Yukon Fishing License Guide: Rules & Fees

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🎣 Official-source-checked for 2026–27

Choose the Correct Yukon Angling Licence, Then Check the Exact Water Before Fishing

Yukon officially calls it an angling licence. Your cost depends on residency and trip length, while salmon, national parks and certain lakes require extra licences or permits.

Use this guide to choose the correct product, complete MyYukon checkout, handle salmon catch cards, find water-specific rules and avoid buying or fishing under the wrong category.

Apr 1–Mar 31 Season licence year
$18.47 Yukon/eligible Alaska season
$12.31 Visitor one-day option
Extra card Salmon other than kokanee
Real answer first

Do You Need a Yukon Fishing License?

Most anglers do. Buy a valid 2026–27 Yukon angling licence before fishing unless a youth, Indigenous harvesting-right, transboundary-water or other official exemption applies.

A seasonal licence is valid from April 1, 2026, through March 31, 2027. Carry the electronic PDF on your phone or a printed copy while fishing.

Do not stop at the licence: salmon other than kokanee needs a Salmon Conservation Catch Card; national parks use Parks Canada licences; and some lakes or fishing methods require a free additional sport-fishing licence.

Choose your route

Which Yukon Licence Situation Matches Your Trip?

🏠

Yukon resident

Buy the seasonal Yukon/Alaska resident product. Yukon residents aged 65 or older obtain a free licence but must still carry it.

$18.47 paid season category
🇨🇦

Canadian visitor

Choose the non-resident Canadian 1-day, 6-day or seasonal licence based on your actual fishing dates.

$12.31–$30.79
🌎

Visitor from outside Canada

Use the non-resident category. One-day, six-day and seasonal licences are available.

$12.31–$43.11
🧒

Youth under 16

Youth licences are free. Residency, adult supervision and whose catch limit applies determine whether obtaining the individual licence is important.

Read youth rules first
🐟

Fishing for salmon

Add an individual Salmon Conservation Catch Card for chinook, chum, coho or sockeye. Kokanee in lakes is excluded from this catch-card rule.

Separate federal system
🏞️

Fishing in a national park

A territorial Yukon licence is not valid in Kluane, Ivvavik or Vuntut national parks. Obtain the applicable Parks Canada fishing licence.

Different permit required
In-season status checked August 3, 2026

Do Not Use One Salmon Rule for Every Yukon Watershed

Yukon salmon opportunities are controlled through federal fishery notices and can differ by watershed, species, dates and exact boundaries.

⛔ Yukon and Porcupine rivers

No angling for chinook or chum salmon in these rivers and their tributaries from April 1, 2026, through March 31, 2027.

Chum daily and possession limits are also zero.

✅ Taku River sockeye

A 2026 notice permits a daily limit of 4 sockeye through September 1, 2026, within the notice’s applicable waters.

Chinook retention is prohibited, and Silver Salmon River has a separate closure.

⚠️ All other salmon trips

Check the live DFO notice system on the same day you fish. A catch card does not prove that a species or watershed is open.

Check Live DFO Notices Read Yukon–Porcupine Closure Read Taku Sockeye Notice
Official actions

Use the Official Link That Matches Your Task

💳 Buy a Yukon licence online Access Environment eLicensing through your MyYukon login. Open official checkout → 📋 Confirm eligibility and fees Official resident, visitor, youth, senior and Indigenous licence guidance. Check licence requirements → 📘 Open the 2026–27 rulebook Search its waterbody index, catch-limit tables, closures and special-water sections. Open official PDF → 📍 Find an approved vendor Use Yukon’s current list of participating community licence vendors. View vendor document → 🐟 Get or submit a catch card Use DFO’s National Recreational Licensing System for Yukon salmon. Open federal system → ⛔ Check current closures Review territorial closures and routes to current federal salmon notices. Check closures →
Current 2026–27 prices

Yukon Fishing Licence Cost

Angler category Season 6-day 1-day What to know
Yukon or eligible Alaska resident $18.47 Not offered Not offered Alaska residents must show a current Alaska resident sport-fishing licence and government photo ID.
Non-resident Canadian $30.79 $18.47 $12.31 For Canadian residents who do not qualify as Yukon residents.
Non-resident $43.11 $24.63 $12.31 Generally the category for anglers who normally reside outside Canada.
Yukon resident age 65+ Free Not applicable Not applicable The free licence must still be obtained and carried.
Youth under 16 Free Not applicable Not applicable Supervision and catch-limit treatment vary by residency and whether the youth has an individual licence.
Eligible First Nation or Inuvialuit angler Free Not applicable Not applicable Proof and licence needs depend on harvesting rights, location and eligibility.
GST is extra. Yukon adjusts fees annually for inflation. Check the final product, residency category and total shown before submitting payment.
Avoid overpaying

Which Visitor Licence Duration Should You Buy?

