Area 24

EXPECT IN-SEASON CHANGES!

The closures and restrictions described in this Area may be varied by Fishery Notice. These management changes and additional openings and closures are indicated in red on this page. You can also click on Updates on the left bar to see Fishery Notices.

Click the following links for the appropriate information:
Salmon | All Finfish (including Salmon) | Finfish (other than Salmon)
Shellfish | Area 24 Map | Area 124 Map

All Species

Pacific Rim National Park Reserve
Portions of Areas 20-24, 121, 123 and 124: All tidal waters within the park are closed to scuba and skin diving for all species, all year.

Salmon

Barbless hooks must be used when fishing for salmon in all tidal waters of British Columbia.

Openings & Closures:

Species	Min Size	Daily Limit	Possess. Limit	Annual Limit	Season Open	Gear Permitted
Chinook	45 cm	2	4	30	Apr 1-Mar 31	Hook & Line
Chum	30 cm	4	8	N/A	Apr 1-Mar 31	Hook & Line
Hatchery Coho	30 cm	2	4	N/A	June 1-Dec 31	Hook & Line
Wild Coho	30 cm	To be determined	To be determined	N/A	Jun 1-Dec 31	Hook & Line
Pink	30 cm	4	8	N/A	Apr 1-Mar 31	Hook & Line
Sockeye *	30 cm	see below	see below	N/A	see below	Hook & Line
The combined daily limit for all species of Pacific salmon from tidal waters is 4. Coastwide daily limit for chinook is 2. Aggregate daily limit for all species of Pacific salmon from tidal and non-tidal waters combined is 4.

* Sockeye: Effective 23:59 hours Friday, Sept. 16, 2011 and until further notice: daily limit for Fraser sockeye will be reduced to zero (0) in all waters listed in FN0784. Area 23 still remains open for the harvest of sockeye as per Fishery Notice FN0447.  Listed 16/09/2011 FN0901

* Sockeye: Effective May 18, 2011: no fishing for Sockeye - except Area 124 see FN0694. Listed on 16/05/2011 FN0399

*Sockeye: Aug. 25 until further notice: the daily limit for sockeye is four (4) per day in:

• Areas 11 and 111
• Area 12
• Area 13 (Johnstone Strait);
• Areas 14, 15, 17, 18 and 19 (Strait of Georgia);
• Area 20 (Juan de Fuca Strait);
• Areas 21, 121 and 123 to 127 (West Coast of Vancouver Island). Note: Area 23 (Barkley Sound and Alberni Inlet) is open to retention of Somass sockeye ( see FN0447);
• Area 28 (Howe Sound, Burrard Inlet and Indian Arm);
• Area 29 (Strait of Georgia and the tidal waters of the Fraser), except Subarea 29-8 (Boundary Bay).

Sockeye retention is not permitted in the following areas:

• Area 16 - remains closed and at this time there is no proposed opening of Subareas 16-19 to 21 (Sabine Channel);
• Area 22 - In Nitinat Lake;
• Areas 24 to 27 inclusive;
• Subarea 29-8 (Boundary Bay)

Listed 24/08/2011 FN0784

All species: In those waters of Hesquiat Harbour (Subarea 24-1) from Hesquiat Point southerly to Matlahaw Point, non-retention of salmon is in effect August 1 to December 31.

All species: That portion of Subarea 24-2 northerly of Starling Point (Sydney Inlet), that portion of Subarea 24-3 southwesterly of a line commencing at 49°24.640’ N, 126° 08.646’ W on Vancouver Island to 49°24.562’ N, 126°07.480’ W on Obstruction Island, that portion of Subarea 24-4 northerly of a line commencing on Flores Island at 49°18.005’ N, 26°04.141’ W then to 49°18.250’ N, 126°03.132’ W on McKay Island then following the McKay Island shoreline to 49°18.404’ N, 126°1.939’ W then to 49°19.279’ N, 26°1.399’ W on Vancouver Island and 24-14 (Miller Channel), non-retention of salmon is in effect August 1 to December 31.

All species: Bedwell Sound (Subarea 24-7), non-retention of salmon is in effect August 1 to December 31.

All species: Those waters of Subarea 24-10, northwest of boundary signs on opposite sides of the entrance to Warn Bay, non-retention of salmon is in effect August 1 to December 31.

All species: Those waters of Subarea 24-11, southerly of a line between boundary signs approx. half way to the head of Grice Bay, non-retention of salmon is in effect August 1 to December 31.

All species: Tofino Inlet, northerly of boundary signs just south of Warne Island (Subarea 24-12), non-retention of salmon is in effect August 1 to December 31.

