Species Limit

[pescador]

I think best practice would be to run a fishing log and take some pictures.
We do this on WCVI when inshore and offshore regs differ.

And DFO will look at the bread crumbs on your plotter.

 

[Tomfoolery]

I think best practice would be to run a fishing log and take some pictures.
We do this on WCVI when inshore and offshore regs differ.

I was thinking this exact same thing as a multi day boat trip could involve multiple violations unless you can prove when and where you made the catch. I can't see a reasonable fisheries officer pursuing charges if you can prove what you did to stay within the regs.

 

[Koho]

I called the local fisheries office and he didn't "know" but suggested the more conservative approach.

I would like to know how the rule is applied though.

Who did you talk to? You need to contact a conservation officer, preferably one that works in the area you wish to fish, and ask them about the regs. If you call the local fisheries office, the person you talk to may or may not know. You could have been talking to an intern or a technician. Unless they do allot of fishing, they wouldn't be able to answer your question, nor should they. They should have given you the number to someone who could though. That's on them.

To answer your original question-No. That would be illegal. Daily limit is 2, it's 2 regardless of the area. Now if you were fishing in an area that had a limit of 2 hatch coho which was near an area where the limit was 4 coho, you could catch your limit of 2 hatch coho in the 2 limit area then travel to the area where the limit is 4 and catch two more.

I would not suggest fishing an open area for a species, catching your limit, then fishing a different species in a different area that's closed for the species that's in your possession. Usually that's illegal. I don't live in BC, so I can't say for certain, but I've fished many areas in North America and normally, it's completely legal to launch in a zone that is closed to a species then travel to an open zone and fish/catch your limit. Once that limit is obtained you normally aren't allowed to fish in a closed zone with that species in possession. You'd have to travel through the closed zone back to the harbor without stopping to fish.

I will say, there's sure allot of complaining about regulations being too complicated on here. As someone that's only been out there one time, and planning to come out again, I haven't found it to be that difficult to figure out the fishing regs. The website is hard to navigate, but I think the regs are pretty clear.

 

[M1SF1T]

Who did you talk to? You need to contact a conservation officer, preferably one that works in the area you wish to fish, and ask them about the regs. If you call the local fisheries office, the person you talk to may or may not know. You could have been talking to an intern or a technician. Unless they do allot of fishing, they wouldn't be able to answer your question, nor should they. They should have given you the number to someone who could though. That's on them.

To answer your original question-No. That would be illegal. Daily limit is 2, it's 2 regardless of the area. Now if you were fishing in an area that had a limit of 2 hatch coho which was near an area where the limit was 4 coho, you could catch your limit of 2 hatch coho in the 2 limit area then travel to the area where the limit is 4 and catch two more.

I would not suggest fishing an open area for a species, catching your limit, then fishing a different species in a different area that's closed for the species that's in your possession. Usually that's illegal. I don't live in BC, so I can't say for certain, but I've fished many areas in North America and normally, it's completely legal to launch in a zone that is closed to a species then travel to an open zone and fish/catch your limit. Once that limit is obtained you normally aren't allowed to fish in a closed zone with that species in possession. You'd have to travel through the closed zone back to the harbor without stopping to fish.

I will say, there's sure allot of complaining about regulations being too complicated on here. As someone that's only been out there one time, and planning to come out again, I haven't found it to be that difficult to figure out the fishing regs. The website is hard to navigate, but I think the regs are pretty clear.

You don't know the answer though, just figuring, which is what we all do because it's not clearly presented.

If you're fishing in many of these subareas where springs are open right now you're going to have to come back through fisheries subareas that springs are closed unless you're going to climb mountains and brave the wilderness, or unless you're fishing off a floatplane.

 

[Eden Island]

So what if I'm in an area that allows 4 coho and I'm there for 2 days so have 8? Now I'm traveling in my boat down coast. Are you saying I'm now over my possession limit? Or maybe I have a 2 springs from an overnight trip to Toba and I'm coming back to Campbell River through all the other subareas if 13 that chinook are still closed. If possession were 2x daily species limits I'd be illegal. Everyone would have to eat their fish before coming home

Possession limit falls under the table in "Restrictions" where the Daily limit for all species combined is specified as 4. There is no individual species limits in that table other than the annual limits. Species limits are in a separate table.

This is where GPS track might come in handy. In my experience the chances of running into DFO on the water are once in 40 years - so it really comes down to your conscience and ability to interpret the regs. I almost universally ignore lengthy fisheries notices in favour of the DFO area species maps which are colour coded for easy reading.

 

[brutus]

I would think that moving from an area that allows four to two would put you into your possession limit. You would have to be able to prove you were in an area that allows 4 coho.

How about area 23 where you can keep one wild coho. Then you move to area 123 where you are not allowed a wild coho, but you have a wild from area 23 in the boat that you caught earlier in the day?

Happens all the time here in Renfrew

 

[brutus]

You don't know the answer though, just figuring, which is what we all do because it's not clearly presented.

If you're fishing in many of these subareas where springs are open right now you're going to have to come back through fisheries subareas that springs are closed unless you're going to climb mountains and brave the wilderness, or unless you're fishing off a floatplane.

Again I do it all the time, go to 21 from 20 and come back with fish killed legally, guides do it every day

 

[Stizzla]

OK.

What if I'm an area that allows 4 coho and I move to an area that is 2? Do I have to put 2 back?

But of course you can have more than the daily limit in your possession.

"Coastwide - When Open, the possession limit for salmon is twice the daily limit."

"Coastwide - 4 - The daily limit for all species of Pacific salmon from tidal and fresh waters combined is four. Individual species limits also apply."

If you have your 4 why would you go to an area that allows two?
Go process your fish and get them ready for the smoker

 

[M1SF1T]

If you have your 4 why would you go to an area that allows two?
Go process your fish and get them ready for the smoker

Just pointing out the fault in the reasoning.

 

[Stizzla]

Just pointing out the fault in the reasoning.

Aka stirring the $h!t

 

[fish brain]

Aka stirring the $h!t

Sometimes $h1t needs stirring.

 

[scott craven]

This is where GPS track might come in handy. In my experience the chances of running into DFO on the water are once in 40 years -

Wow, you must be fishing in some remote areas.
We see the co's on the water and at boat ramps on a regular basis.
Most of us get checked 2 or 3 times a year.

 

[Eden Island]

Wow, you must be fishing in some remote areas.
We see the co's on the water and at boat ramps on a regular basis.
Most of us get checked 2 or 3 times a year.

Mostly we cruise and fish QC straits and Broughtons. The only time I was stopped was near Spider Island west of Hakai.