🐟 Striped bass — 2026

Striped bass fishing in Quebec — slot, sectors, gear

— Morone saxatilis · St. Lawrence estuary · 50-65 cm legal

Striped bass (Morone saxatilis) was reintroduced to the St. Lawrence after disappearing in the 1960s. The species is back — and now offers exceptional spring and fall fishing on the lower estuary. The 2026 rules are simple but strict: only fish between 50 and 65 cm inclusive can be kept, where the fishery is open. Everything else goes back. Below: the slot, the migration windows, the sectors, and the gear.

Conservation status

Striped bass population collapsed in the 1960s, was extirpated from the St. Lawrence, and reintroduced via stocking starting in 2002. The fishery reopened with strict rules to protect the recovery. The slot limit (50-65 cm only) protects breeders.

2026 rules

  • •Legal slot: keep only striped bass 50 to 65 cm inclusive
  • •All fish < 50 cm OR > 65 cm must be released immediately
  • •Transport: whole or gutted (head + tail attached for identification)
  • •Sport fishing permit required (standard, no separate striped bass permit)
  • •Season: typically June 15 to October 15 (varies by zone, verify regpec)
  • •Authorized zones: parts of zones 18, 19, 20, 21, 22 — specifically Saguenay estuary downward + south shore (Bas-Saint-Laurent, Gaspésie)
  • •Daily limit: typically 1 per day (verify per zone)

Migration windows

  • →Spring (mid-May to late June): fish move up the estuary to spawn near the Saguenay confluence. Best fishing on falling tide.
  • →Summer (July-August): scattered, mostly south shore — Rivière-du-Loup, Kamouraska, Cacouna.
  • →Fall (mid-September to October): fish return downstream after summer feeding — top trophy season.

Top sectors

  • Rivière-du-Loup (zone 21)

    Marina + estuary access. Tide-driven fishing on jetties + flats.

  • Kamouraska (zone 21)

    Iconic, classic shore-based spots, falling-tide hot.

  • Cacouna (zone 21)

    Less pressured than RDL/Kamouraska, accessible.

  • Rimouski / Le Bic (zone 21)

    Rocky coast, structure-rich, trophy potential.

  • Saguenay confluence (Tadoussac sector)

    Spring spawning ground, very productive May-June.

  • Matane (zone 21)

    East end of distribution, fewer crowds.

  • Bay of Sept-Îles (zone 18)

    Northern range edge, summer fishing.

  • Gaspé Bay (zone 21)

    Less common, more episodic.

Best techniques + gear

  • •Surf casting from shore: 9-10' rod, spinning 4500-5500, 30 lb braid + 20 lb fluorocarbon leader
  • •Boat (inshore): 7-8' medium-heavy, baitcaster or spinning, 30-40 lb braid
  • •Top lures: 7" Daiwa SP Minnow, Bomber Long A, Yo-Zuri Mag Darter, Storm Wild-Eye Swim Shad 6"
  • •Top jigs: bucktail 1-3 oz with pork rind or soft-plastic trailer
  • •Fly: 9 wt + sinking line + 4-6" Deceiver / Clouser patterns
  • •Bait fishing: cut mackerel/herring (dead!) on circle hook + heavy weight (where permitted)

Practical tips

  • ✓Fish the moving tide — slack tide is dead time
  • ✓Dawn + dusk best; bright midday is slow
  • ✓Stripers school — if you catch one, more are usually around
  • ✓Carry a quality tape measure — 65 cm is the legal cut-off, no fish over goes home
  • ✓Use circle hooks if releasing — minimizes deep hooking
  • ✓Cold-water gloves + warm layers — north shore wind cuts hard even in June

Safety — tidal estuary

The St. Lawrence estuary is NOT a lake. Tidal ranges reach 5-7 metres in the Bas-Saint-Laurent. Walk-in flats can flood in 90 minutes. Always check tide tables (Service hydrographique du Canada), wear a PFD when wading, watch the weather — a Nord-Est gale builds 2 metres of chop fast.

See also

→ Full regulation→ St. Lawrence fishing guide→ Fishing license→ Fishing zones