2015 Fishing Apps & Forecasts
By Rob Alcock
As we head into 2015, it is we worth looking back at the year that was, and looking ahead to the forthcoming season.
Close to home, 2014’s Fraser River 20-plus million sockeye return was a boon for anglers and the hundreds of businesses that support them. Too often we forget that the Fraser River sockeye fishery is the single largest sport fishery in the province, and is one that garners invaluable attention and media coverage to our industry.
And while the Fraser River got a lot of the attention, angler’s coast-wide had a solid year of fishing. Great Chinook catches were reported in the North, on the Central Coast, around Campbell River and on the West Coast of Vancouver Island. Pink salmon returned to the East coast of Vancouver Island in record numbers and provided a long shore-fishing season.
Recreational halibut management worked well last year and the season was kept open until the end of December, with limits adjusted upwards in September to reflect the 140,000-pound surplus for the sector.
Looking ahead to 2015 there are several issues that recreational anglers should keep an eye on:
2015’s preliminary salmon outlook is positive. DFO expects that we’ll see a healthy return of Fraser pinks. And while this may not matter too much to veteran anglers, it will create lots of opportunities for kids and families and novice anglers.
DFO is also optimistic about this year’s halibut season. They expect to see similar numbers as we had in 2014 and we’ll likely see a similar length of season. DFO will set size and daily limits after the Canada’s Total Allowable Catch for 2015 is established.
And while most of us go fishing to get away from our electronic devices and the constant intrusion of emails, calls and texts, the reality is that web-based systems are becoming increasingly important to sport fishing too. We are optimistic that 2015 will see the launch of a new saltwater fishing app that will help with information about regulations, limits and locations. And, a trip planner called anglr.ca will allow those planning their next saltwater fishing adventure to access all the needed information and resources in one convenient place.
Similarly, a reminder that all licenses must now be purchased online. While this change has had its share of hiccups, the system now appears to be working well, and should make access to fishing licenses a little bit easier.
Keep an eye out for new online and smart phone resources for fishing in BC waters. We’ve been working on these tools with DFO for some time now and hope to soon put new real-time licensing information, fisheries updates and catch monitoring data into the hands of anglers.
Finally, we should note that the Certified Tidal Angling Guide Program (CTAG) is now well established in BC. In many respects, it represents the new industry standard for guides and is increasingly becoming the choice for customers.
2015 is looking good and we hope to see you all out on the water in the coming months.
Rob Alcock is President of the Sport Fishing Institute of BC