Fishing Responsibly

Code of Conduct

Fishing responsibly not only means protecting the environment and the resource, but also practising safe fishing habits and respect towards others. This Code of Conduct has been developed and endorsed by the Sport Fishing Advisory Board.

1. Handle all fish with care.
2. Limit your catch to ensure fish for the future.
3. Leave your fishing spot cleaner than you found it.
4. Respect the rights of property owners and other outdoor enthusiasts.
5. Use the proper tackle and methods for the species being targeted.
6. Promote the sport by teaching children and new participants how to fish.
7. Become informed about your fishery and participate in its management.
8. Report all illegal fishing activities to the proper authorities.
9. Respect the space of others, leave enough room for everyone to fish.
10. Learn the fishing and boating laws and abide by them.

Catch and Release Tips

The survival of Pacific salmon is important to recreational anglers - and non-retention, or catch-and-release, is one way to help ensure that survival. Studies have shown that the majority of sport-caught and released salmon survive, as high as 85% to 95% in the ocean, and in some cases even higher in rivers and streams.

Practicing good catch and release techniques begins before you catch the fish and doesn’t end until after you set it free and it swims away.

Techniques to Remember

• Remember: when fishing for salmon, barbless hooks are mandatory.
• Use large lures or artificial baits to reduce the incidental catch of undersize fish.
• Do not overplay the fish, bring it in as quickly as possible.
• For a salmon under 30 cm, unhook it at the water surface to minimize handling.
• For a larger salmon, if it is too difficult to unhook it in the water, bring it onboard, remove the hookquickly and release it. This will cause less stress and damage to the fish.
• Use a soft knotless mesh net to minimize scale loss.
• Handle the fish securely. Keep it immobile while the hook is removed then quickly release it into the water.
• Remove the hook with needle-nose pliers or surgical hemostats.
• Do not touch or handle a fish by its gills.
• To avoid injury, support the fish when lifting by placing one hand around the base of its tail and the other under its belly. Do not lift it by the tail as this will stretch the vertebrae.
• To return the fish to water, release it at a 45° angle with the head pointing down and just above the waterline. If the fish is exhausted, revive it in the water by keeping a grip on its tail; move it back and forth slowly to increase water flow over the gills; wait until it is strong enough to swim out of your hands.
• Some fish may be hooked deep inside the mouth. If this is the case, cut the line as close to the hook as possible and leave it in. The hook will erode in time.
   

The following publications/videos on catch and release are available to the public:
Angling for the Future, Release 'Em Right, through the website or by calling 604-666-0384.