Generally, yes. You need a valid fishing licence to fish in Québec waters unless a specific exception applies. Carry the licence and government-issued photo ID while fishing, and show them to a wildlife protection officer or assistant if asked. Atlantic salmon has separate licensing rules, and exemptions depend on the person, species, place and timing.
The rules below apply to the regulation period April 1, 2026, through March 31, 2027. Always check the rules for your exact destination and fishing date: Québec has 29 fishing zones, and seasons, quotas and exceptions can vary by waterbody. Québec’s general sport-fishing rules provide the current overview.
Do you need a fishing licence in Québec?
For most recreational fishing in Québec, yes. The default is a valid sport-fishing licence; only the listed exceptions remove that requirement. A visitor’s age or Québec residency alone does not create a general exemption.
Licences are personal and non-transferable. Some people may fish under another person’s licence if they meet the eligibility and supervision conditions described below, but that does not make the licence transferable. Québec’s licence guidance sets out the rules.
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Which licence do you need?
The right licence depends first on whether you are fishing for Atlantic salmon. Other salmon species can be fished under a general sport-fishing licence; Atlantic salmon requires a specific salmon licence. The province also offers annual and short-duration categories, as well as some mandatory-release licences with restrictions.
| Licence choice | Who or what it covers | Examples of listed fees |
|---|---|---|
| General sport-fishing, annual | Resident, under 65 | $26.73 |
| General sport-fishing, annual | Resident, age 65 or over | $21.21 |
| General sport-fishing, annual | Non-resident; priced as the under-65 annual category regardless of age | $95.68 |
| General sport-fishing, short duration | Non-resident: seven consecutive days | $57.67 |
| General sport-fishing, short duration | Non-resident: three consecutive days | $38.36 |
| General sport-fishing, short duration | Non-resident: one day | $22.36 |
| General sport-fishing, three-day or mandatory-release categories | Resident categories listed | $15.30 |
| Atlantic salmon, annual | Resident | $59.76 |
| Atlantic salmon, annual | Non-resident | $191.72 |
These fees are those shown on Québec’s official fee schedule retrieved in 2026; prices include taxes and a contribution to the Fondation de la Faune du Québec. They can change, so confirm the amount and category on the official licence-fee page before buying.
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Annual licences run from April 1 through March 31 of the following year. One-, three- and seven-day licences cover the dates entered at purchase. Some categories have limits beyond duration: for example, a mandatory-release licence is valid only at an outfitting establishment. Check the category conditions before relying on it.
Do you need a separate licence for Atlantic salmon?
Yes. Atlantic salmon fishing requires an Atlantic salmon sport-fishing licence. The salmon licence is also required to fish for any species during an open salmon-fishing season in a salmon river, except for the stated western portion of rivière aux Rochers in zone 19 south. When the salmon season is closed, a general licence is required for non-salmon fishing in certain salmon rivers; consult the zone-specific rules for the river and date.
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Québec lists annual, three-consecutive-day and mandatory-release Atlantic salmon licences, each with its own conditions and tagging rules. A general licence, or a mandatory-release category, should not be assumed to authorize every salmon fishery. Use the official licence guidance and the location-specific regulations.
Can you fish in Québec without a licence?
Yes, but only in defined cases. Québec’s exceptions are conditional; they are not blanket exemptions for all residents, children or visitors. Examples listed by the province include:
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- Fête de la pêche: Québec residents may fish without a licence during the event, while still obeying seasons and quotas. Fees may still apply in a ZEC, provincial park, wildlife reserve, communal wildlife area or outfitting operation with exclusive rights. Any salmon caught without a licence during the event must be released where caught.
- Youth fishing certificate: A Québec resident under 18 who holds a Pêche en herbe or Relève à la pêche certificate issued after an introductory fishing activity may fish without a licence. Any salmon caught must be released.
- Specified places and species: Québec residents may fish for species other than salmon in zone 21 and in the specified part of zone 1 downstream from route 132, except between Sainte-Flavie and Matapédia.
- Specified St. Lawrence fishing: Québec residents may fish for rainbow smelt and Atlantic tomcod in the St. Lawrence River and its tributaries downstream from the Laviolette bridge at Trois-Rivières.
- Freshwater crustaceans: Québec residents do not need a licence to fish for freshwater crustaceans.
- Fish ponds and certain Parks Canada waters: No licence is required to fish in a fish pond or the waters of Parc national de Forillon, Réserve de parc national de l’Archipel-de-Mingan or Parc national de la Mauricie. Québec says this exception also applies to non-residents.
This is not necessarily the complete list or every condition. Before fishing under an exception, check the full, current wording on the provincial licence page.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Do kids need a fishing licence in Québec?
There is no blanket rule that children fish free. A Québec resident under 18 with a qualifying Pêche en herbe or Relève à la pêche certificate can fish without a licence under the conditions above. Other minors may be eligible to fish under an adult’s licence, but eligibility depends on the licence, relationship and supervision rules. Atlantic salmon has different sharing conditions, and salmon caught under the youth-certificate exception must be released.
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When can another person fish under your licence?
For general sport fishing, Québec allows certain people to fish under an adult licence holder’s licence, including a common-law partner, children under 18 and certain students aged 18–24; other minors or students may qualify when fishing under supervision. Atlantic salmon sharing rules differ, so verify them for that licence type.
Across people fishing under one licence, the total fish kept per day cannot exceed the amount authorized for the licence holder. The licence remains the holder’s: an outlet can sell a licence for another person only if that person signs it upon receipt and the information is accurate. The online account does not allow you to buy a licence for someone else.
Can you use an Ontario or New Brunswick fishing licence in Québec?
Only in specific circumstances, not as province-wide reciprocity. Québec recognizes an Ontario sport-fishing licence for certain waters, including zone 25, named lakes in zone 13 and a defined portion of Lac Saint-François in zone 8. New Brunswick licence holders receive recognition for line fishing in the Patapédia and Ristigouche salmon rivers subject to Québec’s conditions. Check the provincial licence page for the exact waters and requirements before fishing.
How do you buy and carry a Québec fishing licence?
- Choose the correct category for your residency, species, duration and any retention or outfitter restriction. Start with the official licence page.
- Buy through My Hunting and Fishing Account or at a licence sales outlet. Outlet purchases use the specified identification or client-card process.
- For an online purchase, download the licence to your phone or print it. Carry it while fishing, along with government-issued photo ID.
- Before leaving, check the rules for your exact waterbody and date, including any special-territory rules.
What other fishing rules apply?
A licence does not by itself authorize fishing on every date, keeping any fish, or using any gear. Québec’s regulations can set different open seasons, quotas, length limits and gear rules by zone, waterbody, species and date. Outfitters, ZECs, national parks and wildlife reserves may have additional or different rules.
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