One confirmed day

1-day licence

$12.31 for either visitor category.

Best when you will fish on one specific licence date only.

Short consecutive trip

6-day licence

$18.47 Canadian visitor
$24.63 other visitor

Usually the practical choice for a lodge, road trip or camping stay.

Repeat or separated trips

Season licence

$30.79 Canadian visitor
$43.11 other visitor

Useful when you will return or fish across more than one short date block.

Clickable purchase steps

How to Buy a Yukon Fishing Licence Online

Choose residency and licence duration first Decide whether you are a Yukon/eligible Alaska resident, Canadian visitor or visitor from outside Canada. Then match the product to your fishing dates.
Prepare the required information Have your legal name, birth date, phone number, address and government-issued photo identification available.
Find your existing Environment Client ID Previous fishing, hunting or annual camping customers already have one. Check an old licence, permit or confirmation email.
Sign in using MyYukon Link the MyYukon login to the existing Environment eLicensing profile. Do not create a second client profile because you cannot find the old number.
Select the angling licence product Verify licence year, residency, duration and displayed fee before checkout.
Download the electronic PDF The licence is valid once you can access the PDF. Save it offline and print a backup for remote travel.
Purchase additional documents separately Add the federal catch card, Parks Canada licence or free sport-fishing licence when your species, location or fishing method requires one.
Open Environment eLicensing Read MyYukon Account Help
Phone-purchase warning: Yukon does not sell these licences by telephone. Use the online portal, a Department of Environment office or a participating vendor.
Account problem solver

What to Do When the Online Licence Purchase Does Not Work

I cannot find my client ID Check the top of an older fishing or hunting licence and search your email. Contact Environment instead of creating a duplicate account.
No confirmation email arrived Check spam or junk folders, then sign in and download the licence directly from the eLicensing account.
I lost the licence Reprint an electronic licence from your account free of charge. An office replacement is listed at $2.
I am buying for a child Each person, including each child, needs an individual Environment Client ID. MyYukon login-email arrangements are separate from the contact email used to receive documents.
The payment completed but no PDF appears Allow for a short processing delay, refresh the account’s licence area and check email. Call the Environment licensing number if the PDF remains unavailable.
I chose the wrong residency category Do not buy a second product immediately. Contact the official licensing office and ask how the incorrect transaction should be handled.
Youth and exemption routes

Who Can Fish Without Paying the Standard Licence Fee?

Yukon resident youth under 16

  • May fish with or without an angling licence.
  • May fish without an adult licence holder.
  • Receives individual freshwater catch and possession limits.
  • Needs an individual salmon catch card when targeting covered salmon.

Non-resident youth under 16

  • May fish without a Yukon licence when accompanied by an adult licence holder.
  • The unlicensed youth’s catch counts toward the accompanying adult’s limit.
  • A free individual youth licence provides an individual limit and permits independent fishing.
  • Bring a birth certificate or passport when obtaining the licence.

Yukon resident senior age 65+

  • The seasonal Yukon angling licence is free.
  • The licence must still be obtained and carried.
  • The salmon catch card is free but still required when targeting covered salmon.

Indigenous harvesting rights

Licence needs depend on the angler’s eligibility, applicable Final Agreement, Traditional Territory, written permission and whether fishing occurs inside or outside an applicable subsistence right.

Use the official Yukon page or contact Environment for a situation-specific answer.

2026 Family Fishing Weekend Has Passed

Yukon residents could fish for freshwater species without a licence from July 3 through July 6, 2026. That event has ended. Do not assume another licence-free period applies later in 2026.

During the event, proof of Yukon residency and all normal catch, size, gear and closure rules still applied. Salmon still required both the Yukon angling licence and catch card.

Separate federal document

Yukon Salmon Conservation Catch Card

When it is required

Obtain an individual catch card before fishing for chinook, chum, coho or sockeye salmon in Yukon.

