I am new to saltwater fishing. Have been in the province for past few years but originally from Ontario. Definitely going to take my family out for some bottom fishing later on in the summer. We have very little experience salmon fishing. I understand it is currently nonretention at the moment until an update later on in the summer. My question is around salmon conservation stamps. When we go out bottom fishing, if the bottom fishing aint great, are we allowed to go catch and release for salmon without salmon conservation stamps? Are the salmon conservation stamps only for retention of salmon(hatchery coho, chinook, chum etc)? If you do catch and release which is what is being done now, do I need to get the salmon conservation stamps for me and my kids?
New to West Coast
- Thread starter samba123
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Rusty Hook
Member
I may be corrected but I believe you need to get the stamp even for C&R
michael_reiber
Active Member
I’m not sure about the actual regulation on that, but what I do know is the stamp is like 6 bucks and 100% of the money goes to salmon enhancement, so I think it’s a pretty small price to pay and then you don’t have to be concerned about it, and the money goes to a good cause...
Cheers,
Michael
Cheers,
Michael
fish brain
Crew Member
If you want to fish for salmon you need the stamp regardless if you are only fishing catch and release . As mentioned earlier the stamp is cheap and 100% of it goes to salmon enhancement.
fisherman1313
New Member
Like the title says, he's new to the coast and is just asking a question. If he can save $18 on salmon stamps for himself and his kids, there's no reason not to. Anyways as Michael said it's for a good cause and if you're going to be fishing for salmon in the summer anyway, you might as well just get it now for a piece of mind. I'm not 100% on this, but I do believe a stamp is needed for C&R as well.
fishchaser
Active Member
I discourage the tactic of catch and release in closed areas. Many of the salmon caught that are bleeding, gut or gill hook are going to die anyway. Catch and release is a great approach when fishing in retention areas are open. I also encourage the Salmon stamp, its not like a useless tax, the money is going to conservation.
scott craven
Well-Known Member
I don't understand the logic.
If you say salmon are dying because of catch and release, what is the difference
if open for retention or closed ?
fogged in
Well-Known Member
I think fishchaser's point regarding Catch and Release in closed areas has merit.
Allowing Catch and Release in closed areas also invites dishonest fishermen to Catch and Hide which does happen!
His opinion on Catch and Release in open areas allows SOME survival as apposed to bonking and is a fisherman's personal choice.
The OP asked a simple question about requirement of a Salmon stamp and now we have the inevitable conversation about C&R. His question was answered, so this is going to stop here, as the C&R debate has raged on many times in the forum before and like a dog chasing his tail the conversations solved nothing. Until it is deemed an illegal activity by the authorities that govern fishing regulations, it is entirely up to each individual to decide their own course of action...period.
Rain City
Crew Member
The idea being that if you do encounter a bleeding fish you can retain it and not waste it. And @fogged in is right that it keeps people honest. Sadly.
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