Quinte Fishing

Following up to the question, discussion and confirmation that the Bay of Quinte is part of the new Catch N release season in zone 20. Which means you can go fishing right now for largemouth and smallmouth. A number of Tournament organizations have contacted the ministry seeking approval for a catch, measure, photo and release tournament format and here is the response from the Ministry.

Dear Bass Tournament or Event Organizer,

The Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry (MNRF) recently announced changes to the Fisheries Management Zone 20 (FMZ 20) bass seasons effective January 1, 2021. New for FMZ 20, is a catch and release season for bass (smallmouth and largemouth) from January 1 to May 10.

Several tournament organizers have enquired about hosting catch, photo, measure and release events during the catch and release season.

Taking time to measure, weigh and photograph a fish in a strictly catch and release fishery is not permitted.

MNRF direction on what anglers must do with their fish when there is no legal possession limit is as follows:

“If an angler catches a fish that cannot be legally possessed (e.g., during the closed season, prohibited size, exceeds the catch and possession limits), the fish must be immediately released at the place and time of capture. This includes fish that may be injured during catch. This information is available to anglers on page 11 of the 2021 Ontario Recreational Fishing Regulations Summary.”

For further information on the immediate release provisions around catch and release seasons or competitive fishing in Ontario (generally) please contact:

Dan Taillon
Fisheries Section, Fish and Wildlife Policy Branch, MNRF
dan.taillon@ontario.ca
705-772-8748


I had a telephone conversation with Steve McNevin with the Lake Ontario Management Unit OMNR and he stressed you are NOT allow to take the posed photos with bass during the CNR season. Upon catching a fish every immediate action of the Angler must be directed to immediately releasing the fish. If your buddy takes pictures of you while you are in the act of releasing a fish then no problem but no Posed photos, No measuring and no weighing fish. If you have a video camera running and you post a photo from that footage thats fine as long as you were immediately releasing the fish.

Steve also indicated that regulations evolve and that with time things might change.

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Dan Elliot - A bad day on Quinte is better than a good day at work !!!
http://www.quintefishing.com

This ruling will be challenged. There are too many loose ends with this.

First and foremost is protection of the fisheries.
On that note if there is a fish that needs attention to re-energise or re-pressurise to be able to be released then the angler must provide the care.

On another note, if the anglers are documenting the information about the fish then the activity becomes part of a study....

As with most legislation that is new there will be adjustments made, but only if people speak up.

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Leave a Great Legacy Behind
Practice Fishing C.P.R.
Catch Picture and Release