Spring-Summer Recreational Groundfish Fishery - 2021

Saguenay Fjord, Estuary and Gulf of St. Lawrence

NOTE: This is an archived page

June 9, 2021

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 10 to June 30, 2021, and from August 7 to September 26, 2021
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 July 1st to August 6, 2021
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 10 to June 30, 2021, and from August 7 to September 26, 2021
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, 2021

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 September 18, 2021
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 1st, 2021
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 July 3 to 5, 2021,
From July 10 to 12, 2021, 
From July 17 to 19, 2021, 
From July 24 to 26, 2021, 
From July 31 to August 2, 2021,
From August 7 to 9, 2021,
From August 14 to 16, 2021,
From August 21 to 23, 2021,
From August 28 to 30, 2021,
From September 4 to 6, 2021, and
From September 25 to October 3, 2021.
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 10 to June 23, 2021, from July 9 to 16, 2021, and from August 8 to September 26, 2021
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, 2021 to July 8, 2021, and from July 17 to August 7, 2021
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 10 to July 23, 2021, and from August 30 to September 26, 2021
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 24 to August 29, 2021
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 10 to September 26, 2021
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: 2021-011, 2021-Q-039.

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.

RQ0046 Broadcast - June 9, 2021, 2:45 p.m.