released back into any waters.
• Always dispose of your unwanted bait andthe contents of your bait bucket or bait bucket water on land or in the trash.It is illegal to dump the contents of a bait bucket into any waters or within30 metres of any waters.
• Never use gobies as bait. It is against thelaw to use gobies as bait or have live gobies in your possession.
B
Blair
Guest
Great observation!
It is AMAZING how the MNR could miss easily showing that (Considering the popularity of the bait).
Course, never expected them to be perfect.
*SMILES*
However, it is not necessarily a "GREY ZONE".
It is interpreted as:
Bait –There are some areas of the province where the use of any form of bait is notallowed. Bait includes live or dead animals, plants or parts. See Bait (page10), or exceptions to the Zone regulations for the Zone where you are fishing.
Therefore ..... worms and insects fall into the category.