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Canadian Fishing Species

Eleven fish, the regions where we map them, and the official rules to check.

In short. Choose a fish, then see the regions where we map it and the official rules to check. This page does not give seasons, limits or sizes; those are set for each water and species and change.

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.

Walleye (pickerel)

A walleye swimming in clear teal water

An aggressive low-light feeder, prized for its white, flaky fillets. Often called pickerel in Canada.

Where we map it:

Official rules:

Trout: rainbow, brook and lake trout

A brook trout held in a landing net

Fish of lakes and cold streams. Brook trout and lake trout are technically char rather than trout, but anglers group them together.

Where we map it:

Official rules:

Yellow perch

A hand holding a yellow perch with orange fins

A popular panfish and an ice-fishing favourite.

Where we map it:

Official rules:

Northern pike

A close-up of a northern pike showing its head and spotted body

An aggressive, toothy predator of the Canadian Shield, known for hard-fighting action.

Where we map it:

Official rules:

Smallmouth and largemouth bass

A largemouth bass held in two hands

Warmwater fish found mostly in the south of the country, including Ontario, Quebec and New Brunswick.

Where we map it:

Official rules:

Salmon: Chinook, coho and Atlantic

A salmon leaping up a weir

Chinook and coho are the Pacific salmon targeted on British Columbia's coast. Atlantic salmon is a separate species, known for its river runs in the Atlantic provinces.

Where we map it:

Official rules:

Muskellunge (muskie)

A muskellunge held over the water beside a boat

Known as the fish of 10,000 casts, sought by trophy anglers in central and eastern Canada.

Where we map it:

Official rules:

Arctic grayling

A fish of cold, clear northern streams and lakes, easy to spot by its tall, sail-like dorsal fin. Yukon and the Northwest Territories are its stronghold.

Where we map it:

Official rules:

Whitefish

A silvery fish of northern lakes and rivers, including lake whitefish and broad whitefish. It is more often caught by anglers in the north and on big cold lakes.

Where we map it:

Official rules:

Inconnu (sheefish)

A large, silvery fish in the whitefish family that runs in big northern rivers and lakes. In Canada it is mostly a fish of the Yukon and Northwest Territories.

Where we map it:

Official rules:

Burbot

A freshwater member of the cod family, found in lakes and large rivers across the north. It is often caught through the ice in winter.

Where we map it:

Official rules:

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