Information to know before sport fishing in B.C.

Before you fish, make sure you’re prepared. It’s as easy as 1, 2, 3, 4

1. Get a recreational fishing licence

To find out what kind of recreational fishing licence you need and how to get it, visit our Learn about and apply for a recreational fishing licence page.

To buy a B.C. Tidal Waters Sport Fishing licence, visit:

• the National Recreational Licensing System (NRLS)
• an Independent Access Provider (a licence vendor)

2. Plan your trip

If you plan to use a guide when you fish, consider hiring a certified guide. We support the Certified Tidal Angling Guide program. If you’re travelling to British Columbia to fish, visit Destination BC for information on activities, accommodations and guides.

Check the current regulations

We manage recreational fishing in:

• tidal (salt) waters for all species
• non-tidal (fresh) waters for salmon

Management measures include regulating the species you are allowed to fish for, the number of fish you are allowed to catch and keep and the gear you are allowed to use.

Fresh water fishing for species other than salmon is managed by the province of British Columbia. See their freshwater fishing regulations for rules around freshwater recreational fishing for all species but salmon.

Fishing limits, openings and closures can change daily, so always check for recreational fishing limits, openings and closures before you fish to find out:

• if fishing is permitted in your area
• which species you can fish
• which species you cannot fish
• how many fish you can retain (if any)

Areas may be closed for various reasons, such as conservation. Make sure you read your conditions of licence in full, and review our unlawful fishing actions page to understand what you can and can’t do when recreational fishing in BC.

Types of gear

The types of gear you can use varies by species. See the list of allowable gear for:

• salmon; barbless hooks are required for all salmon and sea-run trout fishing
• finfish (other than salmon)
• crab, prawn and other shellfish

Rods

In tidal waters, there is no limit to the number of fishing rods you may use.

In rivers, streams and the tidal waters of the Fraser River, there is a limit of one rod per fisher.

3. Record, clean, package and transport your catch

Record your catch

You must record your catch in ink on your paper fishing licence or in the National Recreational Licencing System catch log or the FishingBC app catch log if you catch and retain:

• halibut
• chinook salmon
• lingcod

You do not need to record your catch for any other species.

Packaging and transporting

Packaging requirements vary by species. See the packaging guidelines for:

• salmon
• finfish (other than salmon)
• crab, prawn and other shellfish

4. Complete your iREC report

Adult licence holders are required to complete an iREC report regarding their fishing activity and kept and released catches. You must complete your assigned iREC report before your reporting deadline, and you must do so even if you did not fish during the reporting period or if you fished but did not catch or retain anything. Your reporting period, deadline, and Access ID are provided on the first page of your licence. Juvenile licence holders are not required to complete an independent iREC report. For more information, visit: Report your effort and catch | Pacific Region | Fisheries and Oceans Canada.

Contact us

See our fishery notice system or visit our recreational fishing limits, openings and closures by area page for up-to-date information on the management area or region where you plan to fish.

By email

Sign up to receive Fishery Notices by email for all areas, or just your favorites.

By telephone

For recorded information, including updates on red tide closures, call the Fishing info line:

• Greater Vancouver: 604-666-2828
• Outside the Greater Vancouver area: 1-866-431-FISH (3474)

For the latest fishing information in your area, contact your local DFO office.

On Twitter

Follow us @sportfishingbc for updates on openings and closures.