Ontario offers licence-free fishing June 27 to July 5

Canadian residents can fish in Ontario without buying a fishing licence or Outdoors Card from June 27 to July 5, according to a June 24 news release from Ontario’s Ministry of Natural Resources.

For people fishing in Northeast Ontario during that period, the waiver applies only to the requirement to purchase a licence and Outdoors Card, and provincial fishing rules still apply.

The ministry said conservation licence catch and size limits, fishing sanctuaries and other regulations remain in effect during the licence-free period.

People fishing during the licence-free period must carry provincial or federal government-issued identification that shows their name and date of birth, the ministry said.

Outside the June 27 to July 5 licence-free period, most people aged 18 to 64 must have an Outdoors Card and a fishing licence.

The ministry also said veterans and active members of the Canadian Armed Forces who live in Ontario can fish for free whenever and wherever recreational fishing is allowed.

In its release, the province estimated Ontario has 1.16 million anglers who spend $2.4 billion per year on recreational fishing.