Results of the Pacific tidal recreational fishing survey, 2022
On this page
- Pacific tidal recreational fishing 2000 to 2022, fast facts
- Pacific tidal fishing spatial and temporal patterns, 2022
- Pacific tidal fishing regional patterns in 2022
- Pacific tidal fishing 2022, Pacific salmon
- Pacific tidal recreational fishing 2010 to 2022, trends
- Pacific tidal fishing expenditure trends
- Pacific tidal fishing expenditures, 2022
- Pacific tidal fishing package deals, 2022
- Notes and methodology
Pacific tidal recreational fishing 2000 to 2022, fast facts

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Pacific tidal recreational fishing 2000 to 2022, fast facts
Key metrics for the pacific tidal recreational fishing industry. Metrics exclude Juvenile and Family Fishing Weekend licence holders. All values reflect the average from 2000 to 2022. Dollar amounts are in 2022 dollars.
- Expenditures ($750M)
- Angling (1.8M)
- Active fishers (220K)
- Licence sales (320K)
- Number of salmon stamps (220K)
- GDP contribution ($380M)
- Household income ($250M)
- Jobs (5,400)
There is considerable economic spin-off value generated by the tidal water recreational fishing sector in BC, with annual expenditures averaging $750M over the past 22 years. Of these expenditures, $380M was value added by BC’s fishing industry to provincial gross domestic product (GDP).
Recreational fishing generates economic value in the communities where purchases are made. On average, these purchases support 5,400 jobs per year and provide $250M in household income to families across BC.
Salmon: On average, 70% of tidal water licence holders in BC purchase salmon stamps. Salmon are the primary target in BC tidal waters, with Chinook being the most targeted species in 2022.
Recreational Fishers: While BC residents dominate sport fishing in British Columbia, there is a growing interest in tidal water fishing from visitors to the province.
Recreational fishers spent 8 days per year fishing, on average. By residency, the average number of fishing days and active fishers are:
- BC residents
- 1.5M days
- 160K active fishers
- Other Canadian
- 130K days
- 30K active fishers
- International
- 140K days
- 30K active fishers
Notes:
*Excludes Juvenile and Family Fishing Weekend licence holders.
**Average based on 2000, 2005, 2010, 2015, 2020, 2021, and 2022.
Pacific tidal fishing spatial and temporal patterns, 2022

Long text version
Pacific tidal fishing spatial and temporal patterns, 2022
Fishing expenditures and activity are concentrated both spatially and temporally.
Fishing activity peaks in the summer months with 80% of fishing occurring from June to September in 2022.
While only moderate fishing activity took place in northern Haida Gwaii, this area accounted for more than 9% of total fishing expenditures in 2022.
In 2022, 85% of fishing days and 70% of expenditures took place in the Strait of Georgia, Barkley Sound, Johnstone Strait, and the West Coast of Vancouver Island.
Fishing days and expenditures by month are presented from April to March, the fishing year.
2020-21 fishing days
- April 64K
- May 103K
- June 167K
- July 298K
- August 356K
- September 178K
- October 59K
- November 25K
- December 22K
- January 22K
- February 24K
- March 36K
2021-22 fishing days
- April 62K
- May 94K
- June 172K
- July 308K
- August 392K
- September 177K
- October 57K
- November 16K
- December 13K
- January 17K
- February 23K
- March 30K
2022-23 fishing days
- April 54K
- May 93K
- June 170K
- July 329K
- August 388K
- September 165K
- October 58K
- November 17K
- December 11K
- January 11K
- February 15K
- March 28K
2020-21 expenditures (2022 $)
- April $14M
- May $23M
- June $55M
- July $130M
- August $155M
- September $68M
- October $19M
- November $6M
- December $6M
- January $6M
- February $10M
- March $12M
2021-22 expenditures (2022 $)
- April $16M
- May $26M
- June $68M
- July $155M
- August $239M
- September $77M
- October $17M
- November $5M
- December $4M
- January $4M
- February $10M
- March $11M
2022-23 expenditures (2022 $)
- April $16M
- May $35M
- June $92M
- July $185M
- August $216M
- September $70M
- October $19M
- November $5M
- December $3M
- January $3M
- February $5M
- March $11M
Notes:
*Dots refer to spending within the entire PFMA in which they reside.
