Summary
- To fish in Quebec you need a valid sport-fishing licence.
- Resident annual: $26.73; non-resident annual: $95.68 (all taxes in). Shorter 1-, 3-, and 7-day options exist for non-residents.
- Buy online at Mon dossier chasse et pêche or at authorized retailers across the province — the digital licence on your phone is valid.
- Children under 18 can fish under a licence-holder's permit (supervised, or holding the permit).
- Annual licences run April 1 through March 31.
Why you need a licence before you cast
Quebec law requires anyone fishing in the province's waters to carry a valid sport-fishing licence — and your photo ID — whenever you're fishing. A wildlife protection officer can ask to see both on the spot. Not having them is an offence with real fines.
The licence system funds fish population management across Quebec's 29 zones. Every dollar of licence revenue (and a small built-in contribution to the "Fondation pour la biodiversité et la faune du Québec," which is already included in the price) goes back into the resource you're fishing.
What category of licence do you need?
The first question is residency. Quebec defines categories by where you live, not by citizenship or immigration status. If you live in Quebec, you qualify for resident pricing. If you live anywhere else, you pay non-resident rates.
Resident licences
| Category | Price (all taxes in) |
|---|---|
| Annual (under 65) | $26.73 |
| Annual (65 and over) | $21.21 |
| 3 consecutive days | $15.30 |
| Catch-and-release only (pourvoirie only)* | $15.30 |
*The catch-and-release resident licence is valid exclusively at pourvoiries. It is not a general-use licence for free public water.
There is no resident 1-day or 7-day option. If you only want to fish one day and you're a resident, the 3-day licence is your shortest option.
Non-resident licences
| Category | Price (all taxes in) |
|---|---|
| Annual | $95.68 |
| 7 consecutive days | $57.67 |
| 3 consecutive days | $38.36 |
| 1 day | $22.36 |
| Catch-and-release only (pourvoirie only) | $37.52 |
Non-residents have access to all durations including the single day. Note that a non-resident wanting an annual licence pays the under-65 rate regardless of age — there is no senior discount for non-residents.
Annual licence dates
Annual licences (both resident and non-resident) are valid from April 1 through March 31 of the following year. If you buy in November, it still expires the following March 31, not a year from purchase.
Atlantic salmon: a separate licence
Atlantic salmon (saumon atlantique) is not covered by the standard sport-fishing licence. It requires an additional salmon licence with tags, at separate pricing. If your first trip is not targeting salmon — and most beginners' trips aren't — you don't need to worry about this for now.
Who is exempt from needing a licence?
A few specific situations allow fishing without a licence.
Children under 18
Children under 18 don't need their own licence as long as they're fishing under the supervision of a licence-holder, or holding the licence-holder's permit — what they keep counts toward that holder's daily limit, not a separate one. If a child has earned a "Pêche en herbe" or "Relève à la pêche" certificate from an introductory fishing activity, they can fish free with that certificate — though any Atlantic salmon must be released.
The Fête de la pêche weekend
During the annual Fête de la pêche (Fishing Festival) — an early-June weekend (June 5–7 in 2026) — Quebec residents can fish without a licence. Catch rules (quotas, seasons) still apply in full. Check the Fishing Festival page for future dates.
Indigenous harvesting rights
First Nations and Inuit fishing under their Aboriginal or treaty rights follow a separate regime, not the licence covered here — see Fisheries and Oceans Canada.
A few other narrow exemptions (residents only)
- Smelt (éperlan) and Atlantic tomcod (poulamon) in the St. Lawrence below the Laviolette bridge (Trois-Rivières)
- Freshwater crustaceans
- Private fish ponds
- The three Parcs Canada national parks in Quebec (which apply their own federal rules)
Non-residents have no equivalent licence-free option on free public water.
How to buy your licence
Online — Mon dossier chasse et pêche
The fastest option is Mon dossier chasse et pêche. It is the official Quebec government platform for all fishing, hunting, and trapping permits. The site is available only from within North America.
Create a free account with an email address and password. If you already have a hunter's or trapper's certificate, you can link it to consolidate everything in one place. Once you've bought your licence, download it to your phone or print it. A licence purchased on "Mon dossier chasse et pêche" is legally considered electronically signed and valid on your phone screen. You don't need to print it unless you're purchasing Atlantic salmon transport tags, which must be printed.
If you lose or damage a licence purchased through the platform, you can re-download it at no extra charge.
