Roaring salmon rivers of the North Shore, crystal-clear emerald green rivers in the Gaspé, and historic rivers of the St. Lawrence South Shore fished since the 1600s, show the array and diversity of salmon rivers in Québec.

While some Québec rivers are meeting spawning targets, not all is well. Five rivers branching from the upper portions of the St. Lawrence lost their salmon runs, some more than a century ago. In only one, the Jacques Cartier, was the salmon run restored. Hydro dams continue to be barriers to migration upstream and down on many other rivers. The St-Francis River, emptying into the St. Lawrence just downriver from Montreal, is thought to have been the most "upstream" St. Lawrence tributary to have had truly anadromous, i.e. sea-run, salmon.

Québec is divided into two parts, the second being the North Québec (Ungava) rivers, which are located on an alternate page click here.

Note that in addition to the salmon rivers mentioned on these maps, one further river exists - the Nastapoka River, on Hudson Bay's eastern side which is the only stream in that large sea to have a salmon run.