Pacific tidal fishing regional patterns in 2022

Long text version
Pacific tidal fishing regional patterns in 2022
Key metrics for each of the seven pacific tidal recreational fishing regions.
Values reflect the 2022-23 fishing year and dollar amounts are in 2022 dollars.
North Coast
- 64,000 fishing days
- 13,000 active fishers
- $40M expenditures
- $620 expenditures per day
- Expenditure percentage by species
- Halibut (23%)
- Coho (22%)
- Chinook (15%)
- Crab (12%)
- Other(28%)
Haida Gwaii
- 65,000 fishing days
- 14,000 active fishers
- $100M expenditures
- $1,500 expenditures per day
- Expenditure percentage by species
- Chinook (28%)
- Coho (24%)
- Halibut (19%)
- Lingcod (14%)
- Other (15%)
Central Coast
- 77,000 fishing days
- 12,000 active fishers
- $60M expenditures
- $770 expenditures per day
- Expenditure percentage by species
- Chinook (27%)
- Coho (24%)
- Halibut (15%)
- Lingcod (10%)
- Other (24%)
Johnstone Strait
- 184,000 fishing days
- 32,000 active fishers
- $80M expenditures
- $430 expenditures per day
- Expenditure percentage by species
- Chinook (37%)
- Coho (19%)
- Lingcod (10%)
- Pink or Chum (8%)
- Other (25%)
Strait of Georgia
- 604,000 fishing days
- 100,000 active fishers
- $180M expenditures
- $300 expenditures per day
- Expenditure percentage by species
- Chinook (34%)
- Crab (17%)
- Coho (14%)
- Shrimp or Prawn (12%)
- Other (24%)
West Coast Vancouver Island
- 130,000 fishing days
- 26,000 active fishers
- $90M expenditures
- $690 expenditures per day
- Expenditure percentage by species
- Chinook (32%)
- Coho (21%)
- Lingcod (15%)
- Halibut (12%)
- Other (20%)
Barkley Sound
- 216,000 fishing days
- 41,000 active fishers
- $105M expenditures
- $500 expenditures per day
- Expenditure percentage by species
- Chinook (38%)
- Coho (21%)
- Halibut (11%)
- Crab (10%)
- Other (19%)
Chinook were the primary target species in all regions other than the North Coast.
Fishing expenditures and days by region
Fishing expenditures
- North Coast: $39,696,183; 6% of coast wide fishing expenditures
- Haida Gwaii: $99,910,665; 15% of coast wide fishing expenditures
- Central Coast: $59,308,543; 9% of coast wide fishing expenditures
- Johnstone Strait: $78,683,896; 12% of coast wide fishing expenditures
- Strait of Georgia: $184,275,143; 28% of coast wide fishing expenditures
- West Coast Vancouver Island: $89,473,932; 14% of coast wide fishing expenditures
- Barkley Sound: $106,765,547; 16% of coast wide fishing expenditures
Fishing days
- North Coast: 63,626; 5% of coast wide fishing days
- Haida Gwaii: 65,330; 5% of coast wide fishing days
- Central Coast: 76,611; 6% of coast wide fishing days
- Johnstone Strait: 183,609; 14% of coast wide fishing days
- Strait of Georgia: 603,930; 45% of coast wide fishing days
- West Coast Vancouver Island: 129,701; 10% of coast wide fishing days
- Barkley Sound: 215,899; 16% of coast wide fishing days
45% of fishing days and 28% of fishing expenditures took place in the strait of Georgia in 2022.
While only 5% of fishing days occurred in Haida Gwaii in 2022, 15% of fishing expenditures occurred in this region.
Notes:
*Dollar values in 2022 $.
