Photo : Maksim Sokolov (maxergon.com), CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
Alberta
Province, Canada. Authority : Alberta Forestry and Parks - Hunting and Fishing Branch (My Wild Alberta).
2026 rules, checked on 23 September 2026.
- Licence
- CA$87Non-resident outside Canada Annual Sportfishing Licence (16+)
- Calendar lines open on
- 123 September 2026
- Minimum sizes
- 63 cmNorthern pike
Useful gear for this area
Chosen from the species and size limits regulated in this area.
Responsible gearDigital Hanging Scale 50 kgTo check the minimum size: Northern pike 63 cm here.
€30.90£16.90Not shipped to the United States
Propeller Surface Lures 9 cm, Pack of 5For : northern pike, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass · crankbait and hard-lure fishing
€34.90£19.90Not shipped to the United States
Rechargeable Cap-Clip Light with Motion SensorFor : common carp, wels catfish, zander · night fishing
€26.90£13.90Not shipped to the United States
2026 season calendar
closed April 1 - May 14; streams open June 1 - Oct 31
PP1 streams open May 8 - March 15
closed Nov 1 - June 15; bull trout and Arctic grayling limit 0; lakes open all year
Solid bars: fishing allowed. Yellow line: today.
Minimum sizes
| Species | Minimum size | 0–70 cm |
|---|---|---|
| Walleye2 default: limit 3, over 50 cm (NB1, PP1, ES1) | 50 cm | |
| Northern pike2 default: limit 3, over 63 cm (NB1, PP1) | 63 cm | |
| Cutthroat and rainbow trout (ES1 streams)4 over 35 cm | 35 cm |
To check the minimum size: Northern pike 63 cm here. Digital Hanging Scale 50 kg €30.90£16.90Not shipped to the United States
Bag limits
| Species | Fish you may keep |
|---|---|
| Walleye2 default watershed limit (NB1, PP1, ES1) | 3 per day |
| Northern pike2 default | 3 per day |
| Yellow perch2 default | 15 per day |
| Bull trout / Arctic grayling4 catch and release (default) | 0 per day |
Licence
| Licence | Duration | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Alberta resident Annual Sportfishing Licence (16-64) + one-time WiN activation $12 + GST1 | annual | CA$30 |
| Wildlife Identification Number (WiN) activation, one-time fee, required before any licence ($2 off online)1 | one-time | CA$12 |
| Alberta resident Annual Sportfishing Licence (16-64)1 | annual | CA$30 |
| Non-resident Canadian Annual Sportfishing Licence (16+)1 | annual | CA$62 |
| Non-resident Canadian 1-Day Sportfishing Licence1 | 1-day | CA$27 |
| Non-resident Canadian 7-Day Sportfishing Licence1 | 7-day | CA$43 |
| Non-resident outside Canada Annual Sportfishing Licence (16+)1 | annual | CA$87 |
| Non-resident outside Canada 1-Day Sportfishing Licence1 | 1-day | CA$29 |
| Non-resident outside Canada 7-Day Sportfishing Licence1 | 7-day | CA$57 |
| Special Walleye Harvest Licence (residents, draw)1 | other | CA$12 |
| CAF Veterans Sportfishing Licence (Alberta residents)1 | annual | CA$0 |
Buy the licence on albertarelm.com
- Ages and exemptions1
- No licence required under 16 years (all residencies). Alberta residents 65+ need no licence; non-residents 65+ must buy one. WiN required for all licence buyers.
Good to know
Alberta is managed by Watershed Units in 3 zones: Eastern Slopes (ES1-ES4), Northern Boreal (NB1-NB4), Parkland-Prairie (PP1-PP2); each has default regulations plus waterbody-specific tables. Walleye harvest on some lakes only via Special Harvest Licence (draw). Bait bans on ES streams. Licences sold via AlbertaRELM (online/app) or 300+ private issuers.
What the authority does not publish
Points we could not find in the official texts: check with the authority.
- Lake trout general limits not extracted
- Regulation guide hosted on albertaregulations.ca (official Alberta guide publisher site), not alberta.ca
- Only NB1/PP1/ES1 defaults extracted out of 10 watershed units
Rules change every year and can be amended during the season. Before fishing, check the text in force with the authority listed.
Frequently asked questions
How much is a fishing licence in Alberta in 2026?
The “Non-resident outside Canada Annual Sportfishing Licence (16+)” licence costs CA$87 (annual). Other options and prices are in the table above, with the official source.
What is the minimum size for northern pike in Alberta?
Northern pike: 63 cm. Any smaller fish must be released immediately.
Official sources
- 2026 Alberta Guide to Sportfishing Regulations - Licence costs (p.18) (accessed on 23 September 2026)
- NB1 default regulations (accessed on 23 September 2026)
- PP1 default regulations (accessed on 23 September 2026)
- ES1 default regulations (accessed on 23 September 2026)
- AlbertaRELM (accessed on 23 September 2026)
- Fishing licences - eServices Alberta (accessed on 23 September 2026)
- albertaregulations.ca/2026-Alberta-Guide-to-Sportfishing-Regulations.pdf
Last checked : 23 September 2026.