Region 1 - Vancouver Island

This table refers to fishing for salmon only. For information on other species please refer to the B.C. Freshwater Fishing Regulations Synopsis.

Note:

  • All retained chinook and sockeye must measure 30 cm or more from tip of nose to tail fork, and all coho must measure 25 cm or more.
  • An “adult chinook” in Region 1 is defined as being over 50 cm.
Salmon Limits, Openings and Closures
Waters Specific Area Species Dates Limits/Gear
Campbell River from a fishing boundary sign at the end of Maple Street downstream to the fishing boundary sign at the cement block. All Aug 01-Oct 31 No fishing for salmon.
downstream of the confluence with the Quinsam River. Pink Jul 15-Sep 15  4 per day, none less than 30 cm.
Coho Oct 01-Dec 31 4 coho per day in the aggregate, only two of which may be greater than 35 cm and those two must be hatchery marked.
Cayeghle River including Colonial River. Coho Apr 01-Mar 31 1 per day.
Cluxewe River   Coho Apr 01-Mar 31 2 per day, hatchery marked fish only.
Chemainus River   Coho Oct 15-Mar 31 1 per day, none over 35 cm.
Colonial River - see Cayeghle River
Conuma River   Chinook Aug 25-Dec 31 2 per day, only 1 over 77 cm.
Coho Aug 25-Dec 31 2 per day, wild or hatchery marked. May possess 4 in aggregate.
Cowichan River including tributaries and Cowichan Lake. Chinook Apr 01-Mar 31 No fishing for chinook
Coho Apr 01-Mar 31 1 per day, none over 35 cm.
Cowichan R. downstream from Skutz Falls to the Hwy 1 bridge. Coho To be determined  
Chum To be determined  
downstream of the weir on Cowichan Lake to 66 Mile Trestle. All Aug 01-Nov 15 Fly-fishing only.
66 Mile Trestle downstream to the Tidal Boundary. All Aug 01 - Nov 15 No fishing for salmon.
Goldstream River   All Apr 01-Mar 31 No fishing for salmon.
Koksilah River including tributaries. Chinook To be determined  
Coho Apr 01-Mar 31 1 per day, none over 35 cm.
Nahwitti River   Coho Apr 01-Mar 31 1 per day.
Nanaimo River including tributaries, except in the area described below.  Coho Oct 15-Mar 31 1 per day, none over 35 cm.
Cedar Road Bridge upstream approx. 400 m to the fishing boundary sign located near the Hwy 19 bridge crossing. All Sep 15-Oct 30 No fishing for salmon.
upstream side of the Cedar Road Bridge, upstream to the end of Boswell Rd. (commonly known as “Firehall Pool”). Chum Nov 01-Nov 30 2 per day.
Coho Nov 01-Dec 31 1 per day, none over 35 cm.
Nitinat River upstream of Parker Creek. All Apr 01-Mar 31 No fishing for salmon.
downstream of Parker Creek, except in the areas and times described below. Chinook Aug 25-Sep 30 2 per day, only 1 over 77 cm.
Coho Aug 25-Sep 30 2 per day.
Oct 15-Dec 31 2 per day.
Chum Oct 15-Dec 31 2 per day.
within 100 m radius of the Nitinat R. hatchery water intake and fishway. All Apr 01-Mar 31 No fishing for salmon.
between fishing boundary signs located approximately 100 m above and below Red Rock Pool. All  Aug 25-Dec 31 No fishing for salmon.
from 50 m upstream to 50 m downstream of the Nitinat River Bridge. All Aug 25-Oct 15 No fishing for salmon.
Little Qualicum River   Chinook Oct 01-Nov 30 1 per day.
Chum Oct 01-Nov 30 1 per day.
Coho To be determined  
Puntledge and Courtenay Rivers from the weir at the lower hatchery to fishing boundary signs approximately 75 m downstream of the weir. All Apr 01-Mar 31 No fishing for salmon.
downstream from a fishing boundary sign located 75 m downstream of the weir at the lower hatchery (excluding the Morrison Creek closure). Chinook To be determined  
Coho To be determined  
Chum Oct 01-Nov 30 2 per day.
between fishing boundary signs located 100 m upstream and downstream of the confluence with Morrison Creek. All Apr 01-Mar 31 No fishing for salmon.
Qualicum River   Chinook Aug 01-Oct 15 4 per day, none over 62 cm.
Oct 16-Dec 31 4 per day, only 2 over 62 cm.
Coho To be determined  
Chum Oct 01-Nov 30 1 per day.
from the Reserve boundary below the Big Qualicum hatchery downstream to the Hwy 19A bridge All Nov 01-Dec 31 No fishing for salmon.
downstream of the E&N Railway bridge All Dec 01-Jun 15 No fishing for salmon.
Quatse River   Coho Jun 15-Mar 31 2 per day, hatchery marked fish only.
Quinsam River   Coho Oct 01-Dec 31 4 coho per day in the aggregate, only two of which may be greater than 35 cm and those two must be hatchery marked.
Pink Aug 15-Sep 15 4 per day, none less than 30 cm.
Reay Creek   All Apr 01-Mar 31 No fishing for salmon.
San Juan River   Coho   Opportunities dependent on in-season coho run size (coho over 35 cm).
Seymour River   Coho Apr 01-Mar 31 2 per day.
Shawnigan Creek   All Apr 01-Mar 31 No fishing for salmon.
Somass River except in those areas and times listed below. Chinook Aug 25-Dec 31 2 per day, only 1 over 77 cm.
Coho  Aug 25-Dec 31 2 per day.
tidal boundary at Papermill Dam on the Somass River to fishing boundary sign approximately 1 km upstream (Falls Road Gravel Pit and the southernmost end of Collins Farm/ArrowVale Campground- Hector Road). All Aug 25-Nov 15 No fishing for salmon.
Somass River tributaries   All May 01-Oct 31 Natural bait ban.
Sproat River from Sproat Lake downstream to fishing boundary signs approximately 300 m downstream of the Highway 4 bridge. All Jun 15-Nov 15 Closed to fishing.
All May 01-Oct 31 Natural bait ban.
Stamp River except in those areas and times listed below. Chinook Aug 25-Dec 31 2 per day, only 1 over 77 cm.
Coho Aug 25-Dec 31 2 per day.
from the confluence of the Ash River upstream to Great Central Lake Dam. All Jan 1-Apr 30 Closed to fishing.
from fishing boundary signs on either side of the Stamp River at the Powerline crossing downstream approximately 500 m to fishing boundary signs on either side of the Stamp River at the inlet to the Stamp River (hatchery) lagoon. All Oct 01-Oct 14 No fishing for salmon.
from fishing boundary signs on either side of the Stamp River located at the inlet to the Stamp River (hatchery) lagoon continuing downstream approximately 750 m to fishing boundary signs on either side of the Stamp River. All Aug 25-Oct 31 No fishing for salmon.
upstream of fishing boundary signs located approx 500 m downstream of Stamp River Falls to fishing boundary signs located approximately 200 m upstream (above) Stamp River Falls. All Jun 15-Nov 15 No fishing for salmon.
downstream of the fishing boundary signs at the “Bucket” (approximately 250 m above the Beaver Creek and Stamp River confluence). Bait may only be used Sept 15-Oct 31 below the fishing boundary signs at Girl Guide Falls (approximately 250 m upstream of Beaver Creek). All May 1-Sep 14 Natural bait ban.
Stamp River tributaries   All May 1-Oct 31 Natural bait ban.
Washlawlis River   Coho Apr 01-Mar 31 1 per day.
Waukwaas River   Coho Apr 01-Mar 31 1 per day.