Beautiful places to fish for free in Quebec

Want to try fishing without spending a fortune? Quebec is full of freely accessible bodies of water, perfect for a nature experience. Thanks to simple tools and well-defined regulations, it's easy to cast your line without hassle.

Before you take out your fishing rod, a reminder of the provincial regulations is necessary and they vary depending on the areas and species:

• Fishing license : mandatory for all residents and non-residents of Quebec. Licenses are valid for one day, three days, one week, or a season, as well as family packages.
• Fishing periods : each area has its opening and closing dates depending on the species.
• Catch limits : The number of fish you can keep is limited depending on the type (example: 10 speckled trout/day in several areas).
• Permitted techniques : hooks, lures, number of lines in the water... This varies depending on the area.

An interactive tool

To find the best places to fish, the Allons pêcher map from the Fédération québécoise des chasseurs et pêcheurs is an essential tool. Accessible online, it lists more than 3,600 fishing sites throughout Quebec, with practical information ( carte.allonspecher.com ).

Using the site is simple, with searches by region or type of fish and the use of filters for services offered (dock, parking, accessibility, etc.) or to display only paid sites. Each site displays a descriptive sheet with specific regulations, fishing seasons, and sometimes photos of the location.

5 examples of places to fish for free in Quebec

Here is a selection of free places across the province for a little inspiration:

1. Prairie River – Laval

• Fish : northern pike, yellow perch, smallmouth bass, walleye
• Access : public platform and ramp

2. Lake Champlain (Venice Bay) in Venise-en-Québec – Montérégie

• Fish : northern pike, yellow perch, landlocked salmon
• Access : public dock, ramp and winter fishing

3. Shawinigan River in Saint-Mathieu-du-Parc – Mauricie

• Fish : Rainbow trout, smallmouth bass, walleye, northern pike, sauger, muskellunge, brown bullhead, yellow perch, rock bass, and brown trout
• Access : launching, wade fishing, winter fishing

4. Lake Saint-Pierre in Baie-du-Febvre – Centre-du-Québec

• Fish : smallmouth bass, walleye, sauger, lake sturgeon, brown bullhead
• Water access , ramp, winter fishing

5. Percé Wharf – Gaspésie

• Fish : mackerel, rainbow smelt, Atlantic cod
• Access : wade fishing, public quay

Good to know: during the Fishing Festival (June 6, 7 and 8, 2025), fishing without a license is permitted for three days throughout Quebec.

For more details on fishing, the Quebec government website is a useful reference ( quebec.ca ).