In short. Salmon rivers have their own licences and rules, so check them before you plan around one. Jacques-Cartier National Park and the wildlife reserves have their own rules too.
Rules change. Seasons, closures and limits change often and can change mid-season. We link to the official pages rather than repeat them, so check them before every trip.
Licences and rules
- Fresh water: managed by the Province. Start at Sport fishing, Gouvernement du Québec, then check the rules for each fishing zone for your zone.
- Licences: see Getting a fishing licence for the licence categories and where to buy one.
- Atlantic salmon: salmon fishing has its own rules and licence, so check them before you plan around a river.
- Moving boats and gear: clean, drain and dry your boat and gear between waters, and check the province's rules on moving bait and fish.
Choose your fishing area
- Charlevoix salmon rivers: Baie-Saint-Paul and La Malbaie
- Saint-Siméon, Les Éboulements and L'Isle-aux-Coudres
- Quebec City and the St. Lawrence
- Valcartier, Stoneham and Portneuf
- Lac-Etchemin, Thetford Mines and the Appalaches
Fish named for this region: Salmon, Trout, Muskie, Walleye, Yellow perch. Read the species guide.
Charlevoix salmon rivers: Baie-Saint-Paul and La Malbaie
- Charlevoix
- Salmon (named for the Gouffre and Malbaie rivers)
Saumon Québec names the Gouffre River and the Malbaie River as the salmon rivers of Charlevoix. Baie-Saint-Paul and Saint-Urbain are in the Gouffre valley, and La Malbaie, Clermont and Saint-Aimé-des-Lacs are near the Malbaie.
We list 12 campgrounds and camp sites in this area. Browse the regional campground directory.
Saint-Siméon, Les Éboulements and L'Isle-aux-Coudres
- Charlevoix shore
- Waters not yet matched to fish
The St. Lawrence shore of Charlevoix and L'Isle-aux-Coudres. We list the campgrounds, but have not found a source we trust for the fish here.
We list 11 campgrounds and camp sites in this area. Browse the regional campground directory.
Quebec City and the St. Lawrence
- St. Lawrence River
- Speckled and rainbow trout, muskie, walleye and perch (named for the Quebec City area)
Quebec City Region Tourism says you do not need a special permit to fish the St. Lawrence River there, and names the Old Port wharfs. It lists speckled trout, rainbow trout, muskellunge and walleye, with yellow perch for ice fishing, for the area without matching each to a water.
We list 17 campgrounds and camp sites in this area. Browse the regional campground directory.
Valcartier, Stoneham and Portneuf
- North of Quebec City
- Speckled and rainbow trout (stocked lakes in the reserves and Jacques-Cartier National Park)
Quebec City Region Tourism names stocked lakes in the Laurentides and Portneuf wildlife reserves and Jacques-Cartier National Park, the Sainte-Anne River, and outfitters at Lac Moreau and Lac-Beauport.
We list 15 campgrounds and camp sites in this area. Browse the regional campground directory.
Lac-Etchemin, Thetford Mines and the Appalaches
- Appalaches
- Waters not yet matched to fish
The lakes of the Beauce and the Appalaches. We list the campgrounds, but have not found a source we trust for the fish here.
We list 8 campgrounds and camp sites in this area. Browse the regional campground directory.
Gear for this water
- Shore fishing essentials. A compact rod and reel suited to your target fish. Search on Amazon
- River & fly-fishing kit. A rod/reel combination suited to the planned method. Search on Amazon
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