Yes, sockeye are starting to stack up in the inlet in catchable numbers. Its not hot fishing yet, but catchable numbers. Unlike the last 2 seasons the river water is low and warm. The upper layer of water in the canal is warm. That is a slight barrier to migration into the river. This may be a good thing for the recreational fishery in that sockeye will not migrate into the river as quickly as they have done in prior years. When the fish stage in the canal, it makes angling for sockeye more successful. Barring any dramatic changes the run forecast is 700,000 to 1 million +. Should result in good fishing opportunity for sockeye. You can expect to see commercial fisheries starting next week. Gill net goes first (weekly), followed by 3 day openings each week for seine fleet.
Here's update on coho. Please note the regulations are identical to prior years (not 2014 season). The Minister is still reviewing recommendations from SFAB regarding coho regulations based on finding a balance between protecting upper Fraser Coho and creating angling opportunities. That means for now, pending Minister's review, the old regulations are in effect:
RECREATIONAL - Salmon
Fishery Notice - Fisheries and Oceans Canada
Subject: FN0487-RECREATIONAL - Salmon - Lower West Coast Vancouver Island - Areas 21 to 24, 121, and 123 to 124 - Coho Fishing times and limits
Unless otherwise specified below, the daily limit for coho is two (2) per day,
hatchery marked only from June 1 to December 31, 2015. Management measures may
change in season depending on the Minster’s decision with respect to the
approved 2015 Interior Fraser Coho exploitation rates. Any changes to coho
regulations will be released in a subsequent fishery notice.
Please be aware that these limits do not apply to salmon non-retention areas
and/or fin-fish closed areas. Please check the DFO website referenced at the
bottom of this notice for further information.
Area 21/121
Effective 00:01 hours June 1 until 23:59 hours August 31, 2015, you may retain
two (2) hatchery marked coho per day.
Effective 00:01 hours September 1 until 23:59 hours December 31, 2015 you may
retain four (4) hatchery marked coho per day.
Area 22
Effective 00:01 hours June 1 until 23:59 hours December 31, 2015 you may retain
four (4) coho per day (hatchery marked or unmarked).
Area 23/123
Area 23 shoreward of a line
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Subareas 23-1 to 23-6, 23-9, 23-10 and those portions of Subareas 23-7,23-8 and
23-11 shoreward of a line from Amphitrite Point to the Chrow Island Light, then
to the Benson Island Light, then to the Coaster Channel Light, then to the
southwestern tip of Sanford Island, then to Aguilar Point.
Effective 00:01 hours June 1 until 23:59 hours December 31, 2015 you may retain
four (4) coho per day (hatchery marked or unmarked).
Area 123 and Area 23 seaward of a line
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In Area 123 and those portions of Subareas 23-7, 23-8, and 23-11 seaward of a
line from Amphitrite Point to the Chrow Island Light, then to the Benson Island
Light, then to the Coaster Channel Light, then to the southwestern tip of
Sanford Island, then to Aguilar Point.
Effective 00:01 hours June 1 until 23:59 hours August 31, 2015 you may retain
two (2) coho per day (hatchery marked only).
Effective 00:01 hours September 1 until 23:59 hours December 31, 2015 you may
retain four (4) coho per day (hatchery marked only).
Area 24/124
The following waters are closed year round to coho retention: Subareas 24-1
(Hesquiat Harbour), 24-3, 24-4 (Millar Channel), 24-5, 24-7 (Bedwell Sound), 24-
12, 24-13, 24-14 and that portion of Subareas 24-2 northerly of a line from
Starling Point true west to the opposite shore of Sydney Inlet, that portion of
Subarea 24-10 inside a line between boundary signs at the entrance to Warn Bay,
and that portion of Subarea 24-11 southerly of a line between boundary signs on
either side of Grice Bay approximately half way between the entrance and the
head of the Bay.
Area 24 shoreward of a line
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Subareas 24-6, 24-8, a portion of 24-9 westerly of a line commencing at Ginnard
Point on Meares Island to a point on the Vancouver Island shoreline on the
opposite shore of Browning Passage at 49°07.48’N and 125°51.81’W and a portion
of Subarea 24-10 seaward of a line from boundary signs on either side of the
entrance to Warn Bay and a portion of Subarea 24-11 northerly of a line between
boundary signs on Vancouver Island on either side of Grice Bay approximately
half way between the entrance and the head of the Bay.
Effective 00:01 hours June 1 until 23:59 hours August 31, 2015 you may retain
two (2) coho per day (hatchery marked or unmarked)
Effective 00:01 hours September 1 until 23:59 hours December 31, 2015 you may
retain four (4) coho per day of which only two (2) may be wild (unmarked).
Area 124 and Area 24 seaward of a line
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Area 124 and that portion of Subarea 24-2 seaward of a line from Starling Point
true west to a boundary sign on the opposite shore of Sydney Inlet at 49°
23.649’N and 126°15.734’W.
Effective 00:01 hours June 1 until 23:59 hours August 31, 2015, you may
retain two (2) hatchery marked coho per day.
Effective 00:01 hours September 1 until 23:59 hours December 31, 2015, you may
retain four (4) hatchery marked coho per day.
Refer to the following website link for a description of the Area and Subarea
maps and for information on salmon non-retention areas and fishing closures:
http://www.pac.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/fm-gp/rec/index-eng.html
Notes:
Barbless hooks are required when fishing for salmon in tidal and non-tidal
waters of British Columbia.
Anglers are requested to release any hatchery marked sockeye. These fish are
hatchery raised sockeye and part of a recovery program designed to increase the
numbers of Cultus Lake sockeye.
The term "hatchery marked" means a fish that has a healed scar in place of the
adipose fin.
Sport anglers are encouraged to participate in the Salmon Sport Head Recovery
program by labeling and submitting heads from adipose fin-clipped chinook and
coho salmon. Recovery of coded-wire tags provides critical information for
coast-wide stock assessment. Contact the Salmon Sport Head Recovery Program
toll free at (866) 483-9994 for further information.
Rockfish Conservation Areas that are currently in effect and are closed to all
fin fishing. Descriptions of these closures, and other recreational fishing
information, can be found on the Internet at:
www.pac.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/recfish
Did you witness suspicious fishing activity or a violation? If so, please call
the Fisheries and Ocean Canada 24-hour toll free Observe, Record, Report line
at 1-800-465-4336.
For the 24 hour recorded opening and closure line, call toll free at
1-866-431-FISH (3474).