• No matter what kind of fishing you do in Canadian tidal waters, you need a license.Fishing image by philn99 from Fotolia.com
  
  Fishing is something that can be enjoyed by people regardless of age provided they have the patience for it. In years past, all you needed was a fishing rod, a hook and some bait. Nowadays, fishing is more regulated, and before you can go fishing, you need to get a fishing license. There are many different licenses depending on the kind of fishing you want to do. Fishing in Canadian tidal waters requires its own special license.
  
  

Tidal Licensing

• A tidal fishing license is required for both children and adults. Licenses for children under the age of 16 are free and can be obtained by either parent. It's also possible to acquire a license for your spouse. An annual license is legal from the date of issue until the following March 31, when a new one will be required. Shorter-term licenses are available and are valid only until midnight of the expiration date. The license must be shown upon request to any fishery officer, conservation officer or fishery guardian. This license is required to fish both fin and shellfish and must be on your person at all times while both fishing and transporting your catch.
  
  

Online Licensing

• A tidal waters fishing license is easily obtainable on the Internet. The Canadian Fisheries website has a page that allows you to fill out and submit the necessary forms online. After paying the fee for the license, you are then able to print out your fishing license and begin fishing immediately. As regular printing paper is prone to damage (especially while fishing), should the license become wet or damaged in any other way, you are able to print out a new copy free of charge. However, if you lose your license while you're on a fishing trip, vendors who issue licenses are not able to replace online licenses. It must be done online using your own ID and password.
  
  

Other Information

• For fishing in Canada, certain fish have their own regulations. Under Canadian Fisheries law, only Canadian citizens are allowed to fish for halibut in certain areas. Nonresidents are able to apply to fish halibut within the restricted areas (located around Vancouver Island) but there are strict limitations on the number of fish permitted to be caught and where they may be caught. Another restriction is placed on Pacific salmon. In order to legally fish for salmon, you must obtain a Salmon Conservation Stamp on your license. When fishing for Pacific salmon, you are allowed to catch no more than four on a single day.