Conservation officers from Parry Sound found many ice fishers are not following the rules when it comes to no-live-bait lakes.
The Ministry of Natural Resources conducted an enforcement blitz in the Parry Sound area on Saturday, March 8th and checked 40 anglers on remote no-live-bait lakes to check for compliance.
Charges and warnings included possessing live baitfish as bait, using live baitfish as bait, fishing without a license, angling with more than the permitted number of lines, exceeding catch and keep limits, and being more than 60 meters from the fishing line in use.
The public is reminded that in some lakes, fishing with live bait is prohibited as use of live bait can introduce non-native species that compete with native fish populations.
Check the Recreational Fishing Regulations Summary, available at ontario.ca/fishing, to learn about baitfish restrictions in Ontario waters.
Meanwhile, conservation officers were in Parry Sound and Muskoka were out to check if ice fishers have been fishing legally.
The Ministry of Natural Resources conducted an enforcement blitz in the Parry Sound and Muskoka areas during the last weekend in February focusing on lakes Joseph, Rosseau, Muskoka, Bernard and Lake of Bays.
Conservation officers from the Parry Sound and Bracebridge areas checked 418 anglers for compliance and laid 21 charges and issued 33 warnings.
Charges and warnings included fishing without a license, angling with more than the permitted number of lines, over-limit of fish, fishing without a license on the person, and being more than 60 metres from the fishing line in use.
Officers also encountered offences related to safety under the Motorized Snow Vehicles Act and issued warnings under the Liquor License Act during both enforcement blitz.
Ice fishers are reminded that ice huts need to be off interior lakes in the region on March 31st.