Kokanee exception: landlocked kokanee in lakes is covered through territorial freshwater regulations rather than this federal catch-card requirement.

Validity and proof

The card is valid from April 1 or the purchase date through November 30 of the same year.

Carry the catch card and applicable Yukon angling licence while targeting salmon.

2026–27 catch-card category Fee before GST Important condition
Yukon or eligible Alaska resident paid category $12.31 Eligible Alaska residents need a current Alaska resident licence, Yukon licence and identification.
Canadian resident $24.63 This fee is separate from the Yukon angling-licence fee.
Non-resident $61.59 This fee is separate from the non-resident Yukon angling licence.
Youth under 16 Free Every youth salmon angler needs an individual catch card.
Yukon resident age 65+ Free The free catch card must still be obtained and carried.
Fee-source warning: an older DFO information page may display prior-year prices. These figures come from Yukon’s official 2026–27 regulations booklet. Confirm the final amount shown in NRLS before payment.

1. Get the card

Purchase or issue it through the National Recreational Licensing System before fishing for covered salmon.

2. Record immediately

Record every salmon caught, including released fish, with the required date, location, species and catch details.

3. Submit by November 30

Submit the card online even if you caught zero salmon or did not fish for salmon at all.

Exact zero-catch reporting route

  1. Sign in to NRLS.
  2. Select Record or View your Catch.
  3. If you fished but caught none, enter the activity details and select Zero Caught.
  4. If you did not fish for salmon, select Submit Catch Card and choose the option confirming that you did not angle for salmon.
  5. Submit the card and retain the confirmation email.
Get or Submit Catch Card Read DFO Catch-Card Help
Most important rule check

How to Find the Correct Rule for Your Exact Lake or River

1. Confirm the exact water name

Identify the lake, river, tributary, inlet, outlet, bay or bridge area. Similar names and connected waters can have different rules.

2. Search pages 3–4

Open the regulation booklet and search the index of waters with special rules. Follow the page number shown beside the name.

3. Check late notices

Review Yukon closures and DFO salmon notices on the same day you fish.

Simple decision rule

Water not listed in the special-water index: use the General Waters limits.

Water listed: follow its special page for catch, possession, protected-size, hook, season and closure rules. Those rules override the general table.

Search 2026–27 Regulations Check Yukon Closures Check Salmon Notices
General Waters only

Common Yukon Daily and Possession Limits

Use this table only when the exact waterbody is not listed as a Conservation Water, Special Management Water, stocked lake or other special-rule location.

Species Daily limit Possession limit General size rule
Lake trout 3 6 Only one may be longer than 65 cm / 26 in.
Bull trout 2 4 Only one may be longer than 50 cm / 20 in.
Arctic grayling 5 10 Only one may be longer than 40 cm / 16 in.
Northern pike 5 10 Only one may be longer than 75 cm / 30 in.
Kokanee salmon 5 10 No general size limit; aggregate salmon limits can also matter.
Arctic char 2 4 No general size limit shown.
Rainbow trout 5 10 Stocked-lake limits can differ.
Dolly Varden 5 10 Check the exact watershed.
Whitefish 5 10 Dip-net fishing requires an additional licence.
Inconnu / sheefish 1 2 Check river-specific restrictions.
Burbot in waters under 2,500 ha 3 6 Set-line fishing requires a separate permit.
Burbot in General Waters over 2,500 ha 10 20 The booklet identifies Big Kalzas Lake and Earn Lake for this general category.
Protected-size warning: daily limits do not mean every fish may be kept. Measure before retaining, and release prohibited fish in the least harmful manner.
Why the index matters

Special-Water and Closure Traps to Check

Stocked lakes

Stocked lakes have their own catch table. Do not automatically apply General Waters limits to stocked rainbow trout, Arctic char or kokanee waters.

Fish-farming lakes

Licensed fish-farming lakes are closed to angling. Some are marked through official closure notices posted at the lake.

First Nations shoreline closures

Some settlement lands are closed to public fishing from shore. Use the regulation maps and respect posted boundaries.

Tower Bay seasonal closure

Tower Bay on Dezadeash Lake is closed to licensed and subsistence angling from July 1 through August 15.

Whitehorse fish ladder

Fishing is prohibited within 23 metres / 75 feet downstream of the Whitehorse Rapids Fish Ladder entrance.