**The “Other” group includes all species other than the top 5 fished in the region. This category varies in each region and includes species listed in the legend as well as species not listed.
Pacific tidal fishing 2022, Pacific salmon
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Pacific tidal fishing 2022, Pacific salmon
Salmon are the most targeted recreational species group in BC tidal waters, with Chinook being the primary target in 2022.
- Salmon stamps were purchased by 70% of tidal water recreational license holders
- Fishing trips targeting salmon accounted for 70% of recreational trips
- Chinook made up 60% of all recreational salmon efforts
Days and expenditures by species
Fishing expenditures by species (2022 $):
- Chinook $192M
- Coho $115M
- Pink or Chum $27M
- Sockeye $10M
- Crab $61M
- Shrimp or prawn $33M
- Other $4M
- Halibut $54M
- Lingcod $46M
- Rockfish $31M
- Tuna $1M
- Other $8M
Fishing days by species group:
- Salmon 688K
- Shellfish 336K
- Non-salmon finfish 285K
Recreational fishers rarely target only a single species:
123K recreational fishers targeted chinook in 2022, of these:
- 52% fished for chinook, other salmon, and other non-salmon species
- 18% fished for chinook and other salmon species only
- 15% fished for chinook and other non-salmon species only
- 15% fished only for chinook
Pacific tidal recreational fishing 2010 to 2022, trends
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Pacific tidal recreational fishing 2010 to 2022, trends
Total fishing days declined in 2022, while spending in recreational fishing increased compared to the past two years. The following are trends since 2010. Dollar amounts are in 2022 dollars.
Expenditures
- 2010 ($950M)
- 2015 ($700M)
- 2020 ($550M)
- 2021 ($650M)
- 2022 ($660M)
Active fishers
- 2010 (230K)
- 2015 (250K)
- 2020 (160K)
- 2021 (190K)
- 2022 (200K)
Fishing days by residency
BC residents
- 2010 (1.79M)
- 2015 (1.75M)
- 2020 (1.27M)
- 2021 (1.25M)
- 2022 (1.10M)
- BC resident fishing activity has shown a decreasing trend since 2015. From 2021 to 2022, resident fishing activity dropped by more than 10%.
Other Canadians
- 2010 (116K)
- 2015 (136K)
- 2020 (83K)
- 2021 (109K)
- 2022 (119K)
- Fishing activity increased by nearly 10% in 2022 compared to 2021.
International
- 2010 (147K)
- 2015 (130K)
- 2020 (0)
- 2021 (18K)
- 2022 (121K)
- International recreational fishing activity faced significant decline in 2020 and 2021 due to restrictions imposed during the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2022, activity showed substantial recovery, returning to levels comparable to pre-2020.
Notes:
*Values exclude Juvenile and Family Fishing Weekend Licence holders.
Pacific tidal fishing expenditure trends
Long text version
Pacific tidal fishing expenditure trends
Total fishing expenditures increased in 2022.
- Per day direct fishing and package expenditures have shown increasing trends since 2020
- Major purchases for recreational fishing have decreased
- 70% of package expenditures were purchased by visitors to BC in 2022
Per day fishing expenditures trends, 2010 to 2022
Direct expenditures
- 2010 $170 per fishing day
- 2015 $159 per fishing day
- 2020 $192 per fishing day
- 2021 $227 per fishing day
- 2022 $255 per fishing day
Package expenditures
- 2010 $70 per fishing day
- 2015 $64 per fishing day
- 2020 $24 per fishing day
- 2021 $79 per fishing day
- 2022 $111 per fishing day
Major purchases
- 2010 $221 per fishing day
- 2015 $122 per fishing day
- 2020 $187 per fishing day
- 2021 $163 per fishing day
- 2022 $126 per fishing day
Per day direct spending increased for all direct expenditure items from 2021 to 2022.
