Category(s):       RECREATIONAL - Salmon
Subject:     FN0092-RECREATIONAL - Salmon - Fraser River Chinook - Areas 19 and 20 - Recreational Management Actions

The Department is implementing measures to reduce fishery exploitation rates on
Fraser River Chinook stocks of concern in commercial, recreational and First
Nation fisheries.  These Fraser chinook stocks begin returning through Victoria
area in March. Management measures for the recreational fishery in portions of
Areas 19 and 20 are outlined below. Sport Fishing Advisory Board
representatives have been consulted on these measures.

Effective 00:01 hours Monday March 1, 2010 and until 23:59 hrs Friday May 21,
2010, additional recreational fishery restrictions on chinook salmon will be in
effect in Subareas 19-1 to 19-4 and Subarea 20-5(those waters near Victoria
between Cadboro Pt to Sheringham Pt.). During this time period and in this area
the daily limit is two (2) chinook salmon per day which may be wild or hatchery
marked between the size limit of 45 cm and 67 cm or hatchery marked only
chinook over 67 cm in length.

Additional management measures to protect Fraser River Chinook populations may
be considered as part of the 2010 South Coast Salmon Integrated Fisheries
Management Plan.

 
Notes:

Barbless hooks are required when fishing for salmon in tidal and non-tidal
waters of British Columbia.  This includes all species of fish in the Fraser
River.

Anglers are requested to release any hatchery marked sockeye.  These fish are
hatchery raised sockeye and part of a recovery program designed to increase the
numbers of Cultus Lake sockeye.

The term "hatchery marked" means a fish that has a healed scar in place of the
adipose fin.

Sport anglers are encouraged to participate in the voluntary 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 at (866) 483-9994 for further information.

Rockfish Conservation Areas that are currently in effect and are closed to all
fin fishing.  Descriptions of these closures, and other recreational fishing
information, can be found on the Internet at:

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

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
(866) 431-FISH.

Variation Order No. 2010-74  


FOR MORE INFORMATION:

Contact the local DFO office in your area for further information.
 
            

 

Fisheries & Oceans Operations Center - FN0092
Sent February 23, 2010 at 1144

http://www-ops2.pac.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/xnet/content/fns/index.cfm?pg=view_notice&lang=en&DOC_ID=122841&ID=recreational

A reminder to all tidal water salmon anglers that the possession limit for all 
species of salmon combined is twice the daily limit. In most areas the daily 
limit is 4 salmon of which no more than 2 may be Chinook and the possession 
limit is 8 salmon of which no more than 4 may be Chinook.  Please consult the 
2007-2009 Tidal Waters Sport Fishing Guide and the Fisheries and Oceans Canada 
website for area specific limits and closures.  FOR MORE INFORMATION:

Contact your nearest Fisheries and Oceans Canada Office or refer to the 
following website for updates: 
http://www.pac.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/pages/default_e.htm

Fisheries & Oceans Operations Center - FN0473
Sent July 19, 2007 at 1414

Purchase a tidal waters sport fishing licence and a salmon conservation
stamp prior to fishing for salmon.

• Barbless hooks are required for all salmon fishing (plus cutthroat trout and steelhead). Both single and treble barbless hooks are acceptable except in the tidal waters of the Fraser River.

• Check to determine if the area you intend to fish is open.

• The aggregate daily limit (total daily limit) for all species of Pacific salmon from tidal or non-tidal waters combined is four.

• The aggregate possession limit (total possession limit) of all species of Pacific salmon from tidal or non-tidal waters combined is eight.

• Unless otherwise specified in the limit table, all retained chinook must measure 45 cm or more from the tip of nose to fork of tail. All coho, sockeye, pink and chum must measure 30 cm or more.

• The coast-wide daily limit for chinook is two. The total chinook annual limit is 30 from any tidal waters, of which at most, 10 may be caught in the tidal waters of the Fraser River; 15 may be caught in the waters of Areas 12 to 18, 28 and 29 and that portion of Area 19 north of Cadboro Point; 20 may be caught in the waters of Area 20 and that portion of Area 19 south of Cadboro Point.

• You must immediately record in ink on your licence all chinook retained.

• It is illegal to catch or attempt to catch salmon by wilfully foul hooking.