Named tributaries and mouths

A river mouth, tributary, bridge or inlet can have a closure even when the connected main lake or river remains open.

Extra permission triggers

When a Normal Yukon Angling Licence Is Not Enough

Free additional sport-fishing licence

  • Fishing at Tetl’ámǟn / Tatlmain Lake
  • Fishing at Wellesley Lake
  • Dip-netting lake whitefish or suckers
  • Using set lines for burbot
  • Snagging cisco for bait at the authorized Tagish or Carcross locations
  • Participating in a licensed fishing derby

Yukon–BC transboundary waters

A Yukon or BC angling licence may be used on specified boundary waters including Bennett, Laidlaw, Morley, Tagish and Teslin lakes, excluding inlet and outlet streams, plus Rancheria River, Swift River and their tributaries.

Follow the rules of the jurisdiction where you are physically fishing.

Burbot set-line permit

You need a valid angling licence, a set-line permit and up-to-date prior reports. Set lines are limited to ice-covered periods and have hook, marking, checking and reporting conditions.

Rules that prevent tickets

Core Yukon Fishing Rules After You Buy the Licence

🎫 Carry official proof

Keep the licence available as an electronic PDF or printed copy and produce it when requested.

🎣 One line normally

Use no more than one line while angling. Two lines may be used during ice fishing unless a stricter local rule applies.

👀 Attend every line

Remain nearby with a direct line of sight. This applies to open-water and ice fishing.

🪱 No live-fish bait

Do not use live fish as bait or move live fish, uncured eggs, crayfish, leeches or other aquatic organisms without authorization.

🪝 Check hook restrictions

Barbless or single-pointed hooks are required in many named waters, but not automatically in every Yukon water.

📏 Release undersized fish

Fish under 20 cm / 8 in caught by angling must be released, along with fish protected by species or water-specific size rules.

🚫 No general snagging

Snagging is illegal except for the narrowly defined licensed cisco-for-bait activity at authorized locations.

💰 No selling your catch

Fish caught under a recreational Yukon licence cannot be bought, sold or bartered.

🐟 Release prohibited fish

If the regulations do not allow retention, release the fish in the least harmful manner—even when it appears unlikely to survive.

Enforcement snapshot

Common Fines Shown in the Yukon Regulation Booklet

Offence Listed fine Simple prevention
Fishing without a licence $100 Download the PDF before leaving mobile coverage.
Exceeding daily catch limit $100 + $50 per fish, maximum $1,000 Check species and water-specific limits before retaining fish.
Exceeding possession limit $100 + $50 per fish, maximum $1,000 Count fish stored at camp, home, vehicle or for your benefit.
Barbed hook in barbless-regulated water $100 Pinch or remove the barb before the first cast.
Snagging without the required sport-fishing licence $250 Do not snag unless using the narrow authorized cisco route.
Failure to record, produce or submit catch card $100 Record immediately, carry the card and submit it by November 30.

Closed-time and closed-area violations can lead to a court notice. Other offences and penalties may also apply.

Local licensing help

Yukon Environment Contact, Office and Vendor Help

Questions about fishing regulations

Fisheries Unit phone: 867-667-5721

Yukon toll-free: 1-800-661-0408, extension 5721

Use this contact when the waterbody, derby, special licence, closure or regulation wording is unclear.

Salmon catch-card support

DFO support: 1-877-535-7307

Ask for recreational licensing assistance in Yukon when you cannot purchase, print, report or submit the catch card.

Call-ahead vendor script

“Hello, I need a Yukon angling licence for [dates]. I am a [Yukon resident / Canadian visitor / visitor from outside Canada]. Can you issue that product today, and what ID and payment method should I bring?”
Remote Yukon preparation

Documents, Safety and Offline Checklist

Documents

  • Angling licence PDF saved offline
  • Government-issued photo ID
  • Salmon catch card if applicable
  • Park or sport-fishing licence if applicable
  • Printed backup for remote areas

Regulation proof

  • Exact waterbody page saved
  • Species limit and protected size checked
  • Hook rule confirmed
  • Closure pages checked
  • Salmon notice checked the same day

Release tools

  • Measuring tape or fish ruler
  • Needle-nose pliers
  • Rubberized landing net
  • Barb-crushing tool
  • Camera ready before lifting fish

