Popular species 2019/2020 season area 17
You’re responsible for understanding the regulations and restrictions that may affect an open fishery.
How to follow the rules
- Check the Area map. You need to know the location (subarea) where you plan to fish.
- Check the Species regulations table for fishing opportunities and basic regulations.
- Check the Restrictions table for special exceptions and more detailed regulations.
- Get to know the locations of protected areas. Permanent fishing restrictions are in effect in these areas to protect fish and fish habitat.
Species regulations
Always check for restrictions.
| Species | Areas | Min Size | Gear | Limits (d/p/a) | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chinook Salmon | 17 | -/-/- | Non-retention until Jul 14 (See Restrictions) | ||
| Chum Salmon | 17 | 30cm | Barbless Hook & Line | 4/8/- | Open (See Restrictions) |
| Coho Salmon (Hatchery & Wild Combined) | 17 | 0/0/0 | Non-retention until Jun 01 (See Restrictions) | ||
| Pink Salmon | 17 | 30cm | Barbless Hook & Line | 4/8/- | Open (See Restrictions) |
| Sockeye Salmon | 17 | 30cm | Barbless Hook & Line | 0/0/0 | Non-retention (See Restrictions) |
| Halibut | 17 | Hook and Line, Spear | 1/-/6 | Open until Dec 31 (See Restrictions) | |
| Lingcod | 17 | 0/0/0 | Closed until May 01 | ||
| Rockfish, All Species Combined | 17 | 0/0/0 | Closed until May 01 | ||
| Dungeness Crab | 17 | 165mm | Dip Net, Hand Picking, Ring Net, Traps (Crab) | 4/8/- | Open (See Restrictions) |
2019-04-24 17:35:17
Restrictions
Always check for protected areas.
| Species | Areas | Measure Type | Measure Value |
|---|---|---|---|
| Salmon | Coastwide | Daily Limit Pieces | 4 – The daily limit for all species of Pacific salmon from tidal and fresh waters combined is 4. Individual species limits also apply. |
| Chinook Salmon | Coastwide | Reminder | Chinook Salmon Annual Aggregate Counts – The total annual limit for chinook salmon is 10 from all tidal waters. |
| Coastwide | Reminder | Keeping your chinook salmon? You must record all retained catch on your Tidal Waters Sport Fishing Licence. | |
| Coho Salmon (Hatchery) | Coastwide | Reminder | Hatchery coho (marked): Coho salmon with a healed scar in place of the adipose fin. |
| Groundfish | North of Winchelsea Islands | Gear Restriction | No anchorage and no trap or bottom contact fishing area: Anchoring and bottom contact fishing is prohibited. Fishing in this area is restricted to gear that does not contact the bottom and is extended to trap fishing and bottom jigging. Trolling in the area is permitted. |
| Halibut | 17 | Maximum Length Head On (cm) | 126 cm |
| Reminder | The possession limit is either of: one (1) halibut measuring from 90 cm to 126 cm head-on length, OR two (2) halibut measuring under 90 cm head-on length. | ||
| Lingcod | 17 | Reminder | Lingcod: Fillets, including the tail, must meet the minimum “head off” size limit of 53 cm. (21 in.) |
| Rockfish, All Species Combined | Coastwide | Reminder | Rockfish – Anglers in vessels shall immediately return all rockfish that are not being retained to the water and to a similar depth from which they were caught by use of an inverted weighted barbless hook or other purpose-built descender device |
| Crab | Coastwide | Gear Restriction | Crab traps are required to have two unobstructed circular escape holes or rings, measuring a minimum of 105 mm in diameter |
| Coastwide | Gear Restriction | Rot Cord – All crab traps must have a section in the top or sidewall that has been secured by a single length of untreated cotton twine no greater than No. 120 (approximately 5 mm or 3/16 inch diameter). This twine is often referred to as rot cord. On deterioration this must produce a rectangular opening with a minimum size of 7 cm x 20 cm, or a square opening with a minimum size of 11 cm x 11 cm. This regulation is intended to ensure that if the trap is lost, the section secured by the cord will rot, allowing captive crabs to escape, and preventing the trap from continuing to fish. On traps with a rigid frame and a freely opening hinged lid the trap lid must be secured by a single length of untreated cotton twine no greater than No. 120 so that the trap lid will open freely when the rot cord is broken. No other fastenings may impede the hinged lid of the trap from opening. | |
| Coastwide | Gear Restriction | Gear Permitted Maximum of 2 ring nets, dip nets or traps or combination of these per fisher. Ensure gear is properly marked. Hand picking is permitted including by diving. No sharp-pointed instruments are permitted for harvesting crab. It is illegal to use snares in catching or attempting to catch crabs. | |
| Reminder | Keep navigation channels clear of buoys and lines. Any fishing gear that interferes with safe navigation can be removed under the Navigation Protection Act. | ||
| Crab | 17 | Reminder | Combined daily limit for Dungeness crab, red rock crab, box crab, Puget Sound king crab and all other king crab is 4. |
| North of Winchelsea Islands | Gear Restriction | No anchorage and no trap or bottom contact fishing area: | |
| Nanaimo (Harmac) | Dioxin Contamination (g/w) | Consumption of crab hepatopancreas should not exceed 105g/week | |
| Crofton | Dioxin Contamination (g/w) | Consumption of crab hepatopancreas should not exceed 40g/week | |
| Dungeness Crab | Coastwide | Packaging and Transporting | In order to be accurately measured, the carapace of Dungeness crab that you catch must remain attached until the crab arrives at your residence or it is consumed. |
| Sex Restriction | It is prohibited to possess female Dungeness crab |
Area Descriptions
| Area | Map | Area Description |
|---|---|---|
| Crofton | Portion of Stuart Channel bounded on the north by a line from Donckele Point on Kuper Island to the point at the southeastern entrance to Preedy Harbour on Thetis Island, thence to the most southern point of Dayman Island, thence to the most southern point of Scott Island, westerly to Sharpe Point on Vancouver Island, thence southwesterly across Ladysmith Harbour to a point on the shore 230° true from Sharpe Point; thence southerly along the shore of Vancouver Island to Grave Point; thence north of a line to Erskine Point on Saltspring Island; thence northerly along the shore to Parminter Point, thence west of a line to Josling Point on Kuper Island, thence northerly along the shore to the point of commencement at Donckele Point. | |
| Nanaimo (Harmac) | Waters west of a line from Reynolds Point to Miami Islet to a point at the entrance to Kulleet Bay true south of Deer Point | |
| North of Winchelsea Islands | North of Winchelsea Islands, bounded by 49°18.76’N, 124° 06.260′ W and 49°17.213′ N, 124° 02.135′ W and 49° 17.457′ N, 124° 04.577′ W and 49° 17.730 N, 124° 05.217′ W |
