Fishing at City of Toronto parks

The Parks Bylaw (TMC Chapter 608) states the following about fishing:

While in a park:

  • A. No person shall fish in any area posted to prohibit fishing;
  • B. No person shall store or leave any lures, bait, hooks, lines, poles or other equipment in the park in a location or manner that may injure other persons or wildlife; and
  • C. All permitted fishing must be carried out in compliance with all Ministry of Natural Resources Rules and Regulations.
To report prohibited fishing in a City of Toronto Park, contact 311 to submit a service request for Disturbing/Injuring/Feeding Wildlife in a City Park.


Fishing on Toronto Island

If you are between 18 and 64 years of age you will need a fishing licence to fish the Toronto Islands except on the Urban Fishing Festival weekend in July. Fishing licences are not required for children. There are two fishing docks at Algonquin Island and the Trout Pond at Hanlan's Point. Fishing is not permitted at any of the boat slips.

  • You can fish on The Islands with only one rod and reel at a time;
  • No nets or other devices may be used to catch game fish. You cannot snag fish.
  • Your possession limit of fish cannot exceed your daily catch limit. Plan what to do if you catch a fish, we encourage catch and release.

Fishing restrictions are also listed on the back of the Fishing Guide available at the Boathouse. For more information on fishing restrictions on the Toronto Islands, please contact a Parks, Forestry and Recreation Staff at the Boat House

Ministry of Natural Resources Fishing Licenses can be purchased at the Boat House located at Centre Island. This provincial licence will also allow you to fish in public waters in the rest of the Province of Ontario.

There are no fish-cleaning facilities available on The Islands so please wait until you get home to clean your fish. Ideally, place your catch in a cooler with ice to remain cool and clean.

You do not have to keep the fish you catch on the Islands. "Catch and Release" and "Selective Harvest" are the key principles that today's modern angler uses to help make his/her contribution to the future of a fishery.

To practice selective harvest means you only take a specific size or species of fish. For instance, you may wish to release a big bass over two or three pounds because these are usually the females which are so important to the future of fishing.

You can catch more than 10 types of fish on the Islands. The most common are Carp; Pike; Yellow Perch; Largemouth Bass; Smallmouth Bass; Bluegill Sunfish; Pumpkinseed Sunfish; Rock Bass; Black Crappie; Brown Bullhead Catfish. New fish species also enter Lake Ontario randomly.

Occasionally, you may also find coho or chinook salmon, rainbow trout, lake trout, brown trout, bowfin, white perch, gizzard shad, or white suckers.

To identify and learn more about these species, pick up a free copy of the Fishing Regulations Summary at The Boathouse at Centre Island.


Fishing at Queen's Quay

The City of Toronto has no objection to Sport Fishing off of any of the City of Toronto-owned and managed docks walls along Harbourfront. As a general default, the City of Toronto Municipal Code #608 -38, states fishing is allowed, unless prohibited by signage. All fishing within the province is subject to Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources guidelines and regulations .

The City of Toronto does not regulate fish in ponds. To report illegal fishing practices, contact the
Ministry of Natural Resources.