Fishing Licence, Ice fishing Licence

Get a Fishing Licence.
The Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR) Outdoor card.
To fish in the Province of Ontario you will need to have a valid fishing licence. Here are some common questions and answers and listings of places where you can get your fishing licence for fishing by boat or Ice Fishing in Lake Simcoe.

What is an Outdoors Card?
An Outdoors Card is a plastic, wallet-sized, identification card to which your Ontario fishing licence tag is affixed. It acts as a durable carrier for your licence tag for three calendar years.

Is an Outdoors Card a fishing licence?
No. A complete and valid licence to fish consists of an Outdoors Card plus a fishing licence tag. If you do not have a current Outdoors Card, a temporary paper licence enables you to fish until you receive your Outdoors Card in the mail.

How do I get an Outdoors Card if I have never had one before?
A resident of Canada who has never had an Outdoors Card may apply for an Outdoors Card to go fishing in one of several ways. The way you select depends on how soon you want to go fishing.

If you do not intend to go fishing right away , you can submit an Outdoors Card application and payment to the Outdoors Card Centre through the mail. You will receive the card and fishing licence tag you selected in approximately four to six weeks.

You can get an Outdoors Card application by calling 1-800-387-7011 from anywhere in Canada. The application will be mailed to you.

If you want to fish right away , the following temporary paper licences and Outdoors Card Applications are available from more than 2,000 licence issuers across the province:

Resident Sport Fishing Licence AND
Resident Conservation Fishing Licence (both licences include an Outdoors Card Application)
These temporary paper licences are effective immediately upon purchase, and are valid for fishing until the end of the calendar year. The fee for either of these licences includes the cost of the three-year Outdoors Card. You will automatically be mailed the plastic three-year Outdoors Card bearing your one-year fishing licence tag by the end of the calendar year.

My Outdoors Card has expired. How do I renew it?
The date on which your Outdoors Card expires is shown on the front of your card (centre right). To avoid any lapse in your privileges, it is recommended that you renew your card as soon as you receive your renewal package. This package is automatically mailed to you in the fall of the year in which your card expires.

You may renew your Outdoors Card in any of five ways:

   1 )in Canada, by connecting to the Internet at http://outdoorscard.mnr.stores.gov.on.ca and using your VISA or MasterCard. You will need your Outdoors Card number and date of birth to complete this transaction. Please allow two to three weeks for your card to reach you.
   2) in Canada, by using the toll-free automated telephone system and your VISA, MasterCard or American Express credit card. This is the fastest and easiest way to renew. Be sure to have your Outdoors Card number on hand when you call. Call 1-800-288-1155. Please allow two to three weeks for delivery.
   3) in Ontario, at more than 60 ServiceOntario Kiosk locations. ServiceOntario Kiosks accept VISA, MasterCard and American Express transactions as well as bank debit cards. You will need your Outdoors Card number when you renew. Please allow two to three weeks for delivery.
   4) from anywhere in Canada, by mail, using the renewal package sent to you in the fall of the year in which your Outdoors Card expires. For the convenience of Outdoors Card holders, a renewal package is sent automatically so you can renew before your current card expires. Payment may be made by VISA, MasterCard, American Express, cheque or money order. You will receive your card four to six weeks after you submit your renewal application. If you have misplaced your package, call 1-800-387-7011 for a replacement.
   5) in Ontario, by purchasing a "Resident Sport Fishing Licence and Outdoors Card Application" OR a "Resident Conservation Fishing Licence and Outdoors Card Application" from a licence issuer. The fee for either of these includes the cost of the one-year fishing licence and the three-year Outdoors Card. You will automatically be mailed the plastic three-year Outdoors Card by the end of the calendar year.

What is a Resident One-Day Fishing Licence?
Residents who wish to fish for one day only may take advantage of the Resident One-Day Fishing Licence. This licence might be the choice of someone going for a day's excursion on a charter boat.

Catch and possession limits for holders of the Resident One-Day Fishing Licence are specified beside the "S" on the Division/Species Table following each regional map.

I live outside of Canada. Do I need a licence to fish in Ontario?
Anyone who lives outside of Canada is considered a non-resident for the purposes of fishing licence regulations. Most non-residents need a fishing licence to fish in Ontario. Specifically:

Non-residents 18 years of age and over must purchase a fishing licence.
Non-residents under 18 years of age may fish without a licence if accompanied by a adult who has a recreational fishing licence. Any fish caught are part of the catch and possession limit of the adult who holds the licence. As another option, non-residents under 18 years may purchase a licence and any fish caught apply to the catch and possession limits of that licence.
Non-residents 65 years of age or older are not exempt from licencing.

NOTE: Non-residents camping on Crown land in Northwestern Ontario must observe Conservation Licence limits in the following Fishing Divisions: Divs. 20, 21, 22, 22A, 24, 31, 33 and 34, except for in the border waters area.

For non-resident groups of children (at least five people under the age of 18 years accompanied by a licenced adult) there is a special Licence for Members of an Organized Camp. This licence is available from Ministry of Natural Resources offices.

Where can I purchase a non-resident fishing licence?
Non-resident anglers may purchase a fishing licence that is effective immediately at more than 2,000 locations throughout the province. Licences are often available from tourist outfitters' camps and lodges, summer camps, and sporting goods stores or bait dealers. In smaller communities, they may be available at general stores or other retail establishments.

A range of licences is offered to suit individual needs.

Non-resident fishing licences are also available through the mail by calling the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources at 1-800-667-1940.

More licence information can be found at the MNR web site here.
To read more on fishing in Ontario at the MNR web site click here.