Ottawa River Mooneye

[zippyfx]

The list of bait-fish refers to live bait. Chop it into pieces and you'd be fine.

Does anyone have more info on this? Would it be the same for rock bass?

Not quite the bait fish guide lists all the fish you are allowed yo use in part or in whole... Rockfish can not be used gorgeous bait in part of in whole.

[MichaelGA]

There is a difference between Bait and Baitfish

Once it is dead / chopped / frozen / dehydrated / preserved / canned etc. it changes from Baitfish to Bait
Many people use Sardines, Keyhoe, Smelt, Mackerel, and other salt water fish as Bait, as well as Macaroni, Corn, ground up fish boilies, Livers, Gizzards, Shrimp, Squid, Oysters, Clams, Garlic etc.

Bait – There are some areas of the province where the use of any form of bait is not allowed. Bait includes live or dead animals, plants or parts. See Bait (page 10), or exceptions to the Zone regulations for the Zone where you are fishing.

BAITFISH
Please note that a number of changes have been made to bait regulations to protect rare and endangered species, conserve biodiversity and prevent the spread of invasive species. Anglers may not use live yellow perch and alewife as bait anywhere in Ontario.

Baitfish
Anglers are responsible to ensure that any baitfish in their posession are permitted baitfish. Only the fish species listed below may be used as live bait:

Minnows
Blacknose shiner
Blackchin shiner
Bluntnose minnow
Brassy minnow
Central stoneroller
Common shiner
Creek chub
Eastern blacknose dace
Emerald shiner
Fallfish
Fathead minnow
Finescale dace
Golden shiner
Hornyhead chub
Lake chub
Longnose dace
Mimic shiner
Northern redbelly dace
Pearl dace
Redfin shiner
River chub
Rosyface shiner
Sand shiner
Spotfin shiner
Spottail shiner
Striped shiner

Suckers
Longnose sucker
Northern hog sucker
Shorthead redhorse
Silver redhorse
White sucker

Others
Central mudminnow
Lake herring (cisco)
Trout-Perch

Sticklebacks
Brook stickleback
Ninespine stickleback
Threespine stickleback

Sculpins
Mottled sculpin
Slimy sculpin

Darters and Logperch
Blackside darter
Fantail darter
Iowa darter
Johnny darter
Least darter
Rainbow darter
River darter
Tessellated darter
Logperch

[Shore to Shore]

My older son caught one last weekend in 21'. it was caught shortly after we caught a 35" muskie. Was the first mooneye I have seen landed.

[CyrusG]

Thanks for the info Michael, when i have the chance i'll talk to the MNR about this i won't be using any as bait until i know for sure.

[MichaelGA]

Good idea to be safe - but be sure to get the answer from the district office and in writing (with a readable signature).

If you ask any old CO they will give you any old as interpreted by them answer,
which unless you meet that very same guy again ... likely won't help you.

[zippyfx]

Good idea to be safe - but be sure to get the answer from the district office and in writing (with a readable signature).

If you ask any old CO they will give you any old as interpreted by them answer,
which unless you meet that very same guy again ... likely won't help you.

I stand corrected!