Coho: Non-retention of Coho is in effect January 1 to July 31 for the following waters of Area 24:

a) Hesquiat Harbour (Subarea 24-1) from Hesquiat Pt southerly to Matlahaw Pt.

b) That portion of Subarea 24-2 northerly of Starling Point (Sydney Inlet), that portion of Subarea 24-3 southwesterly of a line commencing at 49°24.640’ N, 126° 08.646’ W on Vancouver Island to 49°24.562’ N, 126°07.480’ W on Obstruction Island, that portion of Subarea 24-4 northerly of a line commencing on Flores Island at 49°18.005’ N, 26°04.141’ W then to 49°18.250’ N, 126°03.132’ W on McKay Island then following the McKay Island shoreline to 49°18.404’ N, 126°1.939’ W then to 49°19.279’ N, 26°1.399’ W on Vancouver Island and 24-14 (Miller Channel).

c) Bedwell Sound (Subarea 24-7).

d) Those waters of Subarea 24-10, northwest of boundary signs on opposite sides of the entrance to Warn Bay.

e) Those waters of Subarea 24-11, southerly of a line between boundary signs approx. halfway inside Grice Bay to the head of Grice Bay.

f) Tofino Inlet, northerly of boundary signs just south of Warne Island.

Chinook: Those waters of Subarea 24-9 easterly of boundary signs on both shores of Browning Passage approximately 0.7 miles west of Tsapee Narrow, non-retention of chinook is in effect August 1 to December 31.

Chinook: Subarea 24-10, NW of boundary signs on opposite sides of the entrance to Warn Bay, non-retention of chinook is in effect August 1 to December 31.

Chinook: Subarea 24-11, (Indian Bay, Windy Bay, Lower Tofino Inlet) except for Grice Bay, non-retention of chinook is in effect August 1 to December 31.

All Finfish, Including Salmon Closures and Special Measures

For other finfish limits, please visit the species and limits table.

That portion of Subarea 24-4 southerly of a line commencing on Flores Island at 49°18.005’ N, 126°04.141’ W then to 49°18.250’ N, 126°03.132’ W on McKay Island then following the McKay Island shoreline to 49°18.404’ N, 126°01.939’ W then to 49°19.279’ N, 126° 01.399’ W on Vancouver Island are closed to fishing for all finfish August 01 to October 31.

Subarea 24-5 is closed to fishing for all finfish from August 01 to October 31.

That portion of Subarea 24-6 northerly of a line commencing at Kutcous Point (49°14.961’ N, 126°04.817’ W) on Flores Island to 49°14.637’ N, 126°00.825’ W on Vancouver Island near the Chetarpe I.R. is closed to fishing for all finfish from August 01 to October 31.

That portion of Subarea 24-9 easterly of a line commencing at Ginnard Point (49°08.069’ N, 125°51.169’ W) on Meares Island to 49°07.483’ N, 125°51.811’ W on Vancouver Island to the Subarea boundary at Auseth Point is closed to fishing for all finfish from August 01 to October 31.

Subarea 24-13 and that portion of Subarea 24-3 northerly of a line commencing at 49°24.640’ N, 126°08.646’ W on Vancouver Island to 49°24.562’ N, 126°07.480’ W on Obstruction Island then to the Subarea boundary (commencing at 49°25.419’ N, 126°07.347’ W on Vancouver Island to 49°24.990’ N, 126°06.655’ W on Obstruction Island) is closed to fishing for all finfish from August 01 to October 31.

Kennedy Cove, inside a line between fishing boundary signs on the outer southwest corner and the outer northeast corner of the Cove, is closed to fishing for all finfish, all year.

Finfish (Other than Salmon)

Halibut: recreational fishing for halibut is closed until further notice.

Sevengill shark, Shortfin mako, Common thresher, Bigeye thresher, Smooth hammerhead, Pacific angel shark and Pacific sleeper shark; Salmon shark: Effective June 1, 2011 until further notice:

• Sevengill shark, Shortfin mako, Common thresher, Bigeye thresher, Smooth hammerhead, Pacific angel shark and Pacific sleeper shark: The daily limit is zero (0).
• Salmon shark: The daily limit is one (1) and the possession limit is two (2).

Listed on 11/05/2011 FN0389

Shellfish

See the Shellfish Table for limits.
Please see important Additional Shellfish Information.

Be sure to check for both PSP and Sanitary Contamination Closures if you plan on consuming any shellfish.

Shellfish Contamination
Van Nevel Channel; Duffin Passage; Big Whitepine Cove; portion of Warn Bay;
Atleo River; Ahousaht Fuel Dock; and Hot Springs Cove.