Photo: Maksim Sokolov (maxergon.com), CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
Northwest Territories / Territoires du Nord-Ouest
Territory, Canada. Authority: Government of the Northwest Territories - Department of Environment and Climate Change (ECC).
2026 rules, checked on 23 September 2026.
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- Licence
- CA$51.73F3 Non-resident 16+ - season ($49.27 + GST) (incl. 5% GST)
- Next opening
- —
- Minimum sizes
- 1
2026 season calendar
reduced limits April 1 - June 6 (e.g. 1/day); Mosquito Creek closed May 1 - June 30
Solid bars: fishing allowed. Yellow line: today.
Minimum sizes
| Species | Minimum size | 0–60 cm |
|---|---|---|
| Lake trout (Great Slave Lake)2 only one lake trout in possession may exceed 70 cm (27.6 in) fork length | not published |
Bag limits
| Species | Fish you may keep |
|---|---|
| Northern pike2 all other NWT waters and Great Slave Lake: 3/day, possession 5; Gwich'in/Sahtú: 5/day | 3 per day |
| Walleye2 Sahtú and Gwich'in areas 5/day (possession 10); Hay River / Mackenzie River Mgmt Area 2/day after June 7 | 5 per day |
| Lake trout2 Great Bear Lake SMA: 1 (only one per trip removed); limits vary by water | 1 per day |
Licence
| Licence | Duration | Price |
|---|---|---|
| F1 - NWT Resident sport fishing licence1 | season (valid until March 31) | CA$12.93 |
| F1 NWT Resident - season ($12.31 + GST) (incl. 5% GST)1 | annual | CA$12.93 |
| F2 Resident Canadian - season ($24.63 + GST) (incl. 5% GST)1 | annual | CA$25.86 |
| F3 Non-resident 16+ - season ($49.27 + GST) (incl. 5% GST)1 | annual | CA$51.73 |
| F6 Resident Canadian - 3 day ($18.47 + GST) (incl. 5% GST)1 | 3-day | CA$19.39 |
| F7 Non-resident - 3 day ($36.95 + GST) (incl. 5% GST)1 | 3-day | CA$38.80 |
| F9 Resident Canadian - 1 day ($12.31 + GST) (incl. 5% GST)1 | 1-day | CA$12.93 |
| F10 Non-resident - 1 day ($12.31 + GST) (incl. 5% GST)1 | 1-day | CA$12.93 |
| F4 Over 65 (incl. 5% GST)1 | annual | CA$0 |
| F5 Under 16 (incl. 5% GST)1 | annual | CA$0 |
Buy the licence on services.nwt-tno.ca
- Ages and exemptions1
- No sport fishing licence needed under 16 or over 65 (free F4/F5 licence classes exist). Special Management Areas (Inuvialuit Settlement Region I1, Great Bear Lake M1...) and national parks may require extra authorization for all ages.
Water categories
Special Management Areas: Great Bear Lake, Mackenzie River Management Area, Inuvialuit Settlement Region; closed waters and special permit areas.
Good to know
Barbless hooks mandatory for all sport fishing in the NWT. Group fishing not permitted: each person needs a licence. Licences sold via NWT eServices or vendors.
What the authority does not publish
Points we could not find in the official texts: check with the authority.
- Fee page does not print a year
- General lake trout limit for 'all other waters' not extracted
- NWT sport fishing guide PDF not read
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 Northwest Territories / Territoires du Nord-Ouest in 2026?
The “F3 Non-resident 16+ - season ($49.27 + GST) (incl. 5% GST)” licence costs CA$51.73 (annual). Other options and prices are in the table above, with the official source.
Official sources
- Get a Fishing Licence - ECC (accessed on 23 September 2026)
- Fish Species Catch Limits - ECC (accessed on 23 September 2026)
- NWT Sport Fishing Guide (accessed on 23 September 2026)
Last checked: 23 September 2026.
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