Region 6: North Coast Recreational Salmon Fishing Times and Limits

FN0567-RECREATIONAL – Salmon – Region 6 – North Coast – Fishing Times and Limits

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Recreational fishing daily limits for Chinook and Coho salmon will be reduced in Region 6 as outlined below. Recreational fishing for Chum salmon will remain closed in the entire Skeena River watershed (includes tributaries and lakes).

Additional management measures will be in place for North Coast Chinook as follows:

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Effective immediately, the maximum daily quota for Skeena Chinook will be reduced to two (2) Chinook salmon, only one of which can be over 65 cm, in the Skeena River mainstem and sections of the Bulkley, Kitsumkalum, and Morice Rivers.

Effective immediately, the Skeena River Watershed, upstream of the Sustut River confluence, will be closed to Chinook fishing.

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Effective immediately, all tributaries and lakes of the Skeena River will be closed to Chinook fishing, except for sections of the Bulkley, Kitsumkalum, and Morice Rivers.

The entire Skeena River watershed will be closed to Chinook fishing on August 15, 2019 to protect spawning chinook stocks.

Effective immediately, all rivers and lakes flowing into PFMAs 3, 4, 5 and 6 will be closed to Chinook fishing, excluding the Kitimat River.

Additional management measures will be in place for North Coast Coho as follows:

Effective immediately, the maximum daily quota for Skeena Coho will be reduced to two (2) Coho salmon, only one of which can be over 50 cm, in the Skeena River watershed.

Effective immediately, the maximum daily quota for Coho in all rivers and lakes that flow into PFMAs 3, 4, 5 and 6 will be reduced to two (2) per day, only one of which can be over 50 cm.

The Following Skeena River Tributaries and sections of the Skeena River mainstem will be closed to fishing for salmon as follows:

Skeena River mainstem waters near the Kitsumkalum River mouth, from the confluence with the Zymagotitz River (also known as Zymacord River), upstream to the Classified Waters boundary at the top of Hell’s Gate.

Effective July 1 to Aug 31, 2019:

Kitsumkalum River (including lakes and tributaries).

Effective July 1 to Aug 31, 2019.

Skeena River mainstem waters near the Kitwanga River mouth, from Mill Creek upstream to the Highway 37 Bridge.

Effective immediately until further notice.

Skeena River mainstem waters within the three white triangular fishing boundary signs located at the confluence of the Skeena River and Kispiox River.

Effective immediately until further notice.

Please refer to the online BC Sport Fishing Guide, Freshwater Region 6, for a complete list of the recreational salmon regulations for all lakes and rivers of Region 6.

http://www.pac.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/recfish

Variation Order #: 2019-RCT-361, 2019-RFQ-362

Notes:

Possession limits are two times the daily limits.

Barbless hooks are required when fishing for salmon in tidal and non-tidal waters of British Columbia.

The term “marked” means a hatchery 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 labelling 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.

Tidal Water Sport Fishing Licences can be purchased via any computer connected to the internet at https://www-ops2.pac.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/nrls-sndpp/index-eng.cfm or by using Google search key words “Recfish Licence”.

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 (800) 465-4336.

For the 24 hour recorded opening and closure line, call toll free at 1-(866)431-FISH (3474).

For more information:

Darren Chow
Recreational Fisheries Manager
Fisheries and Oceans Canada
417 – 2nd Ave West, Prince Rupert, BC, V8J 1G8
250 627-3441
Darren.Chow@dfo-mpo.gc.ca