FISHING
IN QUEBEC – BEYOND EXPECTATIONS
Stretching more than 1,600,000 square kilometres (640,000 square
miles) over northeastern North America, Quebec
invites you to enjoy the breathtaking diversity
of its wide-open spaces. Room to roam as far
as the eye can see, rugged landscapes that
change with each passing season. Rich in natural
wonders, Quebec is truly spectacular, fulfilling
your wildest dreams of intense adventure...all
closer than you think!
Here,
fish-filled rivers hurtle into waterfalls, gently lulled to sleep in
sparkling lakes bearing countless different names. And bountiful
game wanders vast forests, beckoning you to rekindle the bold spirit
of the first “coureurs des bois”. Here breathtaking
parks showcase treasure troves of spell-binding natural beauty. A
multitude of hunting and fishing lodges and fabulous resorts dot the
land, offering accommodations for every budget and taste, from rustic
log cabins to luxury forest inns.
In
this immense land awash in blue and brimming with walleye, pike,
bass, trout, salmon and other salmonids, fish stories are never tall
tales. Whether angling or fly-fishing, smiles broaden while a quick
catch is promptly transformed, right on the shore, into a gourmet
meal fit for a king. From exhilarating to mouthwatering in the blink
of an eye!
With upwards
of a million lakes and thousands of rivers, Quebec offers a
sport-fishing experience proportionate to its immense landmass:
endless and wild!
From north
to south and east to west, fish populations are distinctive and
relatively unique. In the south, walleye, northern pike, trout and
bass dominate. As one heads east and north, it's the salmon and
arctic char and more trout that thrive.
If big fish
is your target, then place Quebec on your list of fishing locations.
Walleye are large and so are the lake trout and northern pike can
easily weigh 12 kg (25 lb). In some Quebec rivers, 30 to 40 pound
Atlantics are common. There are over 100 Atlantic salmon rivers in
Quebec, ranging from easily wadable streams to torrential rivers.
You can match wits with land-locked salmon, a fresh-water fish.
Although smaller than its ocean counterpart, it's just as spirited ,
and can be found in the Lac Saint-Jean areas and in many lakes and
streams north of the St. Lawrence River.
Why fish in
Quebec? Quite simply to experience fishing in vast wilderness areas
where indigenous fish populations abound.
For an idea
of the catches fishing enthusiasts can expect to bring home, the
table below indicates the maximum weights biologists have encountered
Species |
Population Status |
Daily Quota |
Record (lbs.) |
Bass |
Good |
6 |
5 |
Arctic Char |
Good |
5 |
12 |
Northern Pike |
Excellent |
10 |
40 |
Walleye |
Good to Excellent |
8 |
12 |
Lake Trout |
Good |
2 |
40 |
Brook Trout |
Excellent |
20 |
11 |
Quebec's structure of fishing zones is unique. Similar to other provinces,
many lakes and rivers on public lands have free access to fishing
by licensed anglers. Other zones are classed as ZEC ZONES with special
restrictions and the province has a network of provincial parks
(Reserves) spanning 67,000 square kilometres.
From the Abitibi region to the North Shore, through the Gaspe Peninsula and
into the Great Northern territories, you will find upwards of 400
quality outfitters. Outfitters fall into two categories: (1) Outfitters
with exclusive rights, meaning, outfitters with exclusive access
to certain hunting and or fishing territories, often located in
remote areas of the province, (2) Outfitters holding licences without
exclusive rights offer their services within the limits of public
lands and /or their own private lands all over the Quebec territory.
Get ready to
book your next fishing vacation in Quebec: it's beyond expectations!
QUEBEC MAPS
AVAILABLE
Selective harvest, with a strong foundation
of "Catch and Release", is the policy
we advocate at FISHING MAPS "PLUS".
Many anglers wish to eat some fish, and why
not? They are nutritious and "umm",
good tasting. If selective harvest is practiced,
then the resource is renewable. The modern-day
approach is to keep more numerous pan fish
before less abundant larger predators, and
keep smaller, more abundant fish of a species
before larger, less abundant ones.
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