Below is a break-down of percent change in direct expenditures from 2021 to 2022 for each expenditure item:
- Fishing rentals (boats, gear, etc.): 67% increase
- Non-personal vehicle transportation (ferry, airfare, etc.) 54% increase
- Guide services: 42% increase
- Accommodations and camping (hotels, cottages, camp site fees, etc.): 16% increase
- Personal vehicle expenses (gas, repairs, tolls, rental fees, etc.): 15% increase
- Food (groceries, restaurants, etc.): 12% increase
- Personal or shared boat expenses (gas, insurance, launch fees, etc.): 4% decrease
- Fishing supplies (lures, lines, tackle, bait, etc.): 6% decrease
- Other fishing related fees (licensing, park access, etc.): 19% increase
Notes:
*For definitions of direct expenditures, package expenditures, and major purchases, refer to the Notes and Methodology on page 9.
Pacific tidal fishing expenditures, 2022
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Pacific tidal fishing expenditures, 2022
Expenditures by trip type
Shore-based:
- $113 direct expenditures per fishing day
- $5 package expenditures per fishing day
- $45 major purchases per fishing day
- $28M annual expenditures
Private boat no guide:
- $222 direct expenditures per fishing day
- $28 package expenditures per fishing day
- $155 major purchases per fishing day
- $364M annual expenditures
Private boat with guide:
- $429 direct expenditures per fishing day
- $255 package expenditures per fishing day
- $97 major purchases per fishing day
- $89M annual expenditures
Hired boat with guide/charter:
- $488 direct expenditures per fishing day
- $614 package expenditures per fishing day
- $61 Major Purchases per fishing day
- $177M annual expenditures
Charter trips had the highest direct daily expenditures in 2022.
Expenditures by trip type and species
Shore-based:
- Salmon $12M (41%)
- Shellfish $11M (38%)
- Groundfish $5M (16%)
- Other species $1M (4%)
Private boat no guide:
- Salmon $208M (57%)
- Shellfish $71M (20%)
- Groundfish $82M (22%)
- Other species $3M (1%)
Private boat with guide:
- Salmon $53M (63%)
- Shellfish $22M (27%)
- Groundfish $7M (9%)
- Other species $1M (1%)
Hired boat with guide/charter:
- Salmon $101M (57%)
- Shellfish $8M (5%)
- Groundfish $28M (37%)
- Other species $2M (1%)
Salmon are the primary target across all trip types.
Groundfish and other finfish are targeted more frequently on guided trips.
Shellfish are targeted more on self-guided trips.
Notes:
*For definitions of direct expenditures, package expenditures, and major purchases, refer to the Notes and Methodology on page 9.
Pacific tidal fishing package deals, 2022
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Pacific tidal fishing package deals, 2022
Average cost per package (2022 $)
- Charter boat package: $1,700
- Lodge package: $4,100
- Fly-in package: $6,100
- Other: $1,400
Package expenditures by package type and region
Northern Coast:
- Charter boat package: $1.06M
- Lodge package: $3.55M
- Fly-in package: $2.53M
- Other: $33K
- 9% of total packages in region
Haida Gwaii:
- Charter boat package: $489K
- Lodge package: $15.43M
- Fly-in package: $51.42M
- Other: $39K
- 23% of total packages in region
Central Coast:
- Charter boat package: $443K
- Lodge package: $6.84M
- Fly-in package: $15.65M
- Other: $149K
- 11% of total packages in region
Johnstone Strait:
- Charter boat package: $1.22M
- Lodge package: $6.01M
- Fly-in package: $2.31M
- Other: $464K
- 6% of total packages in region
Strait of Georgia:
- Charter boat package: $2.65M
- Lodge package: $3.07M
- Fly-in package: $417K
- Other: $464K
- 10% of total packages in region
West Coast of Vancouver Island:
- Charter boat package: $1.86M
- Lodge package: $17.98M
- Fly-in package: $4.15M
- Other: $201K
- 27% of total packages in region
Barkley Sound:
- Charter boat package: $1.84M
- Lodge package: $7.20M
- Fly-in package: $899K
- Other: $97K
- 14% of total packages in region
Package types vary by price and region:
- 66% of fly in packages are sold in Haida Gwaii
- 28% of charter boat packages are sold in the Strait of Georgia
- 30% of lodge packages are sold on the West Coast of Vancouver Island
- While most fishing packages were sold on the West Coast of Vancouver Island, packages sold in Haida Gwaii accounted for the highest expenditures in 2022.