• Return the head of your salmon with a missing adipose fin to a Salmon Sport Head Recovery Depot near you.

• There is no limit to the number of fishing rods a licensed fisher may use in tidal waters.

A hatchery marked fish is a fish that has a healed scar in place of the adipose fin. The adipose fin is the fleshy appendage found on salmon located between the dorsal fin and the tail.

Anglers should use three or more distinguishing characteristics to properly identify all salmon. This would, for example, aid in identifying juvenile chinook from adult pink salmon.

Be aware of hook and line and downrigger entanglement risks in the vicinity
of the UVIC Venus project in Pat Bay, Saanich Inlet. For more information,
visit: www.venus.uvic.ca/notice.html

Anglers are required by law to use a barbless hook when fishing for salmon, including cutthroat trout and steelhead.  To change a barbed hook to a barbless one, simply squeeze the barb tightly against the hook shank with a pair of pliers.

It is illegal to fish with a fixed weight (sinker) greater than one kg except on a downrigger line, in which case the fishing line must be attached to the downrigger by means of an automatic release clip. The clip must free the fishing line from the downrigger line when the fish takes the lure, allowing the fish to be retrieved by rod and reel or separate handline.

DFO is preparing a regulatory submission that would make it possible to implement the mandatory use of circle hooks in certain places and at certain times when fishing for salmon. The main cause of mortality in released sport-caught fish is organ and gill damage. This damage occurs when a fish is “deep-hooked,” that is the hook catches in the fish’s gut when it is set by the angler. Circle hooks are a valuable conservation tool in certain fisheries as they are less likely to deep-hook a fish and therefore have a lower post-release mortality rate than traditional J-hooks.

Be aware of hook and line and downrigger entanglement risks in the vicinity
of the UVIC Venus project in Pat Bay, Saanich Inlet. For more information,
visit: www.venus.uvic.ca/notice.html

(also known as dog salmon) - Oncorhynchus keta

How Can You Tell the Difference?

Anglers should use three or more distinguishing characteristics to properly identify all salmon.  Chum are sometimes confused with sockeye, because they both lack spots on their tails and have a similar colouring. Always look for the silver streaks in the chum’s tail.

Description of chum salmon in marine phase

A white tip on the anal fin usually identifies a chum salmon. Resembling sockeye, but larger, chum have silvery sides and faint grid-like bars as they near spawning streams. The tail base is narrow and there is silver in the tail. They live three to five years and weigh about 4.5 kg to 6.5 kg, but they have been known to reach as much as 15 kg.

Each chum salmon you keep must be at least 30 cm long. 

Description of chum salmon in freshwater phase

Maturing chum in freshwater show reddish purple streaks or bars and large pale blotches on a pale background, and white on the tips of pelvic and anal fins. They have a greenish tinge on their dorsal surface (back), and no dark spots on caudal fin.

The lips are fleshy with well- developed teeth in both jaws, but there are no teeth on the base of the tongue.

The tail is slightly forked and has silver streaks covering about half of the fin. The caudal peduncle or wrist is slender.

(also known as humpy) - Oncorhynchus gorbuscha

How Can You Tell the Difference?

Anglers should use three or more distinguishing characteristics to properly identify all salmon.  This would, for example, aid in identifying juvenile chinook from adult pink salmon. In the early adult stage, pink salmon are often mistaken for chinook because both have spots on their tails.

Description of pink salmon in marine phase

Pink salmon have tiny scales and a tail heavily marked with large oval spots. Unlike the other salmon species, the tail of a pink has no silver in it. In the sea, pinks have silver bodies with spotted backs. They are the smallest of the Pacific salmon, usually weighing about 2.2 kg, but occasionally reaching 5.5 kg. They are more abundant in northern waters in even-numbered years and in southern waters in odd-numbered years.  Pinks live only two years.

Each pink salmon you keep must be at least 30 cm long. 

Description of pink salmon in freshwater phase

Mature males are yellowish gray on the sides of their body, blotched with brown, and dark along back. Females are olive green on the sides of their body with dusky stripes. Both males and females appear dirty white below the lateral line, and their tails have large oval spots.

The mouth in a pink salmon is white, but the gums are black, as they are in a chinook. It does not have "teeth" on its tongue.

