Fisheries & Oceans Canada
The recreational fishery for salmon in the non-tidal waters of the Fraser River will open with the species limits and size limits noted below. The non-tidal waters of the Fraser River in Region 2 waters are those waters between the downstream edge of the CPR bridge at Mission, BC to the downstream side of the Alexandra Bridge.
The Department is planning fishery openings for more abundant pink, chinook and chum salmon, with a cautious approach to minimize additional impacts on Fraser River sockeye.
Anglers fishing for salmon in the Fraser River are required to take every measure possible to ensure that their fishing activities avoid impacts on sockeye and coho salmon. Any sockeye or coho encountered must be released with the least possible harm. The recreational community is requested to fish selectively when fishing for other salmon species. The first principle of selective harvest is to avoid catching non-targeted stocks. This means that anglers are requested to use angling methods that do not catch sockeye or coho.
Please note that bottom bouncing is NOT considered a selective fishing method and is strongly discouraged. The Department requests that selective fishing techniques be used and will continue to closely monitor the situation to ensure impacts on sockeye and coho are at a minimum. Should DFO feel that the rate of compliance is insufficient, spot closures or a "no fishing for salmon" restriction may result.
Anglers should be aware that the First Nations food, social and ceremonial fishery is open in this area. Anglers are encouraged to minimize or eliminate any gear conflict in this area. Please be diligent when harvesting and navigating in this area and to exercise patience when and if in contact with other fishers.
Sockeye: The regulation prohibiting fishing for sockeye will remain in effect until further notice.
Chinook: (announced earlier via FN0953) Effective 00:01 hours Saturday, August 29, 2015 until December 31, 2015, you may retain up to four (4) chinook salmon per day only one (1) of which may be greater than 62 cm in the non-tidal waters of the Fraser River.
Pink: Effective 00:01 hours Saturday, September 5, 2015, until 23:59 hours Thursday, December 31, 2015 the daily limit is two (2) pink salmon per day. There is a minimum size limit for pink salmon of 30 cm.
Coho: Mission to Hope - The non-tidal waters of the Fraser River in Region 2 from the CPR bridge at Mission, upstream to the Trans-Canada Highway Bridge at Hope: Effective one hour before sunrise Wednesday, October 14, 2015 and until one hour after sunset Thursday, December 31, 2015 the daily limit is two (2) hatchery-marked coho.
Hope to Sawmill Creek - The non-tidal waters of the Fraser River in Region 2 from the Trans-Canada Highway Bridge at Hope, upstream to the confluence of Sawmill Creek: Effective one hour before sunrise Monday, October 19, 2015 until one hour after sunset Thursday, December 31, 2015 the daily limit is two (2) hatchery-marked coho.
Sawmill Creek to Alexandra Bridge - The non-tidal waters of the Fraser River in Region 2 from the confluence of Sawmill Creek, upstream to the Alexandra Bridge: Effective one hour after sunset Tuesday, September 15, 2015 and until December 31, 2015 you may not fish for salmon
A hatchery-marked coho is a coho salmon with a healed scar in place of the adipose fin.
Chum: Effective one hour before sunrise Saturday, September 5, 2015, until one hour after sunset Thursday, December 31, 2015 the daily limit is two (2) chum salmon per day. There is a minimum size limit for chum salmon of 30 cm.
Notes:
- Anglers are reminded that fishing is allowed during daylight hours only from one hour before sunrise to one hour after sunset. Check your local newspaper for these times.
- Barbless hooks are required when fishing for salmon in 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.
- Anglers are advised to check http://www.pac.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/fm-gp/rec/index-eng.html for fishing closures and other recreational fishing information.