I would suggest that for those who fish outside of the southern Island areas and that are effected by the most restrictive sport fishing restrictions in BC there is a way to keep from being thrown under the bus. Instead of bashing those who do fish down here and who complain each year, when the confirmation that another year of restrictions will be in place....support us with constructive advice when you have some to offer and also realize that the fight we wage down here helps keep you on the water. The pressure on DFO from the river guys isn't limited to just our areas, we are doing our part and you will need our help to not be included in this political bs.
FN0301-RECREATIONAL - Salmon: Chinook - Area 20 - Fishery Management Actions - Effective March 29, 2
- Thread starter Whole in the Water
- Start date
advTHXance
Well-Known Member
I put a call into DFO about the potential closure of Saanich Inlet. The guy I spoke with came to the conclusion that its an error on the DFO site. Saanich Inlet is open for chinook retention. He also mentioned that the minimum size for retention in parts of area 19 is listed incorrectly as 65cm (its still 62cm). Sorry if I induced any panic!
Gear'n'beer!
Well-Known Member
Awesome thanks for the info advTHXance....back to plan A then!
Whole in the Water
Well-Known Member
fishin_magician
Well-Known Member
Yup. A sh*t show of a thread and I knew it was going to turn into that. Even a moderator telling me to Sh*t up and stay off the thread. Accusations flying and everyone saying the other is wrong and they shouldn't comment on anything where they don't live and accusing the other of knowing f'all and no one has any solutions if they don't live in the area.
Well, let's see...June is crappy month for fishing in the Mid-Strait with local trips in Vancouver, Sunshine Coast, Nanaimo and ECVI operators tied up dockside and most operators operating at 50% or less capacity. In some cases much less.
I proposed a solution...which was to challenge the authorities (I did suggest a method) if you believe it's all BS...or accept what they put forward in regulations. I submitted the latter as having substance but clearly that is wrong based on the comments my post was met with and according to popular opinion by Sport Fishers the whole regulation is meant to appease FN groups on the Fraser.
I suggest that if it's politically motivated, Freedom of Information requests (which everyone is entitled to from DFO) will expose the rationale for such "politically motivated" unfounded "management actions". I work for the Crown and FOI requests happen from time to time and legal compliance is mandatory. Emails, documents et al. can be requested.
If DFO fisheries managers and directors are severely limiting the size of sport catch in Sooke to increase the take of FN food fishing opportunities and catches on the Fraser based on nothing but hearsay (or political appeasement) as that is what is being inferred (assumedly) then all you have to do is prove that. Perhaps there is a conflict of interest or paper bags and envelopes full cash (ala Karl Heinz Schreiber style with Brian Mulroney) to be exposed? Perhaps someone had a back deck built by someone? (A la Glen Clark) or Some political donations (a la Christy Clark) to be exposed? Every time the Fraser opens and the bars are exposed and it is open for Sport, more Chinooks are taken a day on the Fraser below Hope than taken in a week from Sooke to Vancouver.
I'm sure someone at Global News or the CBC would be willing to take up this story.
Anyways, I'll just make like a bird and flock off since I am ill equipped to suggest anything since I don't live or fish in the area all the time. I have fished in the Bite Me Derby twice and get over here and there to meet friends where fishing is the activity ...guess I'll stop coming...because I can't kill large fish... that's the rationale.
Well, let's see...June is crappy month for fishing in the Mid-Strait with local trips in Vancouver, Sunshine Coast, Nanaimo and ECVI operators tied up dockside and most operators operating at 50% or less capacity. In some cases much less.
I proposed a solution...which was to challenge the authorities (I did suggest a method) if you believe it's all BS...or accept what they put forward in regulations. I submitted the latter as having substance but clearly that is wrong based on the comments my post was met with and according to popular opinion by Sport Fishers the whole regulation is meant to appease FN groups on the Fraser.
I suggest that if it's politically motivated, Freedom of Information requests (which everyone is entitled to from DFO) will expose the rationale for such "politically motivated" unfounded "management actions". I work for the Crown and FOI requests happen from time to time and legal compliance is mandatory. Emails, documents et al. can be requested.
If DFO fisheries managers and directors are severely limiting the size of sport catch in Sooke to increase the take of FN food fishing opportunities and catches on the Fraser based on nothing but hearsay (or political appeasement) as that is what is being inferred (assumedly) then all you have to do is prove that. Perhaps there is a conflict of interest or paper bags and envelopes full cash (ala Karl Heinz Schreiber style with Brian Mulroney) to be exposed? Perhaps someone had a back deck built by someone? (A la Glen Clark) or Some political donations (a la Christy Clark) to be exposed? Every time the Fraser opens and the bars are exposed and it is open for Sport, more Chinooks are taken a day on the Fraser below Hope than taken in a week from Sooke to Vancouver.
I'm sure someone at Global News or the CBC would be willing to take up this story.
