Licensing Information

Licensing: Things you should know

All recreational anglers must have an active Wildlife Identification Number (WiN) before purchasing a recreational sportfishing licence or applying on a draw. WiN activation requires a one-time $8.00 fee (plus GST). Current WiN card holders will be required to pay the one-time fee when their current WiN expires. Create or renew a WiN online and receive $2.00 off the activation fee.

Alberta residents under 16 years of age or 65 and over are not required to have a sportfishing licence to fish with a rod and reel; however, must follow Alberta’s sportfishing regulations.

Sportfishing licences and Special Harvest Licences are available at albertarelm.com or from more than 300 private licence issuers.

Alberta Sportfishing Licence Fees

1 A resident Canadian Armed Forces Veteran is an Alberta resident who is a former member of the Canadian Armed Forces, has successfully undergone basic training and has been honourably discharged. 
2 Alberta Resident is an individual who has their only or primary residence in Alberta and is a Canadian citizen or is admitted to permanent residence in Canada.
3 Non-resident (Canadian) is an individual who is not a Resident, but who makes their home and is ordinarily present in Canada, and who has lived in Canada for the 12-month period immediately preceding the relevant date.
4 Non-resident Outside of Canada is an individual who is neither a Resident nor a Non-resident.

DISCLAIMER: ALL LICENCES ARE NON-REFUNDABLE AND NON-TRANSFERABLE.  

Licences must be carried when sportfishing and transporting fish harvested with the sportfishing licence.

To obtain the free CAF Veteran Sportfishing Licence, Canadian Armed Forces veterans update and confirm their WiN profile status by providing approved identification (VSC, CAF 74, NDI 75, CFOne “V”) on the AlbertaRELM website or a licence issuer. Must carry the CAF Veteran Sportfishing Licence and approved veteran identification when sportfishing.  

The AlbertaRELM App is the only method for which anglers can easily store and access licences electronically. Please remember that the onus is on the angler to produce the electronic or paper licence when requested by an officer during field compliance checks.

If a person is convicted of a provincial fishing or hunting offence and fails to pay their fine, they will be suspended from purchasing or using a sportfishing licence, a hunting licence or applying on draws until that outstanding fine has been paid.

Lost/destroyed licences – all purchased licences can be reprinted either at a licence issuer for a $2.00 fee or online at no charge.
Lost/destroyed tags – Tags that are lost or stolen can now be replaced at a licence issuer for a $11.00 replacement fee.   

How are the Sportfishing Licensing fees used? For each $1 of revenue collected:

• $0.61 is distributed to the Alberta Conservation Association. For more information on how funds are used to support Fisheries programs, please visit www.ab-conservation.com
• $0.34 is used for licensing allocation and administration providing compensation to the Service Provider and the network of private Licence Issuers as well as provides funds for programs to monitor fish populations. For more information, visit mywildalberta.ca
  
• $0.05 goes to Government of Alberta General Revenue Fund.

Certain fishing activities in Alberta require licences other than a recreational sportfishing licence, including Competitive Fishing Events and Salvage Fishing. Visit MyWildAlberta to learn more about these licence types.

For further inquiries, contact the Hunting and Fishing Branch of Alberta Forestry and Parks at HFB-Fisheries@gov.ab.ca

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Special Harvest Licence for Walleye

For more information about Special Walleye Draws, go to albertarelm.com and mywildalberta.ca

Alberta uses an innovative approach to allow a sustainable level of walleye harvest in waterbodies where standard size and bag limits would be unsustainable. At lakes where fishing pressure is substantial or there are conservation concerns, a limited harvest option has been implemented. A Special Harvest Licence (SHL) for walleye is available to Alberta residents at specified lakes. These lakes are selected based on current stock assessment and sport fishery information.

Tagging instructions
Walleye retained with a Special Harvest Licence must be immediately tagged as per conditions of licence with a paper tag and wire through the gill cavity and mouth.

Prior to purchasing online, users must have pre-numbered Government of Alberta adhesive paper tags ready to complete the purchase. Tags can be picked up at Fish & Wildlife Offices, Licence Issuers or ordered online and through the AbertaRELM app.

The electronic tag pilot remains paused while legislation related to inspection and use of personal electronic devices for enforcement is reviewed. Further updates on e-tagging will be shared when available.

Notice to Anglers
Alberta Government reserves the right to close any lake if it is deemed that a fish stock cannot sustain itself or sustain a harvest. For example, if a lake has experienced serious winterkill, a zero harvest regulation may be implemented. If you have any questions regarding this, contact EPA.Outreach-Services@gov.ab.ca.

Special Harvest Licences are to be used only by the licence holder, with the exception of anglers under 16 years of age. Anglers under 16 years old are permitted to use a supervising adult’s Special Harvest Licence tags for walleye.
 

NEW! For the 2026 angling season, all Special Harvest Licences (Class A, B and C) are available for direct purchase by eligible Alberta resident anglers on a first-come, first-serve basis, until waterbody and/or Class quotas are reached.

Three classes of licences are available:
● Class A (over 50 cm)
● Class B (43-50 cm)
● Class C (under 43 cm)

Each SHL includes two harvest tags. Anglers may purchase up to six SHLs per season, for a total of twelve tags (subject to each waterbody’s available quota). Any combination of Class and waterbody is permitted.

Special Harvest Licences will be available for purchase online at AlbertaRELM or at any licence issuer starting April 28, 2026 at 9:00 am MT.

A list of eligible waterbodies and available licence quotas can be found online at AlbertaRELM and MyWildAlberta.

Important Information:
All anglers require a Wildlife Identification Number (WiN) to purchase a special harvest licence. A WiN can be purchased online at AlbertaRELM.com, through the AlbertaRELM app or at any licence issuer.

For more information about SHLs, visit MyWildAlberta - Fishing Licences.

The maximum possession limit for walleye is 12 when harvested under a SHL, combined with an annual sportfishing licence. For anglers without a SHL, an annual sportfishing licence is required, maximum possession of walleye remains at 3 and waterbody-specific regulations apply.