Bear country

  • Carry accessible bear spray and know its use
  • Keep fish and food in a sealed container
  • Clean fish at the shoreline, not the campsite
  • Do not leave catch exposed or unattended
  • Cut the line if a fighting fish attracts a bear

Ice fishing

  • Avoid foot travel before at least 15 cm / 6 in of clear strong ice
  • Avoid snowmobile travel on ice under 25 cm / 10 in
  • Avoid current, narrows and visibly weak ice
  • Check weather and carry layered clothing

Boat trip

  • Canadian-approved PFD or lifejacket for each person
  • Paddles or oars and a bailing device
  • Sound-signalling and navigation equipment
  • Required Pleasure Craft Operator proof
  • Offline map and shared trip plan
Final error check

Common Yukon Licence Mistakes

Buying only the Yukon licence for salmon

Fix: add the individual federal catch card and verify that the watershed and species are open.

Creating a second Client ID

Fix: locate or recover the existing Environment Client ID and link it to MyYukon.

Using General Waters limits everywhere

Fix: search the exact lake, tributary, inlet, outlet or bridge area in the special-water index.

Assuming a catch card means salmon is open

Fix: check the live DFO notice for the watershed on the fishing date.

Using a Yukon licence in a national park

Fix: obtain the required Parks Canada fishing licence.

Forgetting a zero-catch report

Fix: submit the catch card by November 30 even when no salmon was caught or no salmon fishing occurred.

Fast answers

Yukon Fishing License FAQs

Can I buy a Yukon fishing licence online?

Yes. Use Yukon Environment eLicensing through your MyYukon login. Select the correct residency and duration, complete payment and download the electronic licence PDF.

How much is a Yukon fishing licence in 2026?

Before GST, a Yukon or eligible Alaska resident season licence costs $18.47. A non-resident Canadian season licence costs $30.79, while the other non-resident season licence costs $43.11. Visitor one-day licences cost $12.31.

How long is the 2026–27 Yukon licence valid?

The seasonal licence is valid from April 1, 2026, through March 31, 2027. Short-term products are valid for the dates displayed on the issued document.

Can I buy a Yukon fishing licence by phone?

No. Yukon states that licences cannot be purchased by telephone. Buy online, at a Department of Environment office or through an approved participating vendor.

Do children need a Yukon fishing licence?

Licences are free for youth under 16. Yukon resident youth can fish without adult supervision and receive their own freshwater limits. Unlicensed non-resident youth must fish with an adult licence holder, and their catch counts toward the adult’s limit.

Do I need a Salmon Conservation Catch Card?

Yes when fishing for chinook, chum, coho or sockeye salmon. Kokanee in lakes is excluded. Every salmon angler, including youth, needs an individual catch card.

Can I show my Yukon fishing licence on my phone?

Yes. Yukon accepts an electronic copy on a mobile device or a printed copy. Save the official PDF offline because many fishing locations have limited service.

Does a Yukon fishing licence work inside national parks?

No. Obtain the applicable Parks Canada fishing licence for Kluane, Ivvavik or Vuntut national parks.

How do I replace a lost Yukon fishing licence?

Reprint an electronic licence through your Environment eLicensing account free of charge. Yukon also lists office replacement of a lost or destroyed licence for $2.

How do I find the rule for a specific Yukon lake?

Search the exact lake or river in the regulation booklet’s index of waters with special rules. If it is listed, follow the referenced page. If it is absent, General Waters limits normally apply. Then check current closures and salmon notices.

Do I submit the catch card after catching no salmon?

Yes. Submit it through NRLS by November 30. Use the Zero Caught option if you fished without catching salmon, or the did-not-angle option if you did not fish for salmon.

Official Sources and Freshness Check

This independent guide was rebuilt from Government of Yukon, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Parks Canada and federal regulation resources current for the 2026–27 licence year.

Full audit completed Checked August 3, 2026 2026–27 fees Live salmon notices reviewed FAQPage schema only No third-party checkout links

Before the First Cast

Buy the licence matching your residency and fishing dates, save the PDF offline, obtain every additional permit, search the exact waterbody and check same-day closure or salmon notices.

Official rules control: fees, vendors, online systems, salmon openings, closures and water-specific regulations can change. The current licence document, applicable law, official notices and conservation-officer instructions override this educational guide.

Buy Yukon Angling Licence Open 2026–27 Regulations

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