Anyways, I'll just make like a bird and flock off since I am ill equipped to suggest anything since I don't live or fish in the area all the time. I have fished in the Bite Me Derby twice and get over here and there to meet friends where fishing is the activity ...guess I'll stop coming...because I can't kill large fish... that's the rationale.
wolf
Well-Known Member
Thats why i didn't post any thing derby if you do some digging anybody can see where the fish are being caught and it sure as hell isnt area 19/20 but common sense isnt that common especially dealing with DFO, it baffles me when the numbers that are there and they completely ignore it.
trust me I dont want anyone to go thru what we have had to its not fun and VERY hard to run a business because of the federal government Fuc$en us around.
trust me I dont want anyone to go thru what we have had to its not fun and VERY hard to run a business because of the federal government Fuc$en us around.
wildmanyeah
Crew Member
I am a bit confused here, are we complaining that there is going to be less tourism in the area? or just about the restrictions? If you live on the island lots of option where to launch your boat for the day.
I can understand the restrictions with all the political motivations from the USA.
Still no one likes being told what to do!
I can understand the restrictions with all the political motivations from the USA.
Still no one likes being told what to do!
WADR, yes you are very confused on this issue.
wildmanyeah
Crew Member
I was considering going down to sooke after just watching brendan morrison on his fishing show fishing for halli and chinook their. Lodge and fishing looked great but Judging from this thread sounds like a **** show! guess i'll go to bamfield!
spring time
Well-Known Member
You guys are lucky. At least it's only effected you now area 29 the old banana, like the coal port has been closed since Jan 1 and doesn't open till July
Peahead
Well-Known Member
Yep, you took the words right out of my trap.....and if a certain group has their way it will never open again at the coal port. We were and are closed off the Fraser all winter this year for Chinook - not slot, just closed for chinook retention completely. Last year that closure didn't start till March when the actual stock of concern actually shows up. For the SVI guys you do have a beef with this - I agree. We feel it too but we have the advantage of lots of areas to fish that are open with no slots such as Howe Sound and Vancouver Harbour. We should all stick together on this as sport fishers though because we are one sector that needs to be one unit when it comes to fighting these sort of issues. I am all for conservation as probably 100% of guys I know are but when public fish are politically allocated to a certain sector/group over another , thats where I want to put on the boxing gloves! Lets not argue amoung ourselves ...... that is the last thing we need here. Southen VI and an area off eastern Vancouver island ( Sub Area of 29 south of Silva Bay/Thrasher rock ) as well the mouth of the Fraser (area 29) has slots limits and complete closures on Chinook at times to apparenly protect Fraser 4(2) chinook. Thats fine if it is truly to protect a stock of concern but when there is proof available that the stock doesn't enter an area and it still is closed or slot limited you know something is not right ( eg for Vancouver in 29 sub areas off Fraser and Coal Ports the stock is not there in Jan/Feb) then why would the area be closed at that time? There is pressure from a certain group, thats why!! If stocks of concern are the reason an area is closed or has slot limits fine but when it is proven that a particular stock is not present then you know there are other reasons. I also find it interesting that some of the Fisheries Notices mention that the closure or slot is to protect the Fraser Chinook 4(2) due to it being a stock of concern but with the area 19/20 slot the notice says "Fishery Management Actions" with no particular stock of concern mentioned - Let me guess, this is DFO 'code' for getting the fish past the sport fishers off Victoria and the mouth of the Fraser so that they reach the river so another sector can kill them ?
scott craven
Well-Known Member
Why Cadboro point as a closure boundary ?
there is 60 miles of ocean between the point and the Fraser where these fish are headed.
They have to be travelling through other area's to get there that remain open for fishing ?
Makes no sense
there is 60 miles of ocean between the point and the Fraser where these fish are headed.
They have to be travelling through other area's to get there that remain open for fishing ?
Makes no sense
Good thing that fish don't swim between different areas. Otherwise the idea that one can only comment on their own area closures would make no sense at all.Are you affected by these slot closures F.M. ?
if not, suggest you comment on your own area closures.
scott craven
Well-Known Member
Try it on for size and see if you like it ?
island idiots
Active Member
Sooke is a great place to fish. If you know what you are doing, you will catch fish. Sooke offers access to both quality fishing and great entertainment and a social life. Really where will you get great scenery, fishing, and fantastic city life so close together? Closures and Size limits don't mean you can't catch big springs. Crabbing, Hali and All species of pacific salmon at your door step, no need to pay big bucks, and after a day on the water you can easily party till you puke. Plenty of great guides to get you on the fish if that's your thing.
Cut Plug
Well-Known Member
Old Blue
Well-Known Member
Sounds like Sooke and Vic are caught between a Rock (US) and a hard place (FN that rely on the Lilloet fish). Tough for sure especially for the business owners who have to depend on the area for their livelihood when you have a short time period to pay the bills. There's no need to drag the Howe Sound/Burrard inlet fishery into this especially if you've talked to local guides who submit to the head recovery program on a regular basis and see the results, also nice to see a few of those guides release fish over 20 lbs this winter as they are obvious strays of the endangered run. HS/Burrard inlet fishing has boomed as a direct result of the food available from the herring spawning program in squamish, false creek and other local areas so young outgoing fish are sticking around longer to feed before they venture out offshore. These fish are small winter feeders generally 2-12lbs, good luck finding any with immature berries or sperm sacks. I'm sorry that fisherman in area 20 and parts of 19 have been hit by the slot limit but like others have said at least its open and you have a small chance to luck out and keep a "winter feeder" that the slot is intended for rather than not being able to fish at all.
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