In person — retail outlets
Licences are also sold at authorized retail agents across the province — sporting goods stores, hardware chains, convenience stores, and some big-box retailers that carry outdoor equipment. Pourvoiries, ZECs, and réserves fauniques often sell licences directly on site as well, though they don't appear on the government's main retail locator. Contact the territory directly to confirm.
To find the nearest authorized retail point, use the sales-outlet locator at quebec.ca.
When buying in person, bring a hunter's or trapper's certificate if you have one — it speeds things up and allows the system to link your records. If you don't have one, you fill out an identification form and receive a client card. Keep that card: it saves you from re-filling the form every time and lets you get a replacement licence at the reduced replacement rate ($7.15) if yours is lost or damaged.
Can someone else fish on my licence?
The licence itself is not transferable — you cannot give it to another adult to use independently. However, several people can fish under your licence while you hold it.
While you have your licence with you (or your spouse/common-law partner does), the following people can use it: your spouse or common-law partner (must be in your presence or holding your permit); your children under 18 or your partner's children under 18 (in your presence or holding your permit); any person under 18 (fishing under your direct supervision); and full-time students aged 18–24 who hold a valid student card (while holding your licence and their student card).
The total daily catch across all people fishing under your licence cannot exceed your single-permit limit. If you catch 5 walleye and the limit is 5, no one else on the same permit can keep any that day.
You cannot buy a licence for another adult through "Mon dossier chasse et pêche" — each person must create their own account and purchase their own licence. In-person retail purchase for another adult is possible; the recipient must sign the back of the licence to activate it.
What changed for the 2026–2027 season?
The 2026 fishing regulations (in effect from April 1, 2026 through March 31, 2027) introduced several significant changes. These are regulatory changes, not licence price changes — the licence prices remained the same.
The most widespread change: the daily bag limit for lake trout (touladi) on free public water was reduced to 1 per day across nearly all zones. This is a conservation measure.
The copper redhorse (chevalier cuivré), a species at risk, is now prohibited to fish province-wide.
On certain St. Lawrence waters — particularly in Zones 7, 8, and 21 — there are new size and bag restrictions on northern pike (brochet) and walleye (doré). On those waters, pike between 56 and 70 cm must be released (a protected-size slot), the bag is 1 per day, and pike must be transported whole or gutted. Walleye season on those waters now closes from November 1 to December 19 and again from March 16 to 31.
Most zones also moved to fixed open and close dates for several species, replacing the previous variable-date system. This makes planning easier but means you should re-check your zone's dates even if you fished the same water last year.
For the full list of changes by zone, see what's new in the fishing regulations at quebec.ca.
FAQ
How much does a Quebec fishing licence cost in 2026?
For residents of Quebec: $26.73 for an annual licence (under 65) or $21.21 for ages 65 and over. A 3-day resident licence is $15.30. For non-residents: $95.68 annual, $57.67 for 7 days, $38.36 for 3 days, $22.36 for 1 day. All prices include taxes and a biodiversity fund contribution.
Is a digital fishing licence valid in Quebec?
Yes. A licence purchased on "Mon dossier chasse et pêche" and shown on your phone screen is legally valid. The only exception is Atlantic salmon transport coupons, which must be printed on paper.
Can I buy a Quebec fishing licence at Canadian Tire or a similar store?
Yes — major outdoor and sporting goods retailers are typically among the authorized retail agents. Use the government's official sales-outlet locator to find specific stores near you, since the list changes and not every location sells licences.
Do I need a separate licence to fish at a pourvoirie?
You still need a valid provincial sport-fishing licence — the pourvoirie does not replace it. Many pourvoiries sell licences on site, so you can pick one up when you arrive if you don't have one. Confirm with the specific outfitter in advance.
What happens if I lose my fishing licence?
If you bought through "Mon dossier chasse et pêche," you can re-download it for free. If you bought in person and have your client card number, you can get a replacement at any authorized outlet for $7.15. Without the client card number or proof of purchase, the full licence price applies.
Does my Quebec fishing licence cover Atlantic salmon?
No. Atlantic salmon (saumon atlantique) requires a separate salmon licence with tags, purchased on top of your standard sport-fishing licence. For most beginner trips — lake fishing for trout, walleye, or pike — you don't need the salmon add-on.
Ready to plan your first trip? Booking a guided day at a pourvoirie means someone else handles the zone rules, the gear, and finding the fish — so you can focus on the actual fishing.
