Ontario FMZ 12 — Sport Fishing Regulations
Ontario Fisheries Management Zone 12 (FMZ 12) sport-fishing rules for licence year 2026: seasons, S-n and C-n limits, exceptions and sanctuaries — reproduced from the Ontario Fishing Regulations Summary HTML, with citations. The Summary is not the law.
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Official source (Ontario Fishing Regulations Summary): https://www.ontario.ca/document/ontario-fishing-regulations-summary/fisheries-management-zone-12
Data retrieved: 2026-09-01 · HTML last updated 2026-08-04 · Licence year 2026 (calendar). 15 of 15 zone-wide species included. The Ontario HTML for this FMZ lists no waterbody exceptions. This is not complete Ontario.
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Reproduction of the Ontario Fishing Regulations Summary. The Summary is not the law. Always verify with the Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR) and Fish ON-Line before you fish. Crown copyright.
General information
- The Zone 12 boundary extends across the mouths of tributaries, except the Madawaska and Mississippi Rivers where the boundary extends upstream to the first dam.
- Algonquin Park:
- Dip nets and baitfish traps may not be used to harvest baitfish.
- Refer to general fishing regulations for more information on how to use this summary.
- Refer to the boundary waters section for information on licences and limits in boundary waters and remember that regulations differ between Ontario and Quebec. Anglers are responsible to ensure they are obeying the regulations of the waters where they are fishing.
- American eel is a specially protected species and may not be caught or possessed under a recreational fishing licence.
- The following species are not present in this Zone and are closed to fishing all year:
- FMZ 12 is the Ottawa River. Baitfish and leeches that are both dead and preserved can be transported into and out of BMZs and the Ottawa River.
- Baitfish and leeches that are not both dead and preserved may be transported out of:
- the Great Lakes only to be disposed of immediately more than 30 metres from the water
Zone-wide rules
| Species | Catch limit | Length limit | Gear | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aggregate limits for trout and salmon (including splake) | S-5 and C-2; total daily catch and possession limit for all trout and salmon species combined |
Friday before fourth Saturday in April to September 30
| Species | Catch limit | Length limit | Gear | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Atlantic salmon | S-1 and C-0 | |||
| Brook trout | S-5 and C-2 | |||
| Brown trout and rainbow trout | S-5 and C-2 | |||
| Lake trout and splake | S-2 and C-1; must be greater than 45 centimetres | must be greater than 45 centimetres |
open all year
| Species | Catch limit | Length limit | Gear | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Channel catfish | S-12 and C-6 | |||
| Crappie | S-30 and C-10 | |||
| Lake whitefish | S-12 and C-6 | |||
| Sunfish | no limit | |||
| Yellow perch | S-50 and C-25 |
closed all year
| Species | Catch limit | Length limit | Gear | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lake sturgeon |
Friday before fourth Saturday in June to November 30
| Species | Catch limit | Length limit | Gear | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Largemouth and smallmouth bass combined | S-6 and C-2 |
Friday before third Saturday in June to December 15
| Species | Catch limit | Length limit | Gear | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Muskellunge | S-1; must be greater than 137 centimetres, and C-0 | must be greater than 137 centimetres |
January 1 to March 31 and Friday before third Saturday in May to December 31
| Species | Catch limit | Length limit | Gear | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Northern pike | S-6 and C-2 | |||
| Walleye and sauger combined | S-5 and C-2; must be less than 40 centimetres from March 1 to June 15 | must be less than 40 centimetres from March 1 to June 15 |
Species exceptions
American shad
open all year · S-5 and C-2 Ottawa River - below Carillon Dam to Pointe Fortune
- Ottawa River - below Carillon Dam to Pointe Fortune
Bait restrictions
- FMZ 12 is the Ottawa River. Baitfish and leeches that are both dead and preserved can be transported into and out of BMZs and the Ottawa River.
- Baitfish and leeches that are not both dead and preserved may be transported out of:
Fish sanctuaries
No fishing - March 1 to Thursday before third Saturday in May
- Lac des Chats (Ottawa River), - Madawaska River and Mississippi River - including waters of the Madawaska River downstream from the Arnprior Generating Station, Ottawa River from Dochart Creek to the lighthouse (45°27′03″ N , 76°21′02″ W ) and then east following the inter-provincial boundary to the south end of the CNR bridge at Lavergne Point (West Carleton Township), and the Mississippi River downstream from the Generating Station at the town of Galetta
No fishing - March 15 to June 15
- Lake Timiskaming (Ottawa River) - Harris Township, Sutton Bay
No fishing - April 1 to June 15
- Lac la Cave (Ottawa River) - from the Lake Timiskaming dam downstream to a line drawn due east from the southernmost point of land at the mouth of Fournier Creek in Poitras Township
No fishing - April 1 to Thursday before second Friday in May
- Ottawa River - between the Quebec Carillon Power House and Pointe Fortune
No fishing - April 1 to Friday before third Saturday in May
- Muskrat River - Renfrew County, from Highway 17 downstream through the City of Pembroke to its confluence with the Ottawa River