carpeweekend
Crew Member
Don't forget that the Washington catch record card cannot be printed online. You can order it online or go to a licensed dealer. I don't know how quickly they mail them out. Also look at the map of closures for Marine Area 7. If you are fishing up north you shouldn't have a problem, but if you run from Victoria to the south end of San Juan Island you will want to watch out for the closure starting at Salmon Bank and going east.
You should probably carry your passport (or Nexus card if you have one) and you should make a few phone calls before you go just to confirm everything you find on the internet.
First call U.S. Customs and tell them what you plan to do. Even though the U.S. regulations read as if you shouldn't have to clear with them, the local officers sometimes will come up with unexpected reason why you need to check-in. I often leave from Washington and fish Canada. The local customs officers say that if I'm bringing a fish back into the country I need to check-in. I've had different officers refer to the fish as goods, or merchandise, or "a thing acquired outside of the U.S." Fortunately, they have programs available to dispense with the face to face meeting at Roche Harbor or Friday Harbor. It used to the I-68 program where you could get a pre-clearance that was good for a year, you just had to call a certain number upon re-entry into U.S. waters. Now they have the CBP ROAM app for android and Iphone. After you install the app and input your traveler information you can submit an application for a trusted traveler number. From that point on, whenever you enter the US you submit the trip through the app and they will either clear your entry or do a video chat. They do have the option of refusing entry or telling you to go the nearest port. The I-68 program and CBP ROAM app are available to U.S. and Canadian citizens.
Second, call the Canada Border Service Agency and chat with them. I've talked to CBSA a few times about northbound trips. They usually defer to whatever is on the website. Here's the website addressing boaters clearing customs. https://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/travel-voyage/pb-pp-eng.html The exceptions for re-entering Canada say you do not need to clear customs if you didn't land, more, etc. But, it does say embark or disembark people or goods. You should confirm with them that catching a fish is not "embarking" "goods." Common sense says no, but I can imagine an officer coming to a different conclusion. Easier to check ahead of time and make sure.
Third, call DFO. If you get stopped on your return trip with a couple fish on board and the season is closed in BC, are they going to make trouble for you. This has been a problem for Americans fishing in Canada and returning with fish. Salmon fishing in Washington is closed more months than it is open, and it is rare that we get to keep a chinook with an adipose fin. Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife has a online registration for U.S. anglers going to Canada intending to bring fish back. You might want to check with DFO and see if they will have any problem with your fish if they stop you on the water or at the boat launch.
Finally, depending on your plans you might call the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife. If you are just coming across to fish, you have a valid license, and comply with the different rules, you should be fine. But, for example, if you stop along the way in BC and catch a lingcod, then run over to Washington to fish for Chinook, the WDFW might write you up for having an illegal fish on board (lingcod is only open May 1 to June 15 in WA marine area 7).
One last thing. Start a Washington Marine Area 7 fishing report thread. Everybody down here is tight lipped about where they are fishing (go look at bloodydecks). It would be nice to have some Canadian style fishing reports and a good group of people adding to it.
Good luck!
Thanks for all of the advice. Seems like a lot of work just to catch (and retain) a fish but I imagine that once you have the process dialled in, it won't be too bad. Also, I have a Nexus card that should make any reporting much easier. I can also take advantage of the fuel price at Roche Harbour. I will do some more research and post. I imagine that there will be a number of fishermen in the Victoria/Sooke/Renfrew areas that could just as easily cross the line to take advantage if it doesn't involve actually clearing customs at a dock.