Zone 16 Exceptions, Lake Simcoe

Not quite sure, but I think that means 25 max, so if you fish simcoe, catch 2, that’s your possession for simcoe. You could fish other lakes and zones to get a total of 25, but can’t keep 25 from simcoe. That’s my understanding atleast

For me I'm just curious because I just started targeting white fish at the end of last season so I just want to know how much I can put in my freezer, I know my daily is two on simcoe but I would find it weird to only have two from Simcoe in my freezer from over the season. Also how does MNR identify a lake whitefish from Simco anyway I know we have to keep a patch of skin on the fillet but how do you really tell from the fillet if it's from Simcoe or lake of bays or any stocked lake in Ontario.

It is not that you can't keep 25 from Lake simcoe. Its more like too fish lake Simcoe you have to have less than 2 in your possession.
The possession limit for Lake Simcoe is 2. So while you are on Lake Simcoe can't have more than 2 in your possession. So as stated above possession is on you, cold storage, or in transit or anywhere. That means if you have 2 or more whitefish in your freezer you can't take anymore as that would put you over your possession limit. Doesn't matter where the fish comes from only matters where you are standing.

Not quite sure, but I think that means 25 max, so if you fish simcoe, catch 2, that’s your possession for simcoe. You could fish other lakes and zones to get a total of 25, but can’t keep 25 from simcoe. That’s my understanding atleast

For me I'm just curious because I just started targeting white fish at the end of last season so I just want to know how much I can put in my freezer, I know my daily is two on simcoe but I would find it weird to only have two from Simcoe in my freezer from over the season. Also how does MNR identify a lake whitefish from Simco anyway I know we have to keep a patch of skin on the fillet but how do you really tell from the fillet if it's from Simcoe or lake of bays or any stocked lake in Ontario.

It is not that you can keep 25 from Lake simcoe. Its more like too fish lake Simcoe you have to have less than 2 in your possession.
The possession limit for Lake Simcoe is 2. So while you are on Lake Simcoe can't have more than 2 in your possession. So as stated above possession is on you, cold storage, or in transit or anywhere. That means if you have 2 or more whitefish in your freezer you can't take anymore as that would put you over your possession limit. Doesn't matter where the fish comes from only matters where you are standing.

Wrong, post above put it well. Can have 2 from simcoe, 10 more from other zone 16 lakes, and 13 from other zones.

Not quite sure, but I think that means 25 max, so if you fish simcoe, catch 2, that’s your possession for simcoe. You could fish other lakes and zones to get a total of 25, but can’t keep 25 from simcoe. That’s my understanding atleast

For me I'm just curious because I just started targeting white fish at the end of last season so I just want to know how much I can put in my freezer, I know my daily is two on simcoe but I would find it weird to only have two from Simcoe in my freezer from over the season. Also how does MNR identify a lake whitefish from Simco anyway I know we have to keep a patch of skin on the fillet but how do you really tell from the fillet if it's from Simcoe or lake of bays or any stocked lake in Ontario.

It is not that you can keep 25 from Lake simcoe. Its more like too fish lake Simcoe you have to have less than 2 in your possession.
The possession limit for Lake Simcoe is 2. So while you are on Lake Simcoe can't have more than 2 in your possession. So as stated above possession is on you, cold storage, or in transit or anywhere. That means if you have 2 or more whitefish in your freezer you can't take anymore as that would put you over your possession limit. Doesn't matter where the fish comes from only matters where you are standing.

Wrong, post above put it well. Can have 2 from simcoe, 10 more from other zone 16 lakes, and 13 from other zones.

Wrong if you are fishing lake simcoe and have 2 white fish at home, regardless where they where caught, in your possession than can not take another whitefish much less fish for them.

This is the what he is referreing to.


So you can legally have 2 from simcoe,10 more from zone 16, and the rest from other zones...if you really are that dedicated to filling your freezer. Enforcement is very difficult im sure.

They can tell where they are from remember the fish are usually smaller in the other lakes around. Plus they only need a sample to tell where they came from.

The excerpt is simply because some people view these posts on their phone so it was to zoom in on the provincial limit of whitefish to make sure people could see it, not to take out the two paragraphs above. All I'm trying to do is highlight how it could be misinterpreted. They really shouldnt list a provincial wide limit, that way everyone just goes right to the specific zone they're going to fish to get info and look for lake x in the exceptions for any other rules to that body of water. The provincial limits are on the tenth page of the book so it is one of the first things you read. Again I'm by no means a die hard whitefish guy yet I've only ever caught one so I know I'm well within any limit lol

Not quite sure, but I think that means 25 max, so if you fish simcoe, catch 2, that’s your possession for simcoe. You could fish other lakes and zones to get a total of 25, but can’t keep 25 from simcoe. That’s my understanding atleast

For me I'm just curious because I just started targeting white fish at the end of last season so I just want to know how much I can put in my freezer, I know my daily is two on simcoe but I would find it weird to only have two from Simcoe in my freezer from over the season. Also how does MNR identify a lake whitefish from Simco anyway I know we have to keep a patch of skin on the fillet but how do you really tell from the fillet if it's from Simcoe or lake of bays or any stocked lake in Ontario.

