BC Ministry of Forests, Lands & Natural Resource Operations
The NEW Angling Season is approaching! Your current 2015/2016 Freshwater Fishing License expires on March 31. 2016/2017 NEW season licenses are available for purchase March 1.
It’s fast and easy to buy your licence online or from your favourite fishing licence vendor or at any Service BC Centre.
2015/2016 current season licences will still be available for purchase during the month of March. Be sure to select the 2016/2017 following season for each of your new Basic Licence, Conservation Surcharge Stamps and Classified Waters Licence products valid for the April 1, 2016 to March 31, 2017 license year. All licence sales are final so please double check that you have the correct season prior to completing your purchase.
Note: The Freshwater Fishing Licence does not include fishing in British Columbia’s coastal tidal waters (salt water). You will need to go to the website for the National Recreational Licensing System to renew your Tidal ‘Salt Water’ Fishing Licence.
Regulations
The 2015/2017 Freshwater Fishing Regulations Synopsis is available online at http://www.env.gov.bc.ca/fw/fish/regulations/ and available in hard copy from licence vendors and Service BC Centres. Supplies are limited and anglers are requested to care for and retain their copy of the synopsis for the 2015/2016 and 2016/2017 licence years.
The eligibility criteria for angling on Age Restricted Waters have been amended. Previously, anyone under the age of 16, 65 years of age or older, or disabled were the only individuals eligible to angle on these waters. This new classification of waters is termed Youth/Disabled Accompanied Waters. The list of these waters has been amended and the regulation now re-defines an eligible angler as anyone under the age of 16 or anyone in possession of a BC Disabled Basic angling license, with an allowance of up to two accompanying anglers per eligible anglers. Now parents or friends can fish alongside their youth or disabled companions.
In Season Regulation Changes
Anglers must be aware that in-season regulation changes occur in order for fisheries managers to respond to new information, and amend regulations accordingly. The online synopsis website is the best source for anglers to ensure they are informed of any in-season regulation changes.
Photo Contest
The Ministry holds a photo contest for the cover of the Freshwater Fishing Regulations Synopsis. Learn how to submit photos of your fishing adventures for the next synopsis printing. Even if your photo doesn’t make it on the cover, it may still find a place within the publication.