Getting Grass pickerel in Ontario Canada

[Crazy Taco]

Hi thinking of doing a native tank and wondering the best way to get some of these bad boys in South Eastern Ontario. Does anyone know where I could get some?

also looking for some other natives but don't know how to get them.

Got lots of empty tanks all over 125 gallons.

 

[Itsadeepbluesea]

There are a few site here in the states that sell um, but I don't really know what your Canadian Laws are on importing species or if the places will even ship them out of country but its worth a shot. Look of your laws and if it something that is legal take a look at:

jonahsaquarium.com
or
aquaculturestore.com

contact them to see if they will ship to your area.

 

[Umbra]

There are very few places in Ontario where you can catch them. Mostly far east closer to Quebec (they're in the St. Lawrence and Ottawa river systems), but there are some Lake Erie and St. Clair populations as well.

That being said, it is generally illegal to collect non bait fish in Ontario, but nobody will run you down over keeping a sunfish or two. However, the grass pickerel is a species at risk in Ontario and is afforded special protection - please, for the sake of the already limited population/distribution of the species do not collect any.

 

[Crazy Taco]

no no no I will not collect them I am trying to do this by the book I want some native predatory fish and thought I could get some that have been bred possibly.

 

[Itsadeepbluesea]

There are very few places in Ontario where you can catch them. Mostly far east closer to Quebec (they're in the St. Lawrence and Ottawa river systems), but there are some Lake Erie and St. Clair populations as well.

That being said, it is generally illegal to collect non bait fish in Ontario, but nobody will run you down over keeping a sunfish or two. However, the grass pickerel is a species at risk in Ontario and is afforded special protection - please, for the sake of the already limited population/distribution of the species do not collect any.

You could always contact what ever your equivalent to the department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife is. As here in Maine it is also Illegal to collect not "bait fish" species but.....if you contact them they offer an option to apply for a 1 time stocking permit which makes it legal for you to collect and hold native fish in an aquarium. Its a pain in the butt (still waiting on mine) to get, but thats a good thing as it keeps those who aren't really serious about it from legally keeping them. Its worth a shot to contact your department if your interested in collecting.

 

[Itsadeepbluesea]

no no no I will not collect them I am trying to do this by the book I want some native predatory fish and thought I could get some that have been bred possibly.

Best thing to do is contact your fisheries department to find out how to "do it by the book" they have all the information that you need to do to make it legal if that is possible. Warning if they are like my state they are really slow to respond.