It is not that you can keep 25 from Lake simcoe. Its more like too fish lake Simcoe you have to have less than 2 in your possession.
The possession limit for Lake Simcoe is 2. So while you are on Lake Simcoe can't have more than 2 in your possession. So as stated above possession is on you, cold storage, or in transit or anywhere. That means if you have 2 or more whitefish in your freezer you can't take anymore as that would put you over your possession limit. Doesn't matter where the fish comes from only matters where you are standing.

Wrong, post above put it well. Can have 2 from simcoe, 10 more from other zone 16 lakes, and 13 from other zones.

Wrong if you are fishing lake simcoe and have 2 white fish at home, regardless where they where caught, in your possession than can not take another whitefish much less fish for them.

If you read the excerpt from the regs thats not correct. It only matter where the fish were harvested from.

"While the regulations for a specific Fisheries Management Zone limit the number of fish an individual can catch and retain from that Zone, provincial possession limits limit the total number of fish of a given species a person can have in their possession (including storage) which have been harvested from more than one Zone. Always check the regulations for the zone in which you are fishing to ensure that you aren’t exceeding the catch and possession limit for that Zone."

Not quite sure, but I think that means 25 max, so if you fish simcoe, catch 2, that’s your possession for simcoe. You could fish other lakes and zones to get a total of 25, but can’t keep 25 from simcoe. That’s my understanding atleast

For me I'm just curious because I just started targeting white fish at the end of last season so I just want to know how much I can put in my freezer, I know my daily is two on simcoe but I would find it weird to only have two from Simcoe in my freezer from over the season. Also how does MNR identify a lake whitefish from Simco anyway I know we have to keep a patch of skin on the fillet but how do you really tell from the fillet if it's from Simcoe or lake of bays or any stocked lake in Ontario.

It is not that you can keep 25 from Lake simcoe. Its more like too fish lake Simcoe you have to have less than 2 in your possession.
The possession limit for Lake Simcoe is 2. So while you are on Lake Simcoe can't have more than 2 in your possession. So as stated above possession is on you, cold storage, or in transit or anywhere. That means if you have 2 or more whitefish in your freezer you can't take anymore as that would put you over your possession limit. Doesn't matter where the fish comes from only matters where you are standing.

Wrong, post above put it well. Can have 2 from simcoe, 10 more from other zone 16 lakes, and 13 from other zones.

Wrong if you are fishing lake simcoe and have 2 white fish at home, regardless where they where caught, in your possession than can not take another whitefish much less fish for them.

If you read the excerpt from the regs thats not correct. It only matter where the fish were harvested from.

"While the regulations for a specific Fisheries Management Zone limit the number of fish an individual can catch and retain from that Zone, provincial possession limits limit the total number of fish of a given species a person can have in their possession (including storage) which have been harvested from more than one Zone. Always check the regulations for the zone in which you are fishing to ensure that you aren’t exceeding the catch and possession limit for that Zone."

Okay lets take this slowly.
As you quoted
"Always check the regulations for the zone in which you are fishing to ensure that you aren’t exceeding the catch and possession limit for that Zone."

So if you are fishing Lake Simcoe with 2 whitefish in your freezer regardless from where they came from how many can you catch that day?
Answer none
Reason is if you catch and keep 1 you would now be in possession of 3 whitefish while on Lake Simcoe

Not quite sure, but I think that means 25 max, so if you fish simcoe, catch 2, that’s your possession for simcoe. You could fish other lakes and zones to get a total of 25, but can’t keep 25 from simcoe. That’s my understanding atleast

For me I'm just curious because I just started targeting white fish at the end of last season so I just want to know how much I can put in my freezer, I know my daily is two on simcoe but I would find it weird to only have two from Simcoe in my freezer from over the season. Also how does MNR identify a lake whitefish from Simco anyway I know we have to keep a patch of skin on the fillet but how do you really tell from the fillet if it's from Simcoe or lake of bays or any stocked lake in Ontario.

It is not that you can keep 25 from Lake simcoe. Its more like too fish lake Simcoe you have to have less than 2 in your possession.
The possession limit for Lake Simcoe is 2. So while you are on Lake Simcoe can't have more than 2 in your possession. So as stated above possession is on you, cold storage, or in transit or anywhere. That means if you have 2 or more whitefish in your freezer you can't take anymore as that would put you over your possession limit. Doesn't matter where the fish comes from only matters where you are standing.

Wrong, post above put it well. Can have 2 from simcoe, 10 more from other zone 16 lakes, and 13 from other zones.

Wrong if you are fishing lake simcoe and have 2 white fish at home, regardless where they where caught, in your possession than can not take another whitefish much less fish for them.

If you read the excerpt from the regs thats not correct. It only matter where the fish were harvested from.

"While the regulations for a specific Fisheries Management Zone limit the number of fish an individual can catch and retain from that Zone, provincial possession limits limit the total number of fish of a given species a person can have in their possession (including storage) which have been harvested from more than one Zone. Always check the regulations for the zone in which you are fishing to ensure that you aren’t exceeding the catch and possession limit for that Zone."

Okay lets take this slowly.
As you quoted
"Always check the regulations for the zone in which you are fishing to ensure that you aren’t exceeding the catch and possession limit for that Zone."

So if you are fishing Lake Simcoe with 2 whitefish in your freezer regardless from where they came from how many can you catch that day?
Answer none
Reason is if you catch and keep 1 you would now be in possession of 3 whitefish while on Lake Simcoe

Not how i see it
"Catch and Possession Limits – The catch limit is the number of fish you are allowed to catch and keep in one day and includes fish that are not immediately released and any fish eaten or given away."
"If you catch a fish after reaching the daily catch or possession limit for that species, the fish must be released immediately back to the water
(see Ontario’s Catch and Retain Rules, page 9). If the limit is zero, anglers may practise catch and release only, and any fish caught must be released immediately back into the water in a manner that does not harm the fish."

You can still catch whitefish if you have a limit as long as you release them immediately.

"While the regulations for a specific Fisheries Management Zone limit the number of fish an individual can catch and retain from that Zone[/B], provincial possession limits limit the total number of fish of a given species a person can have in their possession (including storage) which have been harvested from more than one Zone. Always check the regulations for the zone in which you are fishing to ensure that you aren’t exceeding the catch and possession limit for that Zone."

Simcoe limit: 2
Zone 16 limit: 12
Prov limit is : 25

If you caught 4 whitey's at Little Lake they count against your Zone 16 catch and possession limit and your provincial Catch and possession limit.

You move to Simcoe the next day, those 4 fish are still counting against your Zone 16 limit (12) and Prov limit (25)
But they would not count against your Simcoe limit because you did not harvest or posses any from Simcoe.

kingphoenix is correct in this debate.

Not quite sure, but I think that means 25 max, so if you fish simcoe, catch 2, that’s your possession for simcoe. You could fish other lakes and zones to get a total of 25, but can’t keep 25 from simcoe. That’s my understanding atleast

For me I'm just curious because I just started targeting white fish at the end of last season so I just want to know how much I can put in my freezer, I know my daily is two on simcoe but I would find it weird to only have two from Simcoe in my freezer from over the season. Also how does MNR identify a lake whitefish from Simco anyway I know we have to keep a patch of skin on the fillet but how do you really tell from the fillet if it's from Simcoe or lake of bays or any stocked lake in Ontario.

It is not that you can keep 25 from Lake simcoe. Its more like too fish lake Simcoe you have to have less than 2 in your possession.
The possession limit for Lake Simcoe is 2. So while you are on Lake Simcoe can't have more than 2 in your possession. So as stated above possession is on you, cold storage, or in transit or anywhere. That means if you have 2 or more whitefish in your freezer you can't take anymore as that would put you over your possession limit. Doesn't matter where the fish comes from only matters where you are standing.

Wrong, post above put it well. Can have 2 from simcoe, 10 more from other zone 16 lakes, and 13 from other zones.

Wrong if you are fishing lake simcoe and have 2 white fish at home, regardless where they where caught, in your possession than can not take another whitefish much less fish for them.

If you read the excerpt from the regs thats not correct. It only matter where the fish were harvested from.

"While the regulations for a specific Fisheries Management Zone limit the number of fish an individual can catch and retain from that Zone, provincial possession limits limit the total number of fish of a given species a person can have in their possession (including storage) which have been harvested from more than one Zone. Always check the regulations for the zone in which you are fishing to ensure that you aren’t exceeding the catch and possession limit for that Zone."

Okay lets take this slowly.
As you quoted
"Always check the regulations for the zone in which you are fishing to ensure that you aren’t exceeding the catch and possession limit for that Zone."

So if you are fishing Lake Simcoe with 2 whitefish in your freezer regardless from where they came from how many can you catch that day?
Answer none
Reason is if you catch and keep 1 you would now be in possession of 3 whitefish while on Lake Simcoe

You need to reread the regulations. Its not hard to understand. Your possession of SIMCOE whitefish is 2, your possession Zone 12 is 12, minus two because simcoe is in zone 16. The Provincial possession is 25, meaning I can now go fish other zones to get the other 13. As many others have already stated. This is straight from a conservation officer question and answer session. (Wasn't white fish that was the argument, think it was bass or something, but same rules apply)