The pink salmon has a V-shaped
tail coverd with large oval spots. Its scales are very small.

(also known as red salmon) - Oncorhynchus nerka

How Can You Tell the Difference?

Anglers should use three or more distinguishing characteristics to properly identify all salmon.  Sockeye are sometimes confused with chum because they both lack spots on the tail and havea similar colouring.

Description of sockeye salmon in marine phase

The sockeye is almost toothless, with numerous long gill rakers and prominent, glassy eyes. The slimmest and most streamlined of the Pacific species, the silver-blue sockeye lives from four to five years. It usually weighs between 2.2 kg and 3.1 kg but can reach 6.3 kg. Young sockeye remain in fresh-water nursery lakes a year or more before migrating to the sea.

Each sockeye salmon you keep must be at least 30 cm long. 

Description of sockeye salmon in freshwater phase

Maturing sockeye have a distinctive silvery-purplish tinge. As he becomes more mature, the male acquires a pale green head, dark hooked jaws, humped back and bright red body with red fins. The female  is generally the same with green and yellow blotches on the body, although the colour is less pronounced and she does not develop a hump or hooked jaw. In most runs mature fish are bright scarlet.

The lips of a sockeye are fleshy, the teeth are small and well-developed in both jaws.  There are no teeth on the base of the tongue.

The sockeye's tail is moderately forked and it does not show any black spots.

also known as blueback and silver) - Oncorhynchus kisutch

How Can You Tell the Difference?

Anglers should use three or more distinguishing characteristics to properly identify all salmon. Coho are sometimes confused with chum because they both have similar colouring. Always look for the coho’s white gums and a few spots on the tail.

Description of coho salmon in marine phase

Coho have white gums, black tongues and a few spots on the upper portion of their bodies and silver-coloured tails. They have a wide tail base. Bright silver with a metallic blue dorsal surface.  Coho usually live for three years and grow rapidly in their final year. They weigh between 1.3 kg and 14 kg. In the Strait of Georgia from April to early June, small coho passing from the grilse stage to maturity are called bluebacks.

Description of coho salmon in freshwater phase

Fresh run coho are very similar in appearance to salt water fish - bright silver with a metallic blue dorsal surface, and a wide tail base with a few spots on the upper portion of their silver-coloured tails. As coho mature, the males become reddish on the sides, and green on the back and head, often dark on belly. Females are less strongly coloured.

The coho's gums at the base of the teeth are almost white. Its mouth is white, and its teeth are sharp and strong.

 

 

The coho has a square, silver- coloured tail with just a few scattered spots, usually on the upper portion of the tail. It has a wide tail base.

(also known as spring, tyee and king) - Oncorhynchus tshawytscha

How Can You Tell the Difference?

Anglers should use three or more distinguishing characteristics to properly identify all salmon.  In the juvenile stage of chinook salmon, some fishers misidentify them as pinks because both have spots on their tails.

Description of chinook salmon in marine phase

Black gums and a silver, spotted tail distinguish the chinook from other salmonids. It has a lightly spotted blue-green back and is the largest, most prized game fish. The chinook lives from three to seven years. It weighs between 1.5 kg and 30 kg. Average-size chinooks are often known as springs in B.C. Those over 13.5 kg are called tyees, and in the U.S., chinook are called king salmon. 

Description of chinook salmon in freshwater phase

Fresh run fish are very similar in appearance to salt water fish - lightly spotted blue-green back, black gums and a silver, spotted tail. As chinook mature, they become very dark in colour - some dark reddish, and others almost black.

The chinook has black gums at the base of its teeth and its mouth is dark. In some areas it is known as "black mouth".

The chinook has a flowing V-shaped, silvery tail that is generally covered with spots. The tail becomes more square as the chinook reaches adult stage.

Immediately prior to fishing, please consult the Salmon Oportunities in Saltwater or Salmon Opportunities in Freshwater pages for updated openings and closures.

A salmon conservation stamp must be purchased and affixed to the tidal waters licence of all anglers who wish to retain any salmon caught.

A provincial salmon conservation stamp is also required to retain any salmon caught in freshwater.

Go to the Recreational Licensing section for more information.

You must immediately record in ink on your licence all chinook retained.  Also, it is illegal to catch or attempt to catch a salmon by snagging or with snares.