MNR Fishing NEWS
The Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry laid 122 charges and issued 91 warnings during sport fisheries enforcement patrols on area waterways.
Conservation officers with the Lake Erie Enforcement Unit and the canine unit checked 1,400 resident anglers and 600 non-resident anglers within the Essex, Chatham-Kent and Lambton County waters of Lake St. Clair, Lake Erie, Rondeau Bay, and the Detroit and St. Clair rivers. They found that 89 per cent of angers checked were complying with Ontario’s sport fishing and public safety-related laws.
A total of 122 charges and 91 warnings were issued for the following offences:
- fishing without a licence
- catching and keeping smallmouth and largemouth bass during the closed season
- catching and keeping too many walleye
- fishing with too many lines
- angling with more than four hooks on a fishing line
- trespassing for the purpose of fishing
- failing to carry a fishing licence while fishing
- bringing live fish into Ontario for use as bait
- using as bait live fish that is not a species of baitfish
- transporting live fish without a licence
- making a false statement and obstructing a conservation officer
- having open liquor in a place other than a residence
- littering on public land.
Officers also seized fishing equipment and fish during many of the investigations.
Conservation officers will continue patrolling the local waterways during the summer for compliance with Ontario’s sport fishing and public safety-related legislation. Anglers are reminded that it is illegal to bring any live fish, crayfish, leeches or salamanders into Ontario for use as bait or to use invasive species such as gobies for bait.
For further information on fishing regulations and bait restrictions, please consult the Recreational Fishing Regulations Summary, available at ontario.ca/fishing.
To report a natural resources violation, call 1-877-TIPS-MNR (847-7667) toll-free any time or contact your local ministry’s office during regular business hours. You can also call Crime Stoppers anonymously at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).
