If you're wanting fish for salmon, Nanaimo River, as well as almost all other Vancouver Island rivers, are closed to salmon fishing, as of today:
Fisheries and Oceans Canada
notices.dfo-mpo.gc.ca
Fishery Notice
Category(s):
RECREATIONAL - Salmon
Subject:
FN1139-RECREATIONAL - Salmon - Region 1 - No salmon fishing (Vancouver Island) - Effective October 8, 2022
Vancouver Island is continuing to experience drought conditions including low water levels and warm temperatures, with little precipitation forecasted. It is anticipated that these trends may continue for several weeks. These low flow levels, coupled with warm water temperatures, are creating challenging migratory conditions for salmon throughout much of Region 1. Increased mortality of migratory salmon in these Region 1 systems is expected until conditions improve. As a result of these poor environmental conditions the Department is closing most freshwater systems to salmon fishing on Vancouver Island until further notice.
Effectively 00:01 hours October 8, 2022, until further notice, there is no fishing for salmon in the Region 1 (freshwater) systems on Vancouver Island, with the following exceptions:
Campbell River; Puntledge River and Courtenay River; Little Qualicum River; Qualicum River; Stamp River; and Somass River.
The Department will continue to monitor the water conditions in these systems and systems may open again if conditions improve.
Fishers are reminded to review the DFO Region 1 webpage and the Province of BC's Freshwater Synopsis for additional time, area and gear regulations for the above noted systems.
Variation Order: 2022-RCT-466
Notes:
Barbless hooks are required when fishing for salmon in tidal and non-tidal waters of British Columbia.
