The Port Hope fish migrations are among Mother Nature's most impressive wonders. Thousands of salmon and trout swim upstream and jump the fish ladder to migrate to their spawning grounds.
Planning to visit Port Hope to fish or watch the salmon migration this year? Visit our Fishing Page before you arrive so that you can review the fishing regulations and know the COVID-19 protocols currently in place.
Thousands of fish swim against the current to head home
People come every weekend from mid-August to early October to watch the 5,000 to 10,000 chinook and silvery coho salmon swim from Lake Ontario up the Ganaraska River that runs through Port Hope on their way to their home spawning grounds. And as many as 18,000 trout a year make the same journey from late March until early May, or through October until mid-December. Fish fact: The Ganaraska River is one of the healthiest rivers in Ontario, populated almost entirely with wild naturally-reproducing fish.
How many fish are in the river now?
The Ganaraska Region Conservation Authority owns a camera that has been placed at Corbett's Dam to collect footage on the fish that pass through the ladder. Come back during the migration to see how many fish have passed through. At the peak of the salmon run, we see well over 1000 fish a week.
See the action at Corbett's Dam fish ladder
You can see the pooling stations for fish in the shallow water at various points along the river in town. The best viewing spots are along the river trails downtown and the Ganaraska Fishway, managed by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry (MNRF). It's more commonly known as the Fish Ladder at Corbett's Dam (the dam is managed by the Ganaraska Region Conservation Authority where an underwater monitoring system lets you watch the fish! It records the number of fish that pass through to travel to their spawning grounds, as well as the species, size and health. Corbett's Dam is located at 4 McKibbon St, Port Hope. Latitude: 43.95117 Longitude: -78.29299
The Ganaraska Fishway has the best vantage point for seeing these fish in action.
You'll see the pooling locations in the shallow water at various points in town.
Take in the beauty of the Ganaraska River while following the fish upstream.
Interested in fishing? Ganaraska River is a popular destination
Here’s the info you need to get your line in the water. Please note that there’s zero tolerance for illegal fishing, so be sure to carry a current fishing licence at all times. If you're looking for a fishing experience for the family, Linwood Acre Trout Farm has pond fishing in a beautiful country setting – and pros on hand to filet your catch!
- The Ganaraska River is in the Fisheries Management Zone 17
- Ontario Fishing Regulations
- Fishing licence for Canadian residents
- Fishing licence for non-Canadian residents
- The River Watch Brochure authored by the Ganaraska River Conservation Authority has important fishing regulation information and a handy map.
- For in-person licence purchases, please visit the Port Hope ServiceOntario office at 58 Queen St.
- Come early! Fishing is prohibited on the Ganaraska River between 8 p.m. and 6 a.m. from Aug. 15 to Sept. 30 from the Robertson Street Bridge to the Jocelyn Street Bridge
- No fishing in the Fish Sanctuary from Highway 401 downstream to the south side of the Jocelyn
- Bass - open from the third Saturday in June to December 15 of each year
- Trout and salmon - open from the fourth Saturday in April to September 30 of each year
- Atlantic salmon - catch and release only
- No fishing in the Fish Sanctuary from Highway 401 downstream to the south side of the Jocelyn
For a map on where you can fish during each time of the year, view the River Watch Brochure authored by the Ganaraska River Conservation Authority.
See below for the limits on conservation and sport licences. As a reminder, this information is subject to change and it is ultimately the responsibility of the fisher to know the regulations. See the first tab for the most up to date information. Chart current as of June 7, 2021.
| Fish species | Sport licence limit | Conservation licence limit |
|---|---|---|
| Trout and Salmon | 5; only 2 can be Rainbow Trout | 2 |
| Bass | 6 | 2 |
| Walleye | 4 | 1 |
| Yellow Perch | 50 | 25 |
| Sunfish | 300; only 30 may be greater than 18 cm | 15 |
Fish illustrations courtesy of Wisconsin Dept. of Natural Resources. Illustrations by Virgil Beck.
Extraordinary is closer than you think
Historic Port Hope is Ontario's favourite small town.