Fishing in Auyuittuq National Park

Auyuittuq sits on the southeastern tip of Baffin Island in Nunavut, a landscape of granite peaks, sprawling glaciers, and steep-walled fiords cut by river valleys running through the Akshayuk Pass.

The water here is cold, remote, and largely wild — the kind of place where thirteen species of freshwater and marine fish have been recorded, and where the fishing is incidental to a serious wilderness trip rather than the reason most people show up.

The rivers draining the pass are the main fishing waters: the Weasel River and the Isurtuq River run through the valley corridor, and the Naksakjua River is among the other drainages in the park.

Summit Lake and Glacier Lake sit along the travel route through the pass. Arctic char is the species that draws anglers to Nunavut broadly, and the park's cold, clear waters fit that profile. Getting here is a commitment.

Access is through Pangnirtung or Qikiqtarjuaq, and all trips into the park require mandatory registration with Parks Canada before entry and de-registration on return.

If your route crosses Inuit-owned land, you'll need separate permission from the Qikiqtani Inuit Association. River crossings inside the park are a real hazard — water levels run lower in the morning, which is worth knowing before you plan a crossing day.

On the permit side: a provincial or territorial fishing licence does not cover park waters. A separate Parks Canada fishing permit is required and can be obtained from a Parks Canada office.

The Nunavut Sport Fishing Guide confirms fishing is permitted in Auyuittuq. Gear rules are strict — one line, one hook or fly, no set lines, no foul hooking. Check directly with Parks Canada for current rules before you go; regulations and closures can change.

This is not a destination you drop into for a weekend of fishing. But if you're already committing to the Akshayuk Pass, the rivers and lakes along the route hold fish in a setting that few anglers ever reach.