Fisheries and Oceans Canada
www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca
Common menu bar links
Recreational Fishing Gear
Gear is always a factor for recreational fishers. It is not just a matter of knowing what hootchie is hot, but what gear is legal. In this section anglers will find information on the proper gear required to fish certain species.
Recreational fishers can click on the following links for information on:
Salmon Gear
Anglers are required by law to use a barbless hook when fishing for
salmon, including cutthroat trout and steelhead. To change a barbed hook
to a barbless one, simply squeeze the barb tightly against the hook
shank with a pair of pliers.
It is illegal to fish with a fixed weight (sinker) greater than one kg except on a downrigger line, in which case the fishing line must be attached to the downrigger by means of an automatic release clip. The clip must free the fishing line from the downrigger line when the fish takes the lure, allowing the fish to be retrieved by rod and reel or separate handline.
DFO is preparing a regulatory submission that would make it possible to implement the mandatory use of circle hooks in certain places and at certain times when fishing for salmon. The main cause of mortality in released sport-caught fish is organ and gill damage. This damage occurs when a fish is “deep-hooked,” that is the hook catches in the fish’s gut when it is set by the angler. Circle hooks are a valuable conservation tool in certain fisheries as they are less likely to deep-hook a fish and therefore have a lower post-release mortality rate than traditional J-hooks.
Be aware of hook and line and downrigger entanglement risks in the
vicinity of the UVIC Venus project in Pat Bay, Saanich Inlet. For more
information,
visit: www.venus.uvic.ca/notice.php
Shellfish Traps and Rings
Marking, Buoys and Buoy Lines
If fishing from a dock or from shore, a tag must be marked
with the fisher’s name (as it appears on the license) to the line that
has the trap or ring net attached to the other end.
If fishing in open waters, all shellfish trap/ring buoys must be
clearly marked with the name of the person fishing the gear (the
fisher’s name must be printed in solid black, capital letters at least
75 mm high). Only one name can appear on the float or buoy. It is
recommended that you include your phone number.
All single traps must be marked with a buoy.
Buoys must be highly visible and of sufficient size for the tides and current in your fishing area so as not to submerge. Household plastic jugs, bottles or Styrofoam chunks are not recommended for use as buoys as they are difficult to see in the water, difficult to mark with identification, and tend to deteriorate and sink.
Ensure that your buoy line doesn’t float and become entangled in boaters’ props. Either use sinking line or, if you use floating line, attach a weight to keep the excess line below the surface of the water at all tide levels without sinking the buoy.
Keep navigation channels clear of buoys and lines to allow for safe navigation. Any fishing gear that hinders or impedes safe navigation may be removed under the Navigable Waters Protection Act.
Mechanical devices may be used to recover traps.
Prawn and Shrimp Traps
A
maximum of four traps may be fished on a single bottom line (ground
line). If three or more traps are set together on a single ground line,
then a buoy is required at either end of the ground line. Only one
fisher’s traps may be set on a single ground line, that fisher’s name
must be on each of the buoys, and the gear must be hauled and set only
by that fisher. Only one name can appear on a buoy. When fishing for
shrimp or prawns, release all non-targeted species quickly to the water.
Prior to fishing, check for changes to shrimp and prawn management measures in Saanich Inlet, Stuart Channel, Alberni Inlet and other areas. Seasonal closures and other in-season management measures may be introduced to protect adult females carrying eggs.
Further information on prawn sport fishing
Crabs and Crab Gear
Reminder to Check your Crab Measuring Devices and ensure that you are using one that is correct
Recently, Fishery Officers have been finding undersize crab that have been retained because the crab measuring devices fishers were using were not correct. The measuring devices would be the correct size in some US waters, but they are not the correct size in British Columbia, Canada. Please ensure that the device you are using is measuring 165 mm (6.5 inches) for Dungeness crab and 115 mm (4.5 inches) for Red Rock Crab. Only legal size male crabs may be retained. A crab is measured in a straight line through the widest part of the carapace, or shell, from outside the points (or horns). It appears that the problem is mainly with a device from Danielson Outdoors. Listed 15/09/2011 FN0898
Photo: Crab measuring device from Danielson Outdoors: this device is NOT
APPROPRIATE for measuring correct crab size in
British Columbia.
Dungeness crab must measure at least 165 mm. Red
Rock crab must measure at
least 115 mm. A crab is measured in
a straight line through the widest part of the carapace, or
shell, from outside the points.
Harvesters are advised to measure crabs using a calliper device. Undersized crab must be returned to the water immediately.
The carapace must remain attached until consumed or until the crab arrives at your ordinary residence.
You may not possess female crabs. All female crabs must be immediately returned to the water in a manner that causes the least harm. The female’s abdomen has a wide “beehive” shape; the male’s has a narrow “lighthouse” shape.
All crab traps must have a section in the top or sidewall that has been secured by a length of untreated cotton twine no greater than No. 120. On deterioration this must produce a rectangular opening with a minimum size of 7 cm x 20 cm, or a square opening with a minimum size of 11 cm x 11 cm.
This regulation is intended to ensure that if the trap is lost, the section secured by the cord will rot, allowing captive crabs to escape and to prevent the trap from continuing to fish. To comply with the legislation, a person must remove a rectangular or square section of the trap and lace that section back into the trap using untreated cotton twine, creating a space of the above dimensions.
If two crab traps are attached to one ground-line, you may mark the ground-line with only one buoy.
It is illegal to use more than two rings, dip nets or traps or a combination of these to fish for crabs.
For more information about crabbing, please consult the Crab Sport Fishing Guidelines Brochure: [HTML] [PDF]
This publication is also available in other languages [PDF]:
