Fishing in Alberta
Last Update/Review: April 25, 2008
Alberta is well known for its fishing opportunities, enjoyed by residents and sportsmen around the world.
There are 63 species of fish in the province, but only 18 of these species are preferred for food or angling- including pike, walleye, bull trout, sturgeon and arctic grayling.
Compared to other parts of Canada, Alberta has a relatively small number of fish-bearing water bodies. Eight hundred lakes have naturally occurring fish populations and 300 or so are stocked with fish by the Alberta government. Because of the high ratio of anglers per lake, the province has the third highest angling pressure in Canada.
An estimated 300 000 recreational anglers are active in the province, and there are an additional 800 commercial fishing operations. Recreational fishing contributed more than $350 million to Alberta's economy in 2000, for example, and commercial fishing is regarded as a $5 million-per-year industry.
Due to a number of factors, Alberta's fisheries are faced with significant challenges. The Alberta government is working to develop solutions to ensure that people can continue to enjoy fishing for many years to come.
Hot Links!
2008 Special Walleye Harvest Licences
2008 Undersubscribed Special Fish Harvest Licences
New Licence for Competitive Fishing Events/Derbies
New fishing licence offers more chances to catch-and-keep walleye
2007 Special Licence Draws for Walleye Summary Report Size: 9 KB
2006 Special Licence Draws for Walleye Summary Report Size: 7.3 KB
Careful fish handling techniques can help more fish survive after being released
Fish Conservation Strategy for Alberta 2006-10 Size: 1.4 MB
Welcome to Alberta's adventures in sportfishing. From the clear-water lakes of the north, through the streams and lakes of the mountains, to the rivers and lakes of the parkland and prairie, Alberta is blessed with a wide variety of fishing opportunities.
This site is designed to help you plan your Alberta fishing trip.
- If you are interested in fishing a specific game fish, click the Game Fish button in the left frame.
- If you are interested in fishing a specific area in Alberta, click the Fish Management Zones button.
- Click Licences and Fees for a summary of the licences required, including where to purchase licences.
- Regulations provides a brief summary of some of the fishing rules in the province.
- Fish Identification takes you to a site where you can learn how to identify Alberta's sport fish and take a quiz to test your knowledge.
- Fishing News provides you with the latest news on fishing issues and programs in Alberta.
- Click Management Issues for information about how Alberta fisheries are managed.
- Catch & Release describes when and how this important management tool should be used.
Need more information?
- See our Service Contacts page for ways to contact us. Or
- Check out our list of Other Fishing Sites on the World Wide Web.
Please Note:
Photographers have licensed the use of their photographs on this site to Alberta Sustainable Resource Development. They reserve all other rights.
Teachers, youth leaders and outdoor instructors may print and copy this material for not-for-profit, educational purposes only. The text and graphics may not be used for other purposes without written permission from Alberta Sustainable Resource Development.
