Sport Fishing

Intro Different Uses Over Time FishingSport Fishing

From behind the guardrail of a ferry, a boat on the river can be seen in the distance, with port facilities behind it.

People fishing for walleye from a small boat in the shipping channel, seen from the ferry headed to Sorel-Tracy, October 14, 2018

Source: Anne-Marie Dulude

The waters of the St. Lawrence teem with many species of fish. In the past, people would catch fish to feed their families or earn a little extra cash. Sport fishing did not take off until the 19th century.

On a sunny day, a man seated in a boat on the river holds up a large fish.

Paul Messier proudly shows off his catch, a good-sized walleye

Source: Société d'aménagement de la Baie Lavallière

In the freshwater portion of the river, the most sought-after species are walleye, northern pike, bass, and yellow perch. The yellow perch was once abundant in Lake Saint-Pierre, but it entered a steep decline in 1995. In 2002, the Société de la Faune et des Parcs du Québec (FAPAQ), now known as the Ministry of Forests, Wildlife and Parks (MFFP), and the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (MAPAQ) formed a committee to analyze the situation.

Two men fish from a boat in the middle of a wide stretch of water. A lighthouse can be seen in the distance.

Two men fishing on Lake Saint-Pierre, summer 2018

Source: Simon Ménard

In 2005, the yellow perch fishery was severely restricted. The minimum size limit was raised from 165 mm to 190 mm. The total allowable catch was reduced, and the fishing season was shortened. Commercial fishing licence buybacks were also instituted. Despite all these restrictions, yellow perch stocks continued to decline. In 2012, a 5-year moratorium on all type of yellow perch fishing in Lake Saint-Pierre was imposed. In 2013, the moratorium was extended to the Laviolette Bridge/Saint-Pierre-les-Becquets sector. As yellow perch stocks have yet to recover, the moratorium has been renewed until 2022.

Three men drive a motorboat toward a tiny island with a few trees and shrubs on it.

The Banc de Sable in Lake Saint-Pierre, summer 2018

Source: Simon Ménard

Over 200,000 people fish in the freshwater section of the St. Lawrence. The Ministry of Forests, Wildlife and Parks of Quebec regulates sport fishing for freshwater, anadromous and catadromous species, while Fisheries and Oceans Canada manages fishing for marine species. In the saltwater section of the river, fish such as mackerel and capelin are caught. Fishing for cod, shark, tuna, herring, ray and halibut is prohibited.

A man holding a fishing rod stands in a motorboat in front of a tree-covered island.

St. Lawrence near Île à la Pierre, summer 2018

Source: Simon Ménard

The channels of the Lake Saint-Pierre Archipelago are popular fishing spots, as these vast wetlands are home to a large number of fish.

A man stands to steer a motorboat along a wide waterway, while a passenger sits in front of him.

St. Lawrence River near the South Shore across from Montreal's extensive port facilities, summer 2018

Source: Simon Ménard

Most freshwater fishing in the St. Lawrence takes place near Montreal.