Chinook maximum length - 80 or 66cm?

[2xeagle16]

I have a question about the 2024 recreational Chinook regulations in area 20. Presently we are allowed to retain a chinook with a maximum length of 80 cm – nose to the centre of the back of the tail. The head off is a maximum of 66 cm from the front of the pectoral fin to the center, and back of the tail.

Chinook head shape and length vary greatly depending on what river they came from. I had a chinook last week that was 80 cm nose to tail and, 64 cm from front of pectoral fin to tail. If a chinook has a nose to tail of greater than 80 cm, but has a pectoral fin to tail measurement of 66 cm, can this fish be legally retained?

I sent an email to DFO last week – I have not received a reply.

 

[SpringVelocity]

Answer is no. 80cm that's it.

 

[2xeagle16]

and when the head is cut off.....the answer is "yes"

 

[Ringo]

and when the head is cut off.....the answer is "yes"

why are you asking if you already know???

 

[seahorse]

Why not just keep the head on until you get the fish home, problem solved. Let me qualify, if the notch in the tail to tip of nose measurement is 80cm then leave the head on until you get home to eliminate any chance of the fish not being considered legal. Technically that’s the most common form of measurement that I’m aware of.

 

[Pineapple Express]

Why not just keep the head on until you get the fish home, problem solved

He's asking if he can keep an oversized chinook (measured whole) if it somehow measures legally with the head-off pectoral fin to tail measurement.

 

[Whole in the Water]

DFO has measuring rules for fish with or without heads. As long as it is legal you can legally keep it. Not sure what the legal head off length is for a 80 cm =< chinook is?

https://www.pac.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/fm-gp/rec/salmon-saumon-eng.html

 

[2xeagle16]

It just seems odd, that if you have an illegal fish over 80 cm, but the pectoral fin Io tail is 66 cm, or under, by simply cutting the head off it becomes legal.

I would guess DFO would give you a fine for retaining an oversize fish anyway, but what would happen if you disputed the fine and it went to court?

I have had two springs right on 80 cm, and the pectoral fin to tail has been 64cm. Both fish had a very short head and were female. I assume they were Fraser fish. What if you caught a Puget Sound fish, with the long head. and was a male? The difference would be much greater – an 85 cm fish could be legal with the head cut off.

 

[Pineapple Express]

If the fish is whole that is the length that will be used to determine if it's legal.

However, they do allow people to transport fish with the heads removed so they have to list a method of measurement to determine legality, thus there's the front-of-pectoral to tail measurement.

My opinion is that if you retained a fish that was greater than 80cm but measured out to 66cm front-of-pectoral to tail and retained it onboard, whole, and were stopped by a DFO inspector it would be deemed oversize/illegal since the intact measurement will take precedent over anything else.

 

[2xeagle16]

Thanks for giving you're opinion. For myself, I wouldn't place a bet either way.

 

[wildmanyeah]

I thought this was debated a number years ago and the official response was that you need to keep the head on if there is a max size limit in place, until it reaches your ordinary residence.

This came up because you can't return the head until after your bring the fish home and some wanted to drop it off at the marina or whatever.

I believe it was agree if it was hatchery you could remove the head to return it.

 

[searun]

I'm 100% certain that if you were stopped on the water in possession of a fish larger than 80cm head - tail length, that you would receive a significant fine. The purpose of allowing a head off measure is for people who are on multi-day trips and need to clean their fish to be able to do so. Why on earth would we want to play silly games and put at risk the ability to filet fish?

Its also very important that fish that are potentially being released are handled the least amount possible. Recent UBC study demonstrated clearly that while fish caught/captured in landing nets initially appear to be fine, many later die due to injuries from using landing nets (of any kind, including the so called soft mesh release nets). So, complicating measuring live fish to see if they meet the head off requirement just adds more risk of inflicting harm. Ideally fish that might exceed the slot limit shouldn't be netted - rather, either measured in the water. Options include using wooden measuring sticks or marks on the side of the boat hull to avoid brining fish on board for a measurement. If you really must bring the fish into the boat for a measurement, best to avoid using a net of any kind.

 

[Hardy Guy]

Seems like a lot of work/ risk for a chinook. Plus as mentioned you would have to handle alot to get the measurements....... let it go with least harm and catch another one.