Notes and methodology
Concepts, terms and definitions
- Active fisher:
- an individual who fished in the corresponding fishing season.
- Fishing day:
- a day or part of a day on which an individual fished for recreation.
- Direct expenditures:
- expenditures on goods and services (food, camping, accommodation, transportation, supplies, etc.) incurred during fishing trips or excursions.
- Major purchases:
- the purchase of durable goods and investments in support of recreational fishing activities. These include boats, motors, special vehicles, camping gear and other durable goods, as well as land and building purchases. Respondents reported the total purchase price as well as the percentage which the respondent felt was directly attributable to recreational fishing. In this report, only purchases attributable to recreational fishing are presented.
- Package expenditures:
- monies paid to a lodge or outfitter for a complete range of services such as lodging, food, transportation, use of fishing equipment, etc. Four types of packages were defined for the purposes of this survey:
- Charter boat package: a package which includes fishing in a boat and may include other goods or services such as a guide, food, or fishing supplies, but excludes accommodation and airfare.
- Lodge package: a package which includes accommodation and may include other goods or services such as a guided charter, food, or fishing supplies, but excludes airfare.
- Fly-in package: a package which includes airfare and may include other goods or services such as accommodations, a guided charter, food, or fishing supplies.
- Other: a package which does not include fishing in a boat, accommodations, or airfare, but may include other goods or services such as a guide, food, or fishing supplies.
- Percent change:
- calculated as 𝑟 = ((𝑝𝑛 − 𝑝0)/𝑝0) ∗ 100 where 𝑟 is average annual percent change, 𝑝𝑛 and 𝑝0 are the final and initial observations in the period, respectively.
- Recreational fishing:
- refers to non-commercial fishing; recreational angling and sport fishing are covered in the definition used by the survey. Note that food, social and ceremonial fishing is not covered by the survey and is therefore, not included in any of the estimates presented in this report.
- Residency:
- The place in which the license holder permanently resided within the survey year.
- BC resident: an individual who lived within British Columbia during the survey year.
- Other Canadian: an individual who lived within Canada, but outside British Columbia during the survey year.
- International fisher: an individual who lived outside of Canada during the survey year.
- Visitor: an individual who’s primary residence is outside of BC (includes Other Canadian and International fishers).
- Trip Type:
- Respondents distributed their days fished across four types of fishing days. This considers all fishing days and is separate from package types which are specific to package expenditures.
Data description
The primary data source used for this report was the
This survey was similarly administered in the 2019, 2020 and 2021 fishing seasons. The data from these previous iterations were also used in generating some of the statistics presented in this report. While the focus was consistent throughout the four iterations, the 2019 survey did not include questions related to expenditures. The sampling approach in previous surveys was similar to 2022, however only 20,000 fishers were sampled in previous years. The 2019, 2020, and 2021 surveys achieved effective sample rates of 1.5%, 2.7%, and 2.1%, respectively.
In addition to the iSEA surveys, the figures presented in this report were supplemented using data from the
Note that survey results presented in this report have been weighted in order to scale results to the licence population level. Additionally, many survey results presented in this report are transformed data. Fields such as fishing days and expenditures were calculated by distributing reported values across species, spatial and trip categories.
Additional notes on methodology
Unless otherwise specified, all dollar metrics presented in this report are in 2022$.
Throughout this report, Fishing Expenditures refers to the sum of Direct Expenditures, Major Purchases, and Package Expenditures reported in the corresponding survey year.
On page 1 of this report GDP, Household Income, and Jobs statistics were calculated using multipliers from British Columbia’s Fisheries and Aquaculture Sector Report, developed by BC Stats. This report is available from the government of British Columbia’s website.
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