Licensing, - Sport or Conservation

[Canvas]

Hi new to the board & looking for some clarification re current licensing.

Can you legally fish for musky if you have a conservation lic. The topic arises when you review the limit section there a big 0 reported for musky & the like with some other species if you have the conservation lic. Or is this only applicable if you want to keep a fish.

There is no intent to keep its all catch & release with our family. As an aside the Mrs is the one who wants to go after the giants.

Thx

[fishwhisperer]

You can only legally fish for musky with a sport license

[Lazinator]

from http://www.mnr.gov.on.ca/stdprodconsume/gr...el02_178922.pdf

Quote from page 4:

"Catch and Possession Limits

Historically, the daily catch limit for muskellunge was two fish. The catch limit was reduced to
one (1) fish with a maximum of two (2) fish in possession based on recommendations from the
1985 regulatory review. There is currently a catch and possession limit of zero (0) for anglers
holding a conservation licence, although they are legally allowed to angle for muskellunge, but
they must immediately release any fish that they catch. Most species of fish in Ontario have the
same catch and possession limits. This regulation has caused considerable confusion for
anglers fishing for other species.
"

I heard of some COs claiming that you must have a sport fishing license to fish for muskie, according to whats written in here they are wrong, so you might want to print out a copy and keep it with you.

[Canvas]

Thx very much for the clarification. I think I'll upgrade my wifes lic to the sport.
No point in getting into differences in opinion when your out for some R & R.

Agn thx

[richesox]

I've read a lot of discussions on the true meaning of "Possession" over the past couple years. Although I target musky, I never plan on keeping any as my wife and I practice catch and release.

I've wondered about this too and, just to be safe and stay within the regulations, we purchase the sportsman license each year. Maybe we really don't have to, but it does give me more peace of mind.

Cheers.

[dan-o]

You can fish everything just can't keep if you don't have the right licence. I have sport. I went out for pan fish and got a musky .