FN0147-Recreational Salmon - Chinook - Strait of Juan de Fuca - Portions of Areas 19 and 20 - Management Measures - March 1, 2026

[Eden Island]

FN0147-Recreational Salmon - Chinook - Strait of Juan de Fuca - Portions of Areas 19 and 20 - Management Measures - March 1, 2026

Full notice at: https://notices.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/fns-sap/index-eng.cfm?pg=view_notice&DOC_ID=345608&ID=all

Here's an excerpt:

Effective 00:01 hours March 1, 2026, until 23:59 hours March 31, 2026, the daily limit for Chinook Salmon is two (2) per day, hatchery-marked only (retention of unmarked Chinook is not permitted).

These measures apply in the following waters:

Subareas 19-1, 19-3, 19-4, and Subareas 20-4 to 20-7 (those waters near Victoria between Cadboro Point and Sombrio Point).

New for 2026: The use of hooks having more than one point is prohibited (i.e., only single barbless hooks are permitted) when fishing for salmon in the above noted waters from March 1 to March 31.

Reminder: The minimum size limit for Chinook in these waters is 45 cm.

 

[Samnjoe]

Do you think we can use 2 singles with anchovies?

 

[pescador]

“‘The use of hooks“….. “only single barbless hooks”. It seems to indicate plural. You could interpret it two ways, but, I suspect they’d have a tough time fining you given this wording.

 

[Squire]

“‘The use of hooks“….. “only single barbless hooks”. It seems to indicate plural. You could interpret it two ways, but, I suspect they’d have a tough time fining you given this wording.

I’m thinking the allowable number of lures on a line stays at one but it can have multiple single hooks, ie..hoochies, Flashflies, teaser heads with tandem barbless singles. The only change is the elimination of trebles; reducing wild chinook mortality in exchange for a 2/d MSF would be an easy choice for me.

 

[scott craven]

Two singles should be fine, I suspect there will will soon be a ban on treble hooks for salmon fishing.

 

[wolf]

Two singles should be fine, I suspect there will will soon be a ban on treble hooks for salmon fishing.

Ive said this for years dont let DFO in tackle box, people wanted it last thing we need is MORE restrictions dont even mention this ever....

 

[scott craven]

Unfortunately Roy when DFO ask to see your gear there isn't much choice but to show it.
As my buddy says, death by 1000 cuts.

 

[Doug]

Next it will be only letting your hook set 15 ft back from the downrigger cable.

Anyone want to buy some gamy triple 1/0........

 

[crappynetz]

If a future single-barbless rule across the board allows us to keep fishing then I’m for it. I already primarily troll spoons and plugs that have only 1 hook anyway. and gradually converting my jigs to single hook as the assist rigs wear out or break. hate treble hooks with a passion lol i remove them from new jigs as soon as i unwrap them

 

[pescador]

Is their gonna be a Liberal buy back of treble hooks?

 

[SpringVelocity]

I admit I was a bit pissed as you were when I first saw it then did some thinking on how it impacts the politics around our fishery right now.

My input we just have to change way we fish as it good for smaller fish anyway. Last year I probably used single hooks 95% of time.

The alternative is really no MSF unfortunately in areas where there are stocks of concern such as early timed Fraser fish. I expect that hook gap will be next. These recommendations were all based out of the DFO Catch and Release study in coordination with DFO.

FN and the NGO lobby such as people Greg Taylor/Watershed watch (part of the MCC Caucus lobby group)will continue to push for entire closures if we don't prove we are improving mortality rates on released salmon. They have the governments ear right now. If we do nothing then we have nothing to fight back with. How can we get more MSF approved if we stomp are feet, and won't change with what the science says? The study we paid for?

If you want to blame anyone it is the anglers around you and social media. This netting of small fish and photos are really drawing attention. The NGO grabbed on to that, and then amped up FN groups. You think that wasn't planned? No one questioned or even knew what drop off mortalty was till the NGO brought it up wasting oxygen/mathematical formulas based on statistics in every meeting our reps had. Complete time burgler honestly. I am sure our reps would really like to move on from talking about it.

If we all just left the fish in water and released them probably wouldn't need to take this step. I am not talking about guys on here and guides. You guys care about the fish. There are many that need some education out there.

 

[JohnS]

I admit I was a bit pissed as you were when I first saw it then did some thinking on how it impacts the politics around our fishery right now.

My input we just have to change way we fish as it good for smaller fish anyway. Last year I probably used single hooks 95% of time.

The alternative is really no MSF unfortunately in areas where there are stocks of concern such as early timed Fraser fish. I expect that hook gap will be next. These recommendations were all based out of the DFO Catch and Release study in coordination with DFO.

FN and the NGO lobby such as people Greg Taylor/Watershed watch (part of the MCC Caucus lobby group)will continue to push for entire closures if we don't prove we are improving mortality rates on released salmon. They have the governments ear right now. If we do nothing then we have nothing to fight back with. How can we get more MSF approved if we stomp are feet, and won't change with what the science says? The study we paid for?

If you want to blame anyone it is the anglers around you and social media. This netting of small fish and photos are really drawing attention. The NGO grabbed on to that, and then amped up FN groups. You think that wasn't planned? No one questioned or even knew what drop off mortalty was till the NGO brought it up wasting oxygen/mathematical formulas based on statistics in every meeting our reps had. Complete time burgler honestly. I am sure our reps would really like to move on from talking about it.

If we all just left the fish in water and released them probably wouldn't need to take this step. I am not talking about guys on here and guides. You guys care about the fish. There are many that need some education out there.

What do you mean you're not talking about guides? Some of them are the biggest abusers of this to get the "money shot" for their guests.

 

[SpringVelocity]

Not all of them. Your pretty quick on that one. Some of my friends are guides and don't do that FYI. Anyway moving on...

 

[JohnS]

Not all of them. Your pretty quick on that one. Some of my friends are guides and don't do that FYI. Anyway moving on...

Your statement said you were not talking about guides meaning you were excluding them. Some of them are the biggest reason there are "pictures online which NGOs are latching onto" which you also mentioned.

 

[scott craven]

My input we just have to change way we fish as it good for smaller fish anyway. Last year I probably used single hooks 95% of time.

I agree, this is a small concession if it keeps us fishing.

 

[Duffy]

I admit I was a bit pissed as you were when I first saw it then did some thinking on how it impacts the politics around our fishery right now.

My input we just have to change way we fish as it good for smaller fish anyway. Last year I probably used single hooks 95% of time.

The alternative is really no MSF unfortunately in areas where there are stocks of concern such as early timed Fraser fish. I expect that hook gap will be next. These recommendations were all based out of the DFO Catch and Release study in coordination with DFO.

FN and the NGO lobby such as people Greg Taylor/Watershed watch (part of the MCC Caucus lobby group)will continue to push for entire closures if we don't prove we are improving mortality rates on released salmon. They have the governments ear right now. If we do nothing then we have nothing to fight back with. How can we get more MSF approved if we stomp are feet, and won't change with what the science says? The study we paid for?

If you want to blame anyone it is the anglers around you and social media. This netting of small fish and photos are really drawing attention. The NGO grabbed on to that, and then amped up FN groups. You think that wasn't planned? No one questioned or even knew what drop off mortalty was till the NGO brought it up wasting oxygen/mathematical formulas based on statistics in every meeting our reps had. Complete time burgler honestly. I am sure our reps would really like to move on from talking about it.

If we all just left the fish in water and released them probably wouldn't need to take this step. I am not talking about guys on here and guides. You guys care about the fish. There are many that need some education out there.

I agree SpringVelocity with the points you made ,social media with the bragging and pictures posted , have done us so much harm with the groups that want us off the water. Improving mortality rates on released fish has been talked about many times on this site , it is not rocket science it not that hard to learn.

 

[ziggy]

When people have to ask what the new reg actually means, it’s a good indicator it’s poorly written. I find a lot of DFO regs are needlessly vague or misleading. Would be a lot easier to simply say no hooks with more than one point and left it at that. Instead they threw in the single barbless part which has confused some.

 

[scott craven]

New for 2026: The use of hooks having more than one point is prohibited (i.e., only single barbless hooks are permitted) when fishing for salmon in the above noted waters.

This is pretty clear to me.

 

[Squire]

If we all just left the fish in water and released them probably wouldn't need to take this step. I am not talking about guys on here and guides. You guys care about the fish. There are many that need some education out there.

Fishing shows can be at both ends of the spectrum as well. I have to give credit to Brendan Morrison and his Reel West Coast fishing show as he uses his platform to educate viewers on the importance of gaff releases by the boat, in the water.
Mark Pendlington’s Westcoast Sporting Journal on the other hand..everything in the fvcking net! I just cringe with the nice springs with patches of scales missing and split fins that he happily tosses over the side after mauling for a bit.

 

[Eden Island]

New for 2026: The use of hooks having more than one point is prohibited (i.e., only single barbless hooks are permitted) when fishing for salmon in the above noted waters.

This is pretty clear to me.

Clear, but also time-limited:

New for 2026: The use of hooks having more than one point is prohibited (i.e., only single barbless hooks are permitted) when fishing for salmon in the above noted waters from March 1 to March 31.