Department of Fisheries Officers

I just got checked today on pender bluffs. Easy peasy. As pleasant as can be.
So were you outside of the “no boating at all” zone? Didn’t think it would be worth fishing that far off the shoreline as it drops to 350’+… any luck. Used to love that spot back in the day.
 
Been stopped every year in Barkley Sound by different Fisheries Officers. Always polite, professional and interested in how fishing is going. Yes there are a number of new Officers who are learning the ropes - I'm not offended if they make mistakes, just happy they are on the water checking in on us.

Last time I was checked, they had a Fisheries Officer and RCMP Officer who boarded the vessel. They approached very carefully, and asked how I wanted them to come on board. The Fisheries Officer was a relatively new recruit. He respectfully checked our catch, asked how I measured our lingcod (showed him my ruler built into the deck floor). He was very satisfied. But quietly asked me if I had recorded the lingcod as he noticed none of my guests had them recorded on their licenses. I quietly explained that recording lings is only an ECVI not a WCVI requirement - to which we both chuckled and he joked that he was a new Officer....which I knew, and had no plans to make it into a big issue. A little respect goes a long ways.

The RCMP Officer was there to check all my vessel registration, safety equipment and commercial training certificates. In the end they issued me a ticket noting NO VIOLATIONS - explaining that if I'm checked again by other officers just to show them the ticket - its more or less a hall pass to all the formalities checking my vessel safety gear and registration papers.

So I'm not sure why all the fuss over Officers just trying to do their job. We would all complain if they weren't on the water! A little cooperation and understanding new Officers navigating the learning curve would go a long ways.
 
(nanaimo) my buds got the 4 barb charge x 2 at a boat launch. so literally 8 barb charge!!!! no fish in possession. 2 flashers with bait holders attached, rollled up and in the gunnel that he had not used that day. Didnt even have bait. had 6 other rigs with hootchies in his ready to run tray. all pinched correctly. went to court and got dismissed as there was no evidence of him even fishing. what a waste of time for this officer to make everyone go through.

i appreciate the presence (on the water) and respect the rules, but this was too far.
 
(nanaimo) my buds got the 4 barb charge x 2 at a boat launch. so literally 8 barb charge!!!! no fish in possession. 2 flashers with bait holders attached, rollled up and in the gunnel that he had not used that day. Didnt even have bait. had 6 other rigs with hootchies in his ready to run tray. all pinched correctly. went to court and got dismissed as there was no evidence of him even fishing. what a waste of time for this officer to make everyone go through.

i appreciate the presence (on the water) and respect the rules, but this was too far.
Guarantee same officer as believe based in Nanaimo.
 
Barbed hooks fines is probably the DFO’s number one income generator. When they boarded me at Nootka 4 years ago it was the first thing they looked for and nothing else seemed that important. They were courteous and professional but warned me barbed hook fines were increasing and common infractions.
The money goes to the province, not DFO. The fines are paid and processed through ICBC for the new fisheries act tickets under the contraventions act.
 
The money goes to the province, not DFO. The fines are paid and processed through ICBC for the new fisheries act tickets under the contraventions act.
The money goes to the province, not DFO. The fines are paid and processed through ICBC for the new fisheries act tickets under the contraventions act.
Never heard that. I understood the fines were collected by the Feds. Was there a change recently?
 
only ever been checked in the chuck once , two years ago in hardy while filling up on salt ice for a weekend trip up around caution . Guys rolled up on me and I had two coho and a hali in the box from earlier in the day stopping off Wilby shoals . Dumb ****** asked if I had marked my coho on my license . Guy sure went red in the face when I corrected him.
 
only ever been checked in the chuck once , two years ago in hardy while filling up on salt ice for a weekend trip up around caution . Guys rolled up on me and I had two coho and a hali in the box from earlier in the day stopping off Wilby shoals . Dumb ****** asked if I had marked my coho on my license . Guy sure went red in the face when I corrected him.
If mid August. Same guy
 
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