🎣 Striped Bass in Quebec: An Expert Guide to Fishing in Permitted Areas

Striped bass (Morone saxatilis): a spectacular predator making a comeback in the St. Lawrence. This complete guide gives you what you need to fish intelligently and effectively, follow the rules and use field-tested Target Baits lures.

🧭 Contents

• 1. Permitted fishing area and maps
• 2. Biology, behaviour and history
• 3. Official regulations (Zone 21)
• 4. Suitable fishing techniques
• 5. Target Baits lures: selection and uses
• 6. Pro tips
• 7. Ethics and conservation
• 8. Useful resources and external links

1. Permitted fishing area and maps

In Quebec, recreational striped bass fishing is  limited to the eastern part of Zone 21 (St. Lawrence Estuary). To find the exact boundaries:

• 📍 Consult the official interactive map of fishing zones, including Zone 21, on the Quebec Sport Fishing (MFFP) website.
• A Government of Canada "Reference Points" PDF specifies the Forestville–Rimouski line and the relevant rivers for striped bass fishing in Quebec

2. Biology, behaviour and history

• Size and lifespan: Generally 40–65 cm (15"–25"); some specimens exceed 100 cm (40"). Lifespan: approximately 30 years.
• Habitat: strong currents, submerged structures, river mouths and weed beds.
• Diet: baitfish such as smelt and sand lance, molluscs and shrimp.
• History: disappeared in the 1960s; reintroduction began in 2002. The population is now growing steadily.

3. Official regulations (Zone 21)

Official rules issued by the MFFP and the PecheZone21 website include:

• Season: June 15 to October 31
• Catch limit: 3 fish per angler per day
• Legal size: 50–65 cm
• Lures: Artificial lures only; natural bait is prohibited. In New Brunswick, pieces of fish may be used.
• Rigging: Maximum of 3 single hooks per line; treble hooks prohibited

4. Suitable fishing techniques (explained for beginners)

New to striped bass fishing? No worries! Here is a clear, detailed overview of the most effective techniques, even if you have never cast a line before.

🎣 Casting (spinning)

The most common technique, and a great place to start. Cast a soft or hard lure and retrieve it to imitate a fleeing baitfish.

• Recommended gear: 7- to 10-foot spinning rod, size 3000–4000 reel, 20–30 lb braid and a 30 lb fluorocarbon leader.
• Working the lure: Vary your speed. Try a slow retrieve, pause, twitch, then retrieve again — often called twitching or stop-and-go.
• Where to cast: River mouths, sand points, peninsulas and lagoon outlets. Aim for currents, visible structure such as rocks and buoys, or areas where the water seems to move faster.

🌊 Surfcasting (from shore)

Fishing from the shore along beaches, estuaries or river mouths is known as surfcasting.

• Gear: A long rod, up to 10 feet if possible, for longer casts.
• Tip: Target depth changes, weed beds and river mouths. These are places where striped bass hunt!
• Recommended lures: Ideally, use lures that resemble sand lance, smelt, mackerel or herring. Try a topwater lure early in the morning or in the evening, or a Swimmy Eel or Baby Shad on a weighted jig head to fish deeper.

🚣♂️ From a kayak or small boat

With a kayak or small boat, you can locate schools of striped bass more easily and position yourself directly in active areas.

• Use sonar or a fish finder if possible, to locate deeper fish.
• Drift fishing: Let the current carry you while casting around the boat.
• Advantage: You can follow the school as it moves!

🎣 Fly fishing (for the curious)

More technical, but great fun: fly fishing works well for striped bass feeding near the surface. You need a fly rod, a strong leader and a baitfish-pattern fly, such as a Streamer Eel 3D).

• When: At dawn or sunset, when striped bass hunt at the surface.
• How: Make long casts, then retrieve the fly line with quick hand strips to work the fly.
• Beginner tip: Start with a guide or experienced friend if you have never fly-cast before!

Whatever your level, the key is to read the water, vary your techniques and stay persistent. Striped bass are hard-fighting fish, but well-prepared anglers of all levels can catch them.

5. Target Baits lures: selection and uses

• Swimmy Eel 5.5" Ready to Fish — Quebec's #1 lure!
• Swimmy Eel 5.5" — Individual — Unweighted: choose the ideal weight yourself!
• Baby Shad 4.5" — A lifelike baitfish imitation with strong vibrations.
• Topwater Big Shad 7" — Floating wooden pencil bait (78 g) that creates splashes; perfect at dawn or dusk.

Tip : To vary your fishing depth, use Texas or jig rigs with jig heads from 1/2 oz to 2 oz.

6. Pro tips

• Fish around the rising tide : from 2 hours before to 2 hours after high tide.
• Use polarized sunglasses to spot schools and track your lures.
• Vary your retrieve : short twitches, pauses, slow steady retrieves and stop-and-go.
• Try different depths
• When fishing at night, use dark-coloured lures.

7. Ethics and conservation

• Choose barbless hooks to reduce injuries.
• Handle fish gently and keep them in the water as much as possible.
• Take quick photos and release immediately to maximize survival.
• Share good practices: striped bass remain a vulnerable resource despite their recovery.

Learn how to cook your catch...

Striped Bass with Teriyaki and Ginger Sauce

July 15, 2024

Ingredients: 4 striped bass fillets, 3 tbsp soy sauce, 2 tbsp mirin...

Read the recipe

8. Useful resources and external links

• Rules and limits (Zone 21) — official PecheFaune website
• PDF map of Zones 20 and 21 — Government of Quebec
• Official PDF: Zone 21 rules, catch limits, sizes and season — PecheFaune
• Recovery Strategy and Action Plan — Striped Bass (Canada, 2021)
• COSEWIC report and distribution map — Striped Bass