Having poaching problems at COLQUITZ CREEK coho at our trap site being vandalized smashed locks and trap broken fish left dead and hooked and bleeding by 2 males 1 FN PLUS A WHITE FELLOW they not allowed anywhere near a trap site , police are checking also , they take off if anybody visits the site , so if any you fishers guys are out walking or notice them give them a yell or phone saanich police IT located west end of tillicum parking lot just behind Kelsey's restaurant is where the trap fence is . We have been trying to protect this run as these coho average 8 to 15 lbs which is in the same watershed as the craigflower also been vandalized by the remand centre which the ESQ ANGLERS LOOK AFTER . Average run on both sites have returns of 500 to 1500 . Thanks for any help
Colquitz poaching
- Thread starter sundance
- Start date
SpringVelocity
Crew Member
So is everyone else, and I know that feeling. Its everywhere. The positive you have is many made it there already. I feel for you guys as you are in a very open urban area. Please do not stop doing what you are doing. It would be a mistake to stop doing it. Look at this way whats worse you could have a native net across your river like goldstream does right now. That to me is plain insulting to the guys in the hatchery with all the hours they do down there. I don't get people.
brands51
Active Member
Don't let it stop the incredible work you guys do. I stop by as much as I can and if I see anything I will contact the police. I've caught some of my nicest coho that coho from that run, the fish are big and gorgeous and it's devestating knowing some people poach those fish as they dodge every obstacle to go and spawn.
brands51
Active Member
Also couldn't agree more @SpringVelocity. The hard work and endless hours volunteers put in and fees we pay for our licenses means nothing for a few indivuals desire to illegally catch some salmon from a fragile run. Gross,,
Franko Manini
Well-Known Member
I grew up wandering and fishing in the Colquitz Creek area. I love that place. I will stop by the trap on my way to and from work every day until the salmon stop running.
Deewar25
Well-Known Member
You shouldn't as it is for the streamkeepers access and there have been some conflicts with the rehabs. Lots have been moved up the fence (couple 100 last I heard but that was before last weekend), just take a walk (great hike anyway), from bottom of Riverside Dr.
Yes. Prior Lake to Riverside is one of my favourite walks this time of year. I live nearby. I've spent hours sitting at one of the small waterfalls watching the salmon jumping it. Very little water in the creek today. I wonder if poachers hit any of the tidal pools near the hwy.
SpringVelocity
Crew Member
Hey everyone have a look at Goldstream estuary! Poachers in action all day long.
I dont like to engage on politics to much on this site, but Dont give the aboriginals such a hard rap.
They lived off the land just fine till us white folk showed up. They had a damn good relationship with fish stewardship till modern history came and erased that.
Fish returns are not what the used to be, but the aboriginals have very little to do with them. They are allocated a catch.
fogged in
Well-Known Member
Tough and touchy subject for sure...BUT...there must be reasonable controls.
Some First Nations people often go over and above their aboriginal rights and our politicians are reluctant to address the problem...not just on the Goldstream or Colquitz but on all our salmon rivers and it is foolish to compare today with historic behavior as you put it.... "They had a damn good relationship with fish stewardship till modern history came and erased that."
SpringVelocity
Crew Member
I love when guys get in here start making comments that dont even know the river or situation. Come on get a grip. That gill net isn't a planned fishery and its not allocated. In this case I will be outspoken about it that net needs to leave.
What is being done is not reasonable and the runs are not strong enough to sustain it.
What is being done is not reasonable and the runs are not strong enough to sustain it.
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Poaching is poaching. Not a question of ethnicity!
Would you condone other criminal behavior as a result of ethnicity?
This is a delicate run of fish that has been tended by a dedicated group of volunteers. I say we should enforce the law without consideration of misguided political correctness based on ethnicity.
Would you condone other criminal behavior as a result of ethnicity?
This is a delicate run of fish that has been tended by a dedicated group of volunteers. I say we should enforce the law without consideration of misguided political correctness based on ethnicity.
brands51
Active Member
Poorly treated and all but ive only seen one group of people string up a net across a river or spear fish salmon and release them, neither is any sort of allocation. However there was a white male jigging for coho off the counting fence which is just as bad, many people of different backgrounds poach. Hate getting into the politics of fishing but stuff like this is worse then spitting in all the volunteers faces who bust there backs to support salmon runs in small streams. Those salmon survive so many factors in the ocean only to come back to a foot deep creek to carry on there generations and are netted or snagged over a counting fence in the process. Gross and needs to be stopped. PS: Keep up the incredible work Sundance and all of the volunteers involved with our local programs.
not disagreeing with any of you, believe me i hate seeing it as well.
But it wasn't the natives who started using most the local creeks as storm drains, or whos forestry and mining practices devastated so many rivers along the coast. And i know, walking down the Cowichan and seeing a few tossing lead wrapped barbed treble hooks and knowing nothing is going to be done pisses me off too. But the natives didn't decimate the river or the salmon habitat. Unfortunately some choose to abuse their privilege of a messy legal area, But those are their powers to abuse. Powers considering the history of this coast,are well deserved. It sure does suck to be on the opposite end of the stick.
Your right Spring, I did not know it was not a planned fishery. Hope you made some phone calls, and would love to see some pictures/ get more information on this. My understanding was it has been going on for years. I jumped the gun in my response. But lets try and keep the comments a tad more respectful, ya? We are in this together and we want the same thing. This forum needs proper discussion, not bickering.
On a positive note regarding aboriginals, dont give them all a bad rap. Consider the sarita and the Huu-ay-aht that have invested heavily into its recovery: https://huuayaht.org/about-huu-ay-aht/healing-the-heart/
But it wasn't the natives who started using most the local creeks as storm drains, or whos forestry and mining practices devastated so many rivers along the coast. And i know, walking down the Cowichan and seeing a few tossing lead wrapped barbed treble hooks and knowing nothing is going to be done pisses me off too. But the natives didn't decimate the river or the salmon habitat. Unfortunately some choose to abuse their privilege of a messy legal area, But those are their powers to abuse. Powers considering the history of this coast,are well deserved. It sure does suck to be on the opposite end of the stick.
Your right Spring, I did not know it was not a planned fishery. Hope you made some phone calls, and would love to see some pictures/ get more information on this. My understanding was it has been going on for years. I jumped the gun in my response. But lets try and keep the comments a tad more respectful, ya? We are in this together and we want the same thing. This forum needs proper discussion, not bickering.
On a positive note regarding aboriginals, dont give them all a bad rap. Consider the sarita and the Huu-ay-aht that have invested heavily into its recovery: https://huuayaht.org/about-huu-ay-aht